A radiating road network

Two major routes intersected at Argentomagus: the east-west road linked Bordeaux and Poitiers with Néris-les-Bains, Clermont-Ferrand and Lyons, whilst the south-west/north-east axis came from Saintes and Limoges before heading towards Bourges and Autun.

Water Transport

All researchers recognise the importance of river navigation in Roman Gaul. The recent discovery of a canal with a towpath running alongside, for carrying blocks hewn from the quarry at Tendu to the nearby Bouzanne river, is an eloquent example very close to Argentomagus.

Just a few kilometres upstream, the Creuse is a veritable torrent but calms down and becomes easily navigable near the town. "Rates", flat-bottomed boats which could be either rowed or towed, and rafts buoyed with goatskins travelled up and down the river.

The Bridge and the Ford

Some 110 metres long and 5 wide, the bridge at Argentomagus was probably constructed on 5 piers spaced at 11 metres. With widths of 7.37 and 7.30 metres and 11m long, the two remaining piers were equipped with a breakwater wing on the upstream side stretching to a length of 6 metres. The downstream side, on the other hand, was flat and perpendicular to the current.

About 50 metres downstream, the foundations of a ford have been discovered. The presence of wooden beams on its paving of juxtaposed limestone slabs would suggest it probably supported an underwater roadway.