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 Brittany 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 theater capable of holding 3,000 persons have been brought to light. Many Roman and Gallic relics, notably a bronze statue of Apollo, and two fine mosaics exposed to 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 theater. The town recovered some of its old importance under William the Conqueror. Image:TabulaPeutingeriana France west.jpg|Detail of the Tabula Peutingeriana from 1st-4th century, Image:TheatreLillebonne.jpg|Roman theatre of Lillebonne Image:Apollo of Lillebonne Louvre Br37.jpg|Apollo found at Lillebonne, bronzestatue from 2nd century, museum of Le Louvre Image:TêteDieuBronzeLillebonne.jpg|Bronze head romain god, found at Lillebonne, Musée des antiquités of the Seine-Maritime Image:Mosaîc Lillebonne Orphée.jpg|Orpheus mosaic found at Lillebonne, Musée des antiquités of the Seine-Maritime
Geography
Lillebonne lies in the valley of the Bolbec River at the foot of wooded hills at the junction of the D982, D29 and the D81 roads.,
Sights
The church of Notre Dame, partly modern, preserves a Gothic portal of the 16th century and a graceful tower of the same period. The park contains a fine cylindricalkeep and other remains of a castle founded by William the Conqueror and rebuilt in the 13th century. The Gallo-Romanamphitheater of Lillebonne was built in the first century and was altered in the second century so that it could be used as both an amphitheater and a theater. Part of its remains are still visible today from Félix Faur Square, and the foundations of some of its remnants remain under the square.
Economy
The principal industries were cotton-spinning and the manufacture of calico and candles. There was also a prosperous manufacture of starch belonging to the Legrain family. Petrochemistry is now the main industry in the area, with a part of the nearby Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon refining and petrochemical complex extending over the Lillebonne commune.
