In the center of Reims is located a small Roman Forum, which is called the Gallo-Roman Cryptoportique. Now you can only see a square with a monumental staircase that cascades down to the arched structures of the portico.
In Roman times, there was a Forum here. It was 250 meters long and 65 meters wide. It was built in the 3rd century AD, but it was destroyed in the 4th century during the wars with the Gauls. The crypt, where there was an altar and a statue of the Emperor, has been preserved to this day. Vaulted arches are supported by porticos that have windows. Through them, you can get light in the crypt. That is why this construction is called a crypto-portico.
After the destruction of the Roman Forum was buried under the ground. Since the 19th century, this place was occupied by the Halles Centrale indoor market, which was decided to be reconstructed in 1922. When there clearing the space has begun, the builders found the crypto portico of Reims from the Roman era. All work was stopped and the cryptoportico, which was the Northern part of the Roman forum of Reims, became a Museum. The Halles Centrale market was built in a different location. Near Criptoportico is located an interesting Museum of La Verguer.
