Interreg REMI Project

REMI: Réseau archéologique d’Études et de Mise en Valeur Interrégionale (Interregional archaeological study and showcase network)

The REMI project aims to enhance two remarkable archaeological sites, the villa at Warcq (France) and the sanctuary of Matagne-la-Grande (Belgium)both dating from the Roman period. The overall aim is to provide innovative explanatory aids for these sites, and to develop the remains in such a way as to perpetuate them and ensure that they are understood by the public, while at the same time making them part of a cross-border tourist trail.

The Rèmes diagonal

Just 35 leagues (or 53 km!) apart, the two sites bear witness to the ancient city of the Rèmes. The Roman Empire had its own administrative districts, and that of the Rèmes (whose capital was Reims) extended beyond the borders we know today! Warcq and Matagne are two sites emblematic of life in Roman times: on the one hand, a villa*, an agricultural estate belonging to an aristocratic elite; on the other, a religious sanctuary marking the city’s boundary.

These two sites illustrate the complexity of Roman life: both are in Gaul-Belgium, a rich province producing and exporting its products (especially cereals) throughout the empire. Beyond the agricultural and economic world, they belong to the same political and religious world, which regulated and influenced all aspects of daily life. Bringing these two sites together is also a way of opening a window on antiquity!

A journey without borders

The approach adopted is to create a “borderless” tourist trail by including two sites, both exceptional from a scientific and preservation point of view. Although they belonged to the same political and social entity two thousand years ago, namely the Roman territory of the city of Rèmes (Remi in Latin), today they are located on either side of the Franco-Belgian border, as are the research and development institutions involved in promoting the sites.

One of the original aspects to which this project aspires is the the creation of an itinerary that ignores the barriers of borders and time. To make this tour a reality, we need to work together to enhance the archaeological heritage, so as to recreate the uniqueness of this archaeological region in the image of its situation under the Roman Empire.

The Department of the Ardennes is the owner of the ancient remains of the Warcq villa, and its archaeological department has carried out the preventive excavation (2017) followed by programmed excavations (2021-2025). The Département, with the support of the Cellule archéologique, is responsible for preserving and promoting the Roman villa. Its staff are experts in the science of ancient villas and the Roman era in general. The department also develops tools and workshops to enhance the value of archaeological discoveries and make them accessible.

The Musée de l’Ardenne of the city of Charleville-Mézières preserves in its collections and presents in its permanent tour a part of the archaeological furniture _ in particular Gallo-Roman _ unearthed in the Ardennes department. The museum was the main contributor to the volume of the Carte archéologique de la Gaule (CAG) devoted to the Ardennes. The museum welcomes some 40,000 visitors a year and, as a “Musée de France” accredited establishment, has a public relations department capable of promoting local archaeological discoveries and making them accessible to as many people as possible, especially schoolchildren.

L’Doische Tourist Office promotes the various aspects of its territory and region in terms of tourism: organization of local events; promotion of the built and natural heritage present in the commune of Doische; creation of discovery trails with local artisans/producersand development of a cross-border agritourism strategy.