- Address: Giebenacherstrasse 17, 4302 Augst, Switzerland
- Phone: +41 61 552 22 22
- Website: www.augustaraurica.ch
- Foundation date: about 44 years BC. e.
- Founder: Lucius Munacius Planck
- Opening hours: Monday-Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
- Cost of visit: adult - 8 francs, children - 6 francs
The famous expression "all roads lead to Rome" can be changed for Europe and say that the whole history of the continent originates from the sacred Roman Empire. In Switzerland there is an ancient Roman archaeological city-museum in the open air, called Augusta-Raurica or Augusta Raurica. It is located twenty kilometers from Basel , near the villages of Kaisaugust and Augst, the oldest colonies on the Rhine.
A bit of history
During excavations in the place of Augusta-Rauriki archeologists discovered a well-developed city with temples, public buildings, baths, taverns, a forum and a complex of Roman theater. The latter is the largest of all the Colosseum, discovered to the north of the Alpine mountains, it can accommodate up to ten thousand people.
Currently, the museum of Augustus Raurica contains the most important archaeological finds that tell visitors about the history of the ancient Roman city. Here, among other things, there are reconstructed dwellings of the Romans, a garden of sculptures, there are additional exhibition halls, and the most important exposition is the antique treasury of the silver of Kaiseraugst. Also at this place is a small Roman zoo, in which goats, donkeys, toothy geese and hairy curly pigs live. Nearby were found the remains of the ancient species of domestic animals.
Description of exhibits
The highlight of the museum, of course, is the ancient Roman coliseum. This is a complex consisting of a scene and stands. It is allowed to walk along the aisles of the amphitheater, but it is strictly forbidden to crawl, climb, jump and break stones for souvenirs. And in a small closed museum are stored artifacts from the excavations, demonstrating the life of ancient and medieval Romans. The room has transparent walls, so if the doors themselves are closed for any reason, all exposures can be viewed from the outside. On the territory of Augusta-Raurica there are copies of Roman houses and farms that can be touched by visitors. There are detailed descriptions of all structures of the settlement in German, as well as drawings, so those who can read the diagrams will be able to imagine a complete picture of the life of the ancient Romans in Switzerland .
By the way, not all exhibits are in one place, so it takes at least four to five hours to inspect all the sights. If you are tired and want to relax, you can buy yourself a fruit, tea, coffee or other drinks for a symbolic price.
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Roman festival on the territory of the Augusta-Raurica Museum
Annually, on the last Sunday of summer, the Roman festival Roemerfest takes place on the territory of the Augusta-Rauriki museum. Visitors get into a real living ancient city with gladiatorial fights and local crafts. Here you can meet legionnaires, priests, Romans in tunics that speak Latin, sing songs and perform with traditional dances. To see the performance of bellicose riders and magnificent legionaries, as well as real battles of courageous gladiators, spectators sit down on the podium of the ancient amphitheater. The festival is opened by vestals and priests, and noble patricians and patricians greet the audience with poems, hymns and speeches, naturally in Latin. He comments on the course of the battle, explains the techniques and tells about the equipment of the gladiators an exotic Italian.
After the end of the gladiatorial battle, the whole audience moves from the amphitheater to the open space, where the construction and march of the legionaries begins. Also, the Roman cavalry (its traditional color red and gold) and the gymnasts will follow. In the market of artisans, they sell Roman ceramics made under the antiquity. For the visitors of the festival they arrange master classes on playing the ancient harp, learn how to make pots, give the chance to wear armor, and the girls will be offered to build a real Ancient Roman hairstyle on their heads.
Roemerfest has been held more than twenty times and every year a new motto is chosen, for example, "Panem et Circenses", which translates as "Bread and Spectacles!". Usually it is very crowded: almost seven hundred participants, and guests of the holiday number about thirty thousand people. So, if you plan to visit Switzerland at the end of August, be sure to check the holiday in the Augusta-Rauriki Museum - it will be an unforgettable entertainment.
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How to get to the Augusta-Rauriki Museum?
From the city of Basel, take bus number 70 to the village of Augst (travel time of ten to fifteen minutes), on the regional train S1 to the station Kaiseraust (the journey time is ten minutes). All transport runs every half hour from all ends. Since the museum is located on the banks of the River Rhine, you can get there and on the boat, however, it takes more time, you will have to cross several locks. Near all stops and stations there are initial signs showing the way to Augustu Raurici.
The museum gives an opportunity to feel the real life of the Romans who lived during the birth of Christ. This is an unforgettable place that will give its guests a sense of belonging to world history and to the whole of mankind. The entrance to the August-Raurik Museum costs about twelve euros. Be sure to take a map at the entrance so that you can navigate on the spot and not miss all the interesting sights. All over the territory there are tablets in English and German, and also audio guides are issued. The museum operates from Monday to Sunday from ten in the morning until five in the evening.
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