Romarriket i Tyskland - 6 platser från Romartiden

The Roman Empire in Germany? Yes, indeed! Ancient Rome was a powerful empire that originated in Rome, but eventually encompassed the entire Mediterranean region and much of Europe. Today, several powerful Roman Empire sights can be found as far north as Germany.

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The Roman Empire in Germany

The Roman Empire, also known as the Roman Empire or Ancient Rome, was a major cultural, military and political power emanating from the city of Rome. According to tradition, Rome was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus in 753 BC.

The powerful empire went through periods of kingship, republic and empire. In 394 AD, the empire was divided into Western and Eastern Rome. The last Western Roman leader was deposed in 476, while the Eastern Roman Empire lasted until 1453, when the Turkish Ottomans conquered Constantinople, now Istanbul.

In its heyday, Rome came to dominate the entire Mediterranean region and much of Europe. But did you know that the Roman Empire extended so far north that it included parts of Germany?

Romarriket i Tyskland - Trier Romartiden — Roman-era remains in the German city of Trier

READ MORE: Things to do in Germany and German attractions
READ MORE: 6 picturesque towns in Germany - along holiday routes

What about the German-Roman Empire?

History books also refer to the Holy Roman Empire, formally the 'Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation', which was formed in the early Middle Ages. This empire was founded in 962 when Otto I was crowned emperor, and included modern-day Germany and several large areas around it. Why was it called Roman? It is because it was officially considered a continuation of the ancient Roman Empire.

Roman Empire in Germany - interesting places to visit

We visited the German city of Trier with a motorhome in summer 2018. Fantastically interesting! Trier is not only Germany's oldest city (founded in 16 BC!) but also has a wealth of Roman-era attractions, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But it's not just Trier that offers Roman memories. Here are 6 places where you can discover the Roman Empire in Germany.

Romarriket i Tyskland - Amfiteater Trier — Helena at the amphitheatre in Trier, summer 2018

1. Limes - the Roman Empire's defence and demarcation system

The Limes was the defence and demarcation system that once marked the external borders of the Roman Empire. At 549 kilometres, the Limes is the longest monument in Germany. In the second and third centuries AD, the Limes formed the border between the Roman Empire and Germany. Along the way there were around 100 forts and 900 watchtowers. The border wall runs through the following federal states:

Baden-Württemberg: 164 kilometres
Bavaria: 158 kilometres
Hessen: 152 kilometres
Rhineland-Palatinate: 75 kilometres

Limesstrasse, main entrance to the Roman castle Saalburg (83 BC) in Bad Homburg © GNTB / Gregor Dinghauser

Address: Starts in Bad Hönningen and ends in Passau (the map shows Bad Homburg, where the wall in the picture above is located).
Corona age: Corona rules must be followed and a face mask is required.
Read more: German Limes road
Pitches in the neighbourhood: Ilzbrücke car park (Halser Strasse, Passau)
Campsites in the neighbourhood: Wellness-Rheinpark-Camping (Allée St. Pierre les Nemours 1 / Am Rheinufer, Bad Hönningen) and Camping Passau (Halser Str. 34, Passau).
Sights in the neighbourhood: The Wolfsschlucht waterfall in Bad Hönningen and the Dreiflüsseeck in Passau, where three rivers meet.

2. the Roman city of Trier

Trier, located in the Moselle Valley, was an important Roman city and boasts a number of impressive Roman monuments. It's no wonder that many of the buildings in this city have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The magnificent Porta Nigra is the best preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, and is perhaps one of the first things you notice when visiting the city.

Trier is also home to the ruins of the Roman Baths Kaiserthermen and the Roman Baths Barbarathermen, once the second largest public baths in the Roman Empire. Other attractions include a late second-century amphitheatre, the Römerbrücke bridge built in 17 BC (and subsequently renovated and still in use!) and the magnificent Cathedral of Constantine Basilica.

Unesco Trier Basilica of Constantine © Lookphotos / Guenther Bayerl

Entry: Many of the attractions cost €4/adult and €3 for children aged 8-18. Children up to 7 years old are free.
Opening hours: Most attractions are open Monday-Sunday 10:00 to 18:00 (2020).
Corona age: Corona rules must be followed and a face mask is required.
RV parks nearby: Reisemobilpark Treviris (In den Moselauen)
Read more: Welcome to Trier - the centre of antiquity
Campsites in the neighbourhood: Campingpark Treviris (Luxemburger Strasse 81, Trier)
See more in the neighbourhood: The dramatic cave of Genoveva Cave

3. The Roman Eifel Aqueduct in Cologne

In 50 AD, a settlement on the western bank of the Rhine was named 'Colonia Agrippina' after Emperor Claudius' last wife Agrippina. This gave the settlement the status of a 'colonia', i.e. a city subject to the laws of the Roman Empire.

In 80 AD, the Eifel Aqueduct was built between Nettersheim and Cologne. At 100 kilometres, this was the longest Roman construction north of the Alps. Every day the aqueduct supplied the city with 20,000 cubic metres of water. Ten years later, Colonia Agrippina had 45 000 inhabitants and served as the capital of the province of Germania Inferior.

Eifel Aquaduct © Nordeifel Tourismus GmbH

Address: Nettersheim to Cologne
Entry: Free of charge
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10:00 - 12:00 and 14:00 - 17:00 and Saturday and Sunday 11:00 to 17:00 (2020). It is closed on Mondays.
Corona age: Corona rules must be followed and face mask required
Read more: North Eifel Tourism
Campsites in the neighbourhood: Eifel-Camp Freilinger See (Am Freilinger See 1, Blankenheim-Freilingen) and Campingplatz Stadt Köln (Weidenweg 35, Cologne).
See more in the neighbourhood: Cologne Cathedral and Schloss Drachenburg castle

4. Haus Bürgel Roman Museum, north of Cologne

The Haus Bürgel museum is located in Monheim am Rhein, just north of Cologne. Here you can see lots of archaeological finds from the Roman Empire in Germany. The museum includes eight different rooms, each showcasing different topics of the Roman Empire, ranging from everyday life to military conquests.

Address: House Bürgel Urdenbacher Weg, Monheim Am Rhein
Entry: 3 euros/person, Guided tours are given on the first Sunday of each month (2020) and cost 5 euros/adult and 2.5 euros/child.
Opening hours: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10:00 - 18:00 and during the winter holidays (2020).
Corona age: Corona rules must be followed and a face mask is required.
Read more: Roman Museum
Campsites in the neighbourhood: Campingplatz Rheinblick (Urdenbacher Weg, Monheim).
See more in the neighbourhood: Rhine Tower, with a viewing area and rotating restaurant.

5. Roman baths in Bad Breisig

Looking for a spa in a Roman setting? At the Römer Therme (Roman baths) in Bad Breisig, just south of Cologne and Bonn, you can enjoy a Roman atmosphere. In Roman times, good hygiene was considered important and visits to the baths played an important role. Firstly, you may not have been able to wash at home and secondly, much of the social life took place in the baths. A typical visit to a bathing centre could include both a sauna and a hot water bath.

Address: Albert-Mertes-Strasse 11, Bad Breisig.
Entry: 17 €/adult and 12 €/child (2020).
Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 08:00 to 20:00, Thursday 08:00 - 22:00 and Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 08:00 to 18:00 (2020).
Corona age: Corona rules must be followed and face masks are required. Spa appointments must also be booked in advance by email or phone.
Read more: Roman Baths
Campsites in the neighbourhood: Camping Rheineck (53498 Bad Breisig)
See more in the neighbourhood: Arenfels Castle

6. The Roman wine presses in Erden, Moselle Valley

It was the Romans who brought wine to Erden, in the Moselle Valley, almost 2000 years ago. No less than two wine presses from the Roman Empire have now been found here in Germany. Both wine presses have been found relatively recently, in 1992 and 1998 respectively. However, they have a very long history, having been dated to the second and third centuries. The site has now been investigated by researchers and the wine presses are on display for visitors.

Vineyards in the Mosel Valley © DWI / German Wine Institute

Address: On the Moselle cycle path on the B 53 road, Erden
Opening hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 14:30 to 17:00, Saturdays 13:00 to 16:00 and Sundays 13:30 to 17:00 (2020).
Corona age: Corona rules must be followed and a face mask is required.
Read more: Römerkelter earths and Roman pressing plant Erden
Pitches in the neighbourhood: Parking at the Studert Winery Prüm (Hauptstrasse 152, Bernkasel-Kues)
Campsites in the neighbourhood: Camping Erden (On the banks of the Moselle, Erden)
See more in the neighbourhood: The Machern Abbey Wine Museum in Bernkastel-Kues.

