Exploring Roman Germany
Although the boundaries of the Roman Empire never overlapped with much of what is Germany today, there are still many magnificent Roman archaeological sites to visit. As well as some exceptional museums, with collections of Roman artefacts from these sites in Germany, but also from other countries, including Italy, Greece, Türkiye and Egypt. The modern day boundaries of Germany include the following Roman provinces: Gallia Belgica, Germania Inferior, Germania Superior and Raetia.
5 Must See Roman Sites & Museums
Trier
Germanic National Museum
Xanten Archaeological Park
Römerkastell Saalburg
Cologne
This page about the Romans in Germany, Roman archaeological sites and museums with Roman collections, is a section in our Guide to Exploring the Roman World. Readers wishing to visit sites and museums in Germany will find visitor information, links to official websites as well as other helpful resources.Â
Those who have an account (free of charge) can create their own travel lists and itineraries. To benefit fully from this website’s travel planning features, see the User’s Guide. The information on this page has been put together by various members of the Archaeology Travel team, based on both personal visits and research.
Many of Germany’s older towns and cities were established by the Romans, often then building on the foundations of settlements of Iron Age Celts. Some of these towns began as forts along the Limes Germanicus, a defensive boundary of natural and built features that separated the Roman provinces from the Germanic tribes.
Some of the oldest collections of Roman artefacts in Germany were acquired by the kings of Prussia and Bavaria. These can be seen in Berlin and Munich. Many Roman archaeological attractions have their own onsite exhibition facilities, such as Varusschlacht and Saalburg. There are also exceptional regional museums in Germany displaying local Roman antiquities.Â
