Roman platform in Fréjus opened after restoration

After four years of work, the Roman platform in Fréjus has been opened to the public — the remains of a monumental Roman residence covering 6200 m² with a huge cistern. Entry is free and no reservation is required.

What was opened

The second phase of the restoration was officially opened on 18 September 2026, on the eve of European Heritage Days. On behalf of the mayor, David Rachline, the ribbon was cut by the deputy mayor for culture and heritage, Martine Pétrus-Benhamou. Over four years the southern section of the enclosure was reinforced, the ruins and the cistern were restored, and a visitor footpath was laid from the park.

What was here

The platform is one of the main mysteries of Forum Julii, as the Romans called Fréjus. On the artificial terrace stood the residence of a wealthy owner with a peristyle courtyard and its own small baths. It has been listed as a historical monument since 1886, but all those years it remained closed to the public.

The most impressive feature is the cistern, with a capacity of 450 m³. Water drained into it from roofs with a total area of about 6000 m², and such a system appeared before the 2nd-century city aqueduct.

What the visitor will see

On the site are ten information panels in four languages, QR codes with 3D reconstructions of the floors and a film about the cistern; guided tours lead into the cistern itself. From the platform there is a view of the sea and the port of Fréjus. The platform is located between the former Pourcin stadium and the gardens of Villa Marie.

How much it cost and what’s next

The second phase cost more than €1.5 million, of which €400,000 was a grant from the regional cultural authority DRAC; the project was also supported by the European Interreg fund. The entire project is estimated at almost €4 million. The third phase, costing €800,000, will begin in 2027, take two years and will link the platform with the neighbouring Villa Marie.

In the photo — Porte Dorée, the arch of the Roman baths, another ancient monument of the town. Details about the opening can be found at Var Actu and Mesinfos. And after the platform it’s worth walking to the episcopal complex of Fréjus with a 5th-century baptistery and the painted ceiling of the cloister.

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Photo: Christophe Finot / Wikimedia Commons