Oppidum d'Ensérune

The Oppidum d'Ensérune is an ancient hill-town (or oppidum) near the village of Nissan-lez-Ensérune, France, located between Béziers and Narbonne close to the D609 (formerly RN9) and Canal du Midi. It has been listed since 1935 as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.[1]

Ensérune

Shown within France
Location	Nissan-lez-Enserune
Region	Occitanie, France
Coordinates	43.3061°N 3.138°E / 43.3061; 3.138
Type	oppidum
History
Cultures	Elisyces, Gauls later Roman
Site notes
Archaeologists	Félix Mouret, Louis Sigal, Jean Jannoray, Joseph Giry
Public access	Yes
Website	http://www.enserune.fr/en/

The settlement was occupied without interruption between the 6th century BC and 1st century AD,[2] its location being chosen presumably because it was a hill with good views over the coastal plain, being close to the Roman road Via Domitia, the Montady lake, and fertile agricultural land below.

There is a museum on the site which offers a display of some of the finds on the site, as well as giving more information about the fort and the field system.

Below the Oppidum was the swamp of Montady, (centred on 43°19′12″N 3°07′24″E ), which is now wedge shaped fields separated by irrigation ditches that converge in the centre. In the 13th century, the swamp was drained; the ditches allowed water to flow to the centre of the circular depression, from which it was conveyed through underground pipes several kilometres to the south. The drainage is still functional and remains in use.