French castle reveals hidden church and graves

Archaeologists in Hyères, France, uncovered a church and several graves while excavating what they believed to be a medieval bastion.

In 2025, researchers investigated the castle, initially focusing on the western part of its walls and a millstone measuring 3.5 meters in diameter. Later excavations near the south gate revealed the remains of a church oriented east to west, with a semicircular apse. The apse corresponded to what they previously thought was a northern tower of the bastion.

Researchers also found multiple burials, including coffined graves and simpler inhumations dug into a later fill. About fifteen burials have been excavated so far, led by Yann Ardagna and Lucie Robert, with more still to be explored within the church's choir and nave. The team continues to study the castle’s fortifications, using 3D laser scanning and drones to document a platform and tower designed to protect the northwest gate.

In 2026, further archaeological and anthropological work will focus on understanding the church’s history, its relationship to the castle’s defenses, and how it functioned within the fortress.