This monumental inscription, dating from the 5th century, recounts the retreat of one of the last dignitaries of the Roman Empire, Claudius Postumus Dardanus.
The Pierre-Écrite is a site with a rich heritage. It bears witness to an eventful era (collapse of the Empire, progress of Catholicism, invasions…), to the history of mankind, but also to the qualities of a territory that has always invited contemplation and meditation.
Around 1600 years ago, Dardanus, prefect of the Praetorium of Gaul, watched helplessly as the Empire collapsed, and chose the Chardavon site to retreat to, in the heart of a natural amphitheater. He carved out the sides of the mountain and created a city that he named Theopolis, in reference to Saint Augustine’s City of God, with whom he maintained a correspondence. Indeed, Dardanus had recently converted to Catholicism.
While the existence of Dardanus is well attested, no trace remains of Theopolis, except for this mysterious written stone that seems to defy time.