Have you experienced the Roman Empire in Germany?

Have you been to any of these places? Do you like to discover history while travelling?

12 Comments

Add yours →

Lena i Wales och Spanien says:

Interesting!
The only place I visited is Trier and the Porta Negra.
Even in Wales we have many Roman sites with amphitheatres, walls, ruins, museums, etc.
Yes, the Romans spread out over incredible areas at the beginning of our era.
Take care!

30 September 2020 - 10:59

- Bara brittiskt says:
  
  I love the Basilica of Constantine. Trier was built by Constantine the Great. He was crowned in my old home town of York after his father Constantinus died there during his campaign against the slopes of what is now Scotland. The famous Hadrian's Wall was built up there, so yes, the Romans were further north than many people think. Today his statue sits outside York Minster, which is fitting since he was Christianised. The Minster is built on an old Roman sanctuary whose remains can be seen in the crypt and I have a post about the Roman soldiers haunting the Treasure House next door.
  
  30 September 2020 - 11:40
  
  - Comment by post author
    
    Helena says:
    
    Just British, what a control you have, impressive! 🙂 Thanks for some more info! And yes, the Basilica of Constantine is really magnificent!
    
    01 October 2020 - 9:18
    
    - Bara brittiskt says:
      
      Thank you, the Roman era has fascinated me since I was in Carthage as a child. It becomes even more so when you live in an old Roman and Viking city and love England, which has so many Roman remains everywhere and books like "What did the Romans do for us?". In York, they still haven't found the amphitheatre they know must be somewhere because the city was so big and important. In Bath, the Roman baths are known...everything ending in -chester and -caster are old Roman sites but also Londinium and others. "The Picts" is what it should say, by the way.
      And I grew up in Germany. One cousin now lives outside Cologne and the other has worked at the German tourist office. We were even more in Germany when we lived in Brussels....
      
      01 October 2020 - 13:07
      
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Lena, glad you've been to Trier too, fascinating place! And yes, I can imagine that there are interesting sites from the Roman era in Wales as well!
  
  01 October 2020 - 9:16
  
Marias Memoarer says:

So cool places, I love visiting ancient places! Limes, Trier and the aqueduct in Cologne seem really exciting! I actually can't think of any places I would have seen from the Roman Empire in Germany.

30 September 2020 - 13:25

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Historical sites are exciting, aren't they? And fascinating that there is Roman history this far north!
  
  01 October 2020 - 9:18
  
Lena - gott för själen says:

Eeh, the Roman Empire in Germany. Never heard of it. Exciting. Interesting with the old bridge and aqueduct. They built good stuff in the past, you could say!

Hug Lena

30 September 2020 - 18:08

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Isn't that cool? The Roman Empire was even bigger than you might sometimes imagine 😉.
  
  01 October 2020 - 9:19
  
Steve says:

It's been a long time since I checked in with you, but I see that you are still adventuring and spreading knowledge and education to your surroundings... All the best!

01 October 2020 - 0:24

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Steve, how nice of you to visit! Yes, even if we travelled less abroad this year than usual, we keep going with shorter trips and stories about exciting destinations! 🙂
  
  01 October 2020 - 9:20
  
vit badrumsblandare says:

I have discovered excellent articles here. I like how you
defines it. Nice!

03 July 2021 - 11:47

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The Roman Empire in Germany - 6 sites from the Roman period

The Roman Empire in Germany

What about the German-Roman Empire?

Roman Empire in Germany - interesting places to visit

1. Limes - the Roman Empire's defence and demarcation system

2. the Roman city of Trier

3. The Roman Eifel Aqueduct in Cologne

4. Haus Bürgel Roman Museum, north of Cologne

5. Roman baths in Bad Breisig

6. The Roman wine presses in Erden, Moselle Valley

Have you experienced the Roman Empire in Germany?

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12 Comments

Lena i Wales och Spanien says:

Bara brittiskt says:

Helena says:

Bara brittiskt says:

Helena says:

Marias Memoarer says:

Helena says:

Lena - gott för själen says:

Helena says:

Steve says:

Helena says:

vit badrumsblandare says:

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