Although the historic site has been occupied since the Neolithic period, the oppidum (fortified village situated in height) of Ambrussum dates from the IV-th century before J.C. and was probably inhabited until the fifth century AD.
The bridge of Ambrussum was used till the Middle Age, because in the XII-th century it was still standing with its 11 arcs. However, a document dated from the XVII-th century shows it with only 4 arcs. In the XVIII-th century there were still 3 arcs and a painting by Gustave Courbet XIX-th represents it with 2 arcs. The violent flood of 1933 will let only a single arc...

From the main street of the village, stays only a paved way of 200 metres long, dug here and there with deep ruts. Of the village, stays only one building of 24 metres long and 635 metres of the rampart with its 26 towers which had been built in the II-th century before J.C.

Several houses which were built against the rampart can still been seen. Those houses have been deserted in the first century AD. The low district, near the river, would have been inhabited until fifth century... The excavations of this part of the village, discovered in 1979, are still going on...

Crédit photo: UDOTSI (booklet "L' Hérault Insolite")