Augustonemetum

Augustonemetum was a Gallo-Roman town located in what is now Clermont-Ferrand, France. Its origins lie in a settlement of the Arverni, a Celtic tribe, who established a significant fortified oppidum on the plateau of the Puy de Dôme. The Romans, under Augustus, later developed the site, giving it the name Augustonemetum, meaning "Augustus's sacred enclosure" or "Augustus's sanctuary." This indicates the importance of the settlement and its connection to the imperial cult.

The town became a prosperous center during the Roman Empire, benefiting from its strategic location and the fertile surrounding lands. Archaeological evidence suggests it possessed typical Roman infrastructure, including public buildings, temples, and residential areas. Augustonemetum was known for its administrative and economic importance within the province of Aquitania. Its decline began in the later Roman period, influenced by barbarian invasions and economic shifts.

In the early Middle Ages, the settlement on the plateau was abandoned, and the population moved to the plain below, where the modern city of Clermont-Ferrand eventually developed. The name Augustonemetum gradually evolved through various linguistic transformations into the modern name. While the original Roman town no longer exists in its ancient form, its legacy is preserved in the archaeological remains and its historical significance as a precursor to modern Clermont-Ferrand.