Discover the history beneath your feet from January 21 to March 11, 2026 and from April 15 to July 17, 2026 during guided tours of the new archaeological digs in Martigny.
An excavation site open to the public
Since the end of 2025, the Office cantonal d’archéologie, through its contractor InSitu archéologie SA, has been conducting archaeological investigations in the heart of the ancient Roman settlement of Martigny (Rue d’Octodure 32). Guided tours of the site are organized to present to the public the working methods of the archaeologists, the discoveries made and the interpretations underway.
These tours, which take place every Wednesday over a period of several months, enable you to revisit different phases of the excavation and observe the progress of the research.
Insula 14, near the ancient forum
The site in question is insula 14, a rectangular urban block typical of Roman cities. Although located in the immediate vicinity of the forum – the administrative, political and religious center of the ancient city, now buried beneath the soccer and beach volleyball pitches to the south of the excavation – this area had never before been the subject of in-depth archaeological investigations.
In the south-eastern corner of insula 14, the excavations revealed several states of a luxurious building, with high-quality fittings such as heating systems, marble veneers and wall paintings. These elements are articulated with circulation and technical spaces, such as a courtyard and porticoes.
Long-term occupation
The remains bear witness to a prolonged occupation of the district. The first levels of Roman settlement may date from the first half of the 1st century AD. The site then underwent numerous transformations, before being used again in Late Antiquity and the High Middle Ages, with reoccupations and burials probably dating between the 5th and 10th centuries.
Practical information
Visiting times and periods
Every Wednesday, except public holidays, from January 21 to March 11, 2026
- 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
- 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Every non-holiday Wednesday, from April 15 to July 17, 2026
- 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Tour conditions
- Sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing recommended
- Site visit not accessible to people with reduced mobility
Please note that access to the site is not open to the public outside guided tours.
Changes to the dates of the spring break for infrastructure relocations and the end of tours may have to be considered depending on the progress of investigation work, and will be communicated.
Access to the current archaeological dig at Rue d’Octodure 32 (junction between Rue d’Octodure and Rue des Morasses).
Martigny, Insula 14, remains of several ceremonial rooms in a row (room with underfloor and wall heating in the foreground, marble slab floor in the background), © A. Sliwinski Insitu Archéologie SA / OCA 2026.