Description : Lillebonne is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in northern France. It lies 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of the Seine and 24 miles (39 km) east of Le Havre. Before the Roman conquest of Gaul, Iuliobona was the capital of the Caletes, or inhabitants of the Pays de Caux. It was destroyed by Julius Caesar and afterwards rebuilt by Augustus. Before it was again ruined by the barbarian invasions, it had become an important centre whence Roman roads branched out in all directions. It was an administrative, military and commercial city located close to the Seine. This made it a great transportation route between Britannia (modern-day Britain) and the remainder of the Roman Empire. It was also a crossroads of communication in order to bring Roman ways to Harfleur, Étretat, Dieppe, Évreux and Rouen. The remains of Roman baths and of a theatre capable of holding 3,000 persons have been brought to light. Many Roman and Gallic relics, notably a bronze statue of Apollo (displayed in the Louvre), and two fine mosaics on show in the museum at Rouen, have been found. In the Middle Ages the fortifications of the town were constructed out of materials supplied by the Roman theatre. The town recovered some of its old importance under William the Conqueror.
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