Noviodunum (Switzerland)

Noviodunum, or Colonia Iulia Equestris, was a significant Roman settlement located in modern-day Nyon, Switzerland. Founded by Julius Caesar in the mid-1st century BCE, it served both as a military outpost and an urban center. The settlement was established to manage conquered territories and provide land to veteran cavalrymen. Noviodunum featured a rectangular grid city plan, public baths, an amphitheater, and a marketplace, reflecting its economic and social significance. Despite invasions in the 3rd century CE, which led to the destruction of many public buildings, the settlement continued to be occupied, with evidence of a necropolis from the 5th to 8th centuries CE. The site illustrates the Roman influence on urban planning, architecture, and regional control in the Swiss region.