[ GALLERY ]

The Limesmuseum in Aalen

The Limesmuseum, the biggest and most important museum of Roman history in Germany, is located in the area north of the Alps most heavily fortified by the Romans in ancient times and focuses on the Imperial occupation of German lands in the south during the 2nd Century AD. Built in 1964 as a branch of the Archäologisches Landesmuseum Baden-Würtemberg, the Limesmuseