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

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | The Roman Empire in Germany? Yes, indeed! Ancient Rome was a powerful empire that originated in Rome, but which over time came to encompass the entire Mediterranean area and large parts of Europe. Today, you can find several powerful sights from the Roman Empire as far north as Germany.

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?

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 camper van for a summer. Fantastically interesting! Trier is not only Germany's oldest city (founded in 16 BC!) but also has a wealth of attractions from the Roman era, several of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But it's not just Trier that offers memories from the Roman era. Here are 6 places where you can discover the Roman Empire in Germany.

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

• Address: Starts in Bad Hönningen and ends in Passau (the map shows Bad Homburg, where the wall in the picture above is located).
• 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 is no wonder that many of the buildings in this city have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The magnificent city gate 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.

In Trier there are also the ruins of the Roman baths Kaiserthermen and the Roman baths Barbarathermen, which were once the second largest public baths in the entire Roman Empire.

Additional attractions include an amphitheater from the late 2nd century, the Roman Bridge built in 17 BC (and subsequently renovated and still in use!) and the magnificent Basilica of Constantine.

• Pitches in the neighbourhood: 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.

• Address: Nettersheim to Cologne
• 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
• 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

Fancy 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, people may not have had the opportunity to wash at home and secondly, a large part of social life took place in the bathhouses. A typical visit to a bathhouse could include both a sauna and a hot water bath.

• Address: Albert-Mertes-Strasse 11, Bad Breisig. 
• 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, located in the Moselle Valley, almost 2,000 years ago. Here, no less than two wine presses from the Roman Empire in Germany have now been found. Both wine presses were found relatively recently, in 1992 and 1998 respectively.

However, they have a very long history, dating back to the second and third centuries. The area has now been investigated by researchers and the wine presses are on display for visitors.

• Address: On the Moselle cycle path on the B 53 road, 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 discovering history when you travel? If you like history and sights in Germany, you can find more reading here:

• Sweden in Germany
• Castles in Germany
• Haithabu Viking Museum

Top image of the post: Römerkanal Information Centre ©Andrea Matzner