The site of the Gallo-Roman theater was discovered in 1865 by Jean Gontier, who undertakes excavations on his own money, and successfully fights to acquire control of land and obtain the classification as historical monuments by decree of 23 December 18811 .

At first, only a small part of the theater, named by the inhabitants of the area, is known as the Fades Castle (fairy castle) 2.

But this theater, once discovered, deteriorates rapidly, and Gontier tries in vain to buy it back by the State, the Department and the Archaeological and Historical Society of the Charente.