Archaeologists Uncover 16th-Century Gallows Site in Grenoble Linked to Protestant Rebellion
GRENOBLE, France — In a remarkable archaeological find, researchers have uncovered a 16th-century gallows site in Grenoble that was used to execute and publicly display Protestant rebels during the turbulent era of the Reformation. The discovery, made in 2024 but only recently announced, provides rare physical evidence of royal authority and judicial practices amid the religious conflicts that roiled France in the mid-1500s.
French archaeologists from the Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives (Inrap) led the excavation ahead of redevelopment work on Grenoble’s Esplanade, located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Initially mistaking the structure for a religious building, the team soon realized the site was a square masonry gallows featuring eight stone pillars — a design signaling direct royal jurisdiction rather than local feudal authority. This architectural detail aligns with records indicating the gallows were administered by the Parliament of the Dauphiné, underscoring its significance within the kingdom’s criminal justice hierarchy.
Archaeologists uncovered ten burial pits containing at least 32 individuals, predominantly men but also some women, often interred in groups ranging from two to eight. Many of these were identified as Protestant rebels who challenged royal authority during the Reformation. Among the executed were notable figures such as Benoît Croyet, accused in 1573 of attacking Grenoble, and Charles du Puy Montbrun, a Huguenot leader who was beheaded and displayed at the site in 1575. Their grim fates illustrate the brutal measures taken by the crown to suppress dissent amid religious upheaval.
“Excavated examples of medieval gallows remain rare in France,” explained Nicolas Minvielle-Larousse, a researcher with Inrap. “Compared with the few known cases, the Grenoble gallows stands out for its square plan with eight pillars, reflecting its high status within the hierarchy of criminal justice in the kingdom.” The gallows date back as early as 1544, coinciding with a period of intense conflict between Catholic royal forces and Protestant Huguenots.
This discovery offers a tangible connection to the era’s harsh judicial practices and the symbolic use of public executions to maintain royal control. It also enriches the historical understanding of the Protestant Reformation’s impact in France, which led to decades of religious wars and political turmoil. The site’s preservation allows historians and the public to better grasp the human cost of these conflicts.
Similar gallows sites have been documented across Europe, but few remain as well-preserved or as clearly linked to royal authority as the one in Grenoble. The find complements ongoing efforts by French cultural and archaeological institutions to document and protect heritage sites related to the Reformation and early modern justice systems.
For further context on the Reformation’s broader historical significance, the National Archives provides extensive documentation on religious conflicts in Europe. Additionally, the National Park Service offers resources on the era’s cultural and political transformations. This discovery also resonates with recent archaeological efforts to uncover sites of judicial and punitive significance, as highlighted by the Archaeological Institute of America.
As redevelopment plans continue in Grenoble, authorities are working to ensure the gallows site is preserved and studied further, offering a poignant reminder of the city’s complex past and the enduring legacy of the Reformation’s religious and political struggles.
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