The Temple of Augustus and Livia is one of the best preserved Roman temples still standing today – it is not to be confused with the beautifully preserved Maison Carrée Roman temple in the Southern city of Nimes. It is an ancient Roman temple built at the beginning of the 1st century in the middle of the old Roman city of Vienne.
Other ancient Roman temples still standing today are the Parthenon in Rome (which survived by being converted into a Catholic Church) and the Garni temple, rebuilt in Armenia on the far periphery of the ancient empire.
Vienne city on banks of Rhone river
What To Know About The Temple Of Augustus & Livia: One Of The Oldest & Best Preserved Roman Temples Still Standing
The Temple of Augustus and Livia is one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the world. The Temple of Augustus and Livia was dedicated to the imperial cult – to Emperor Augustus and his third wife Livia. The imperial cult was an important part of Roman religion for hundreds of years.
- Built: Oldest Parts 20-10 BC – Other Parts 1st Century AD
The temple was first built around 20-10 BC during the early years of the Roman Empire (after the Roman Republic). That part of Gaul had only been incorporated into Rome around 37 years earlier by Julius Caesar in 47 BC.
Much of the temple belongs to a later period, and only the rear part of the temple is actually thought to have been built during Augustus’ reign. The architectural style of the capitals and cornice would suggest much of the temple dates from around 40 AD. The temple was built on a raised podium with Roman Corinthian decoration.
Gallo-Roman theatre of Vienne
Temple Of Augustus & Livia History: From Pagan Temple To Church To Temple Of Reason To Museum
As Christianity swept over the ancient Roman Empire, pagan places of worship came in danger. Countless pagan statues were defaced, shrines were destroyed, and ancient temples were toppled. They were then quarried for their stone over the centuries. Some of the pagan temples managed to survive by becoming Christian churches instead (the Parthenon of the Acropolis of Athens was converted to both a Christian Church and an Islamic Mosque).
As the Roman Empire became Christian, the Temple of Augustus and Livia was converted into the parish church of Sainte-Marie-la-Vieille and then as Nortre Dame-de-la-Vie (Notre Dame or Our Lady is a common name for French churches and not to be confused with the famous Notre Dame of Paris, which is set to re-open soon).
With the French Revolution, the country turned against religion, and for a time, the churches were closed. The old Roman temple became the temple of Reason in 1792. But that didn’t last long, and later it was used as the commercial court of the city and then a museum and the library of Vienne.
Today, the Temple of Augustus and Livia has been lovingly restored to look much like what it could have been at a Roman temple. That being said, restorations of ancient architecture tend to only go so far, and they are typically not repainted as they would have been in ancient times.
Temple of Augustus and Livia Roman temple
What To Know About Visiting The Temple Of Augustus And Livia Today
The Temple of Augustus and Livia is one of the leading attractions in the modern city of Vienne, just south of the major French city of Lyon. Visitors can sense the former glory of the temple and contemplate the Gallo-Roman city. Go during the night, and see the temple lit up from below.
While the temple may still stand today, visitors need to use their imagination to reconstruct the ancient Roman forum in which it stood. This was the administrative center of the ancient Gallo-Roman city of Vienne. The temple is located in the heart of the old city and is free to visit.
There is parking only a 4-minute walk from Parking Saint Marcel. Using public transportation, the closest bus stops are Temple de Cybele and Jue de Paume. Vienne is also only a 30-minute drive out of Lyon, making it an ideal excursion while visiting that magnificent French city.
Roman temple of Augustus in Vienne
There are more ancient Roman ruins to be found in Vienne. Visitors can see the remains of the old Roman theater, parts of ancient aqueducts, the traces of Roman roads, and the vestiges of a temple to Cybele, only rediscovered in 1945 with the construction of a new hospital. But the most notable Roman attraction in Vienne is the Plan de I’Aiguille or the Pyramide (it was associated with the ancient Roman circus of the city). France is one of the best places to see ancient Roman ruins.
Post-Roman attractions include the early Romanesque church of Saint Peter, the old Gothic cathedral of St Maurie, and the Romanesque church of st Andre en Bas.
