Tropaeum Alpium

The Tropaeum Alpium, also known as Trophee des Alpes or the Trophy of Augustus, is a Roman monument dedicated to the Emperor Augustus built to commemorate his victories over the various tribes who inhabited this region.

Tropaeum Alpium history

Built in approximately 6 BC, in honor of the emperor Augustus to celebrate his definitive victory over the 45 ancient tribes who populated the Alps, the Tropaeum Alpium was built on the highest point of the via Julia Augusta, an important Roman thoroughfare in Gaul. It was built at the border of ancient Gaul and signified the subjugation of the area under Rome. The Alpine populations were defeated during the military campaign to subdue the Alps conducted by the Romans between 16 and 7 BC.

The monument as partially restored by archaeologists at the beginning of the 20th century, is 35 meters high. When built, according to the architect, the base measured 35 meters in length, the first platform 12 meters in height, and the rotunda of 24 columns with its statue of an enthroned Augustus is 49 metres high.

Tropaeum Alpium today

Today only part of this monument survives – though a section of the original construction still stands to a significant height and elements of the original colonnaded tower also survive. Visitors to that site can still see the traces of sections of carved columns in the stone.

The Edward Tuck Museum on the site of the Trophy includes fragments, plaster molds, old photographs documenting the monument and its reconstruction. It was built in 1929 and renovated in 2011. It also includes a 1:20 scale model of the reconstructed Trophy. Another 1:20 scale model is found in Room IX of the Museo della Civiltà Romana in Rome.

Getting to Tropaeum Alpium

The address of Tropaeum Alpium is Avenue Prince Albert Ier de Monaco, 06320 La Turbie, France. It is located at Avenue Prince Albert Ier de Monaco, which runs on the north side of the park that contains it. This is the point at which the trophy is accessible. There is an entrance/exit on the west side of the park, but this is not used as an entrance anymore, but can be used to leave.

From Nice, there is a bus that runs to La Turbie a few times a day. The T66 bus leaves from the Pont Michel transit hub in the northeast part of the city toward La Turbie/Peille a few times a day. This station is connected to the center of the city by tram and bus.

The 116 line also leaves from Vauban bus station, which is also connected to the rest of the city by tram and bus. The T66 line takes about 35 minutes to get to La Turbie, while the 116 (which starts a little further south) takes about 45 minutes. The Lignes D’Azur schedule website can be a bit temperamental, but that is the best place to check the exact schedule. Failing that, a PDF of the schedule, though it is a few years old, seems to still be accurate and can be found here.