Valauris City Map Poster

About Valauris

Vallauris is named for the Celtic god Valauris. It was founded by Phocaeans from Massilia (Marseille) in the 6th century BC, who gave it its name. The Romans took control of Gaul in 125 BC and Vallauris became Roman when it was given to Servius Sulpicius Galba, a friend of Caesar Augustus around 15 BC. He had a wall built around the town; some parts of this wall still exist as well as remains of thermal baths which enjoyed considerable importance during Roman times.[1] In Late Antiquity, Vallauri (as it was then called) experienced an economic boom due to its production on an industrial scale mainly olive oil but also rosemary and garum - a fermented fish sauce much prized by Romans - exported throughout the Empire.