Explore Bavaria's Antiquity: 7 Museums Unveiling Roman, Celtic, and Germanic Legacies

Cambodunum is considered to be the oldest Roman town in Germany mentioned in writing. The remains of the Roman city of Cambodunum were excavated on the right bank of the Iller as early as 1885. Around 100 years later, the Archäologischer Park Cambodunum (Cambodunum Archaeological Park) opened here. The forum area and the original remains of a bath building take visitors back to the former Roman city. The partially reconstructed temple district with its Gallo-Roman temple is unique.

Even the Romans knew that the Allgäu was beautiful. That's why a visit to Kempten is always worthwhile today, whether as a starting point for an excursion to the Allgäu Alps or for a stroll through the city centre.

A touch of Pompeii in the centre of Aschaffenburg. King Ludwig I loved antiquity so much that he had the Pompejanum (Pompeianum), a Roman house (complete with courtyard, kitchen and garden) modelled on the famous Casa dei Dioskuri in Pompeii, built for himself. Colourful frescoes and magnificent mosaic floors convey a piece of the Mediterranean lifestyle.

In these rooms, the Staatliche Antikensammlungen (State collections of antiquities) and the Glyptothek Munich exhibit high-ranking objects such as Roman marble sculptures, small bronzes, glassware and much more that illustrate life in a Roman house. Among the most valuable exhibits are two marble thrones of the gods.

For art lovers, however, there is much more to see in Aschaffenburg. Schloss Johannisburg (Johannisburg Castle) is one of the most beautiful late Renaissance buildings in Germany and home to world-famous works of art. The Christian Schad Museum (Christian Schad Museum) and the birthplace of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner are just two of the many museums in the city. With so much art and culture, the best way to end the day is in the enchanting city centre with its parks, gardens and cafés.

We must also have in Munich what is called Museo in Rome!" Ever since his first trip to Rome, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria was so impressed by the city and its antiquities that he began to acquire antique works of art on a large scale. The Glyptothek, Munich's first public museum, was built on Königsplatz for his collection of ancient sculptures and opened in 1830.

Today, the Glyptothek houses one of the world's most important collections of Greek and Roman marble sculptures. Highlights include the "Medusa Rondanini", the "Barberine Faun" and the pediment figures from the Temple of Aphaia in Aegina.

The Staatliche Antikensammlungen (State collections of antiquities ) opposite are home to Greek, Etruscan and Roman 'minor art'. Richly decorated vases, bronzes, terracottas, glass and gold jewellery illustrate the multifaceted imagery and world of Greek and Etruscan myths and everyday life.

Covering an area of 380 hectares, the Celtic oppidum of Manching dwarfed many a village in the area around Ingolstadt today. The Celtic town was one of the largest Iron Age settlements in Central Europe. A mysterious cult tree and the wrecks of two Roman patrol boats are evidence of Manching's outstanding importance as a trading metropolis. They date from around 100 AD, when Roman soldiers from the Oberstimm military fort controlled the Danube.

In addition to the kelten römer museum manching (celts romans museum manching), the many bathing lakes in the surrounding area and Ingolstadt's nearby old town centre with its culture, history and, of course, many cafés are also worth a visit.

A Roman treasure in the front garden? An amateur gardener from Weißenburg was amazed when he found bronze statuettes of gods and silver votive tablets in his hands in 1979. An exceptional find that had to be presented appropriately. The Weißenburg treasure trove became the highlight of a multifaceted exhibition at the RömerMuseum Weißenburg (RomanMuseum). With the Biriciana fort, the vicus and the Römische Thermen (Roman thermal baths), Weißenburg also has a lot more to offer from Roman times. Military and civilian life on the Limes, crafts, trade and religion - this and much more was part of everyday life on the edge of the Roman Empire.

And after the museum visit? A relaxed stroll through Weißenburg is like travelling back to Roman times. How about a visit to the fascinating Römische Thermen (Roman thermal baths), whose foundation walls still stand even after almost 2000 years? Or a patrol through the grounds of the Biriciana fort (external link, opens in a new window), which can be visited all year round, with its reconstructed north gate? There is also plenty to see for medieval and early modern fans: the Imperial City Museum, the enchanting Old Town and the Wülzburg Castle, high above the city.

Augusta Vindelicum - Roman provincial capital and supra-regional trading centre. Spectacular finds from Roman times are part of the programme. Although the Roman Museum is currently closed, visitors do not have to miss out on the museum experience. The current exhibition in the Armoury offers one highlight after another, from famous stone monuments and wooden artefacts to a treasure trove of gold coins. What is hidden in the display cases and crates in the Roman armoury? Find out and experience the secrets and stories of one of the oldest cities in Germany. During guided tours and lectures, you can learn all about Roman history. You can also explore the exhibition on your own with audio guides and tablets.

The Zeughaus is located in the centre of Augsburg's city centre and invites you to linger a while. Cosy cafés and parks, the cathedral, the Augsburg Puppet Theate and a variety of famous museums - there is something for everyone, young and old. Since 2019, the city has even been able to call itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its "Augsburg Water Management System".

The Roman history of Bavaria begins with the conquest of Raetia around 15 BC, an eventful period from which numerous archaeological finds have been preserved. Many of these finds can be seen in the Archäologische Staatssammlung (State Archaeological Collection). It not only documents Roman Bavaria, but also presents archaeological finds from the Palaeolithic Age to modern times.

Find out more about the museum network in our article Experience antiquity in Bavaria!

Written for the museum network "Antiquity in Bavaria" by Katharina Heinrich M.A., Dr Aaltje Hidding and Emanuel Schormair M.A.