Römermuseum Güglingen

Description

Trading and Marketplace Connecting the Upper Rhine to the Middle Neckar

The Vicus of Güglingen was the central trading and marketplace in the Zabergäu. The estimated population of this purely rural civilian settlement is between 800 to 1000 inhabitants. This significant sub-center existed from around 120 AD to the mid-3rd century.

The location served as an important reference point for the surrounding farms. It was conveniently situated on the Zabertal road, an essential trade corridor from the Upper Rhine area to the Middle Neckar region.

Extensive excavations began in 1999, covering approximately 4.5 hectares of the estimated 10-hectare settlement area. Consequently, Güglingen is among the largest continuously excavated areas of this settlement type.
 

The Permanent Exhibition at the Roman Museum

The Roman Museum in Güglingen houses around 2000 exhibits across three floors. With its numerous exhibition complexes, it sheds light on various aspects of Roman culture.

Numerous finds and findings came to light during the excavations in Roman Güglingen – both spectacular and unique, alongside more everyday items. The abundant finds illustrate nearly all life areas, from daily living and working to the world of gods: This is particularly well-represented - primarily through highly qualitative stone monuments, which among other things demonstrate the significant influence of originally Celtic deities in the settlement. Notable are the testimonies of the Mithras cult, which in Güglingen had two sanctuaries, containing a variety of cult artifacts.

The Zabergäu as a Roman archaeological landscape is also richly illustrated: it ranks among the most densely populated landscapes in Baden-Württemberg during Roman times and thus offers various highlights. These include, for example, the Caracalla inscription from Meimsheim, the sculpture find from Hausen an der Zaber, or the unusually richly equipped villa of Güglingen-Frauenzimmern with its water basin and unique Odyssey reliefs.

A Lively Past - A Museum Experience

Far from dusty, the presentation in the Güglingen Roman Museum is highly engaging: Extensively, walkable 1:1 reconstructions form the setting for the presentation of objects. Be it a Roman cellar, a mysterious Mithras sanctuary, or a terraced house that can be traversed from the bustling main street to the backyard - all make the visit an illustrative and close-up experience. Numerous sound installations transport the visitor into life 1800 years ago.

Additionally, a 3-D animation takes the viewer on a virtual flight over the Roman Zabertal, and several models enrich the permanent exhibition.

Much to Discover

Touching is expressly permitted: Every visitor can embark on their own individual discovery journey - fascinating and interesting things are hidden behind many flaps and drawers.

Various hands-on elements also invite the visitor to get involved: For instance, one can try a balance scale, attempt spinning with a hand spindle, or craft their own Roman deity.

Museum Shop and Cafeteria

The museum café provides an opportunity to round off the visit and can be rented for groups and events if interested. Tastings of local wines are also possible here.

The museum shop offers a selected range of items and publications related to the permanent exhibition or past special exhibitions. Most of the offerings are also available online.

The Archaeological Open-Air Site

The original site of Roman Güglingen is located south of the Zaber in the present-day industrial area "Ochsenwiesen/Steinäcker." Here, there is an Archaeological Open-Air Site that is a meaningful addition to the permanent exhibition in the Roman Museum.

Roman Güglingen is currently the only site in Baden-Württemberg with two excavated sanctuaries of the Mithras cult. Both can be seen in the open-air site - Mithraeum I is represented by the outline of its layout, and Mithraeum II is partially reconstructed to show the half-timbered construction of the building and offers the opportunity to try out the lying surfaces where the followers of the secret cult would sit during ceremonies. Both sanctuaries are connected by a "Seven Station Path," which gradually introduces visitors to the different initiation grades of the Mithras religion.

Two terraced house layouts and indicated network paths further clarify the settlement´s orientation in the landscape. On the site of one of the houses, a well was preserved and partially reconstructed - with a depth of over 8 meters, it remains one of the deepest in the settlement and continues to yield water to this day.

The site is accessible year-round and can be reached on foot from Emil-Weber-Straße.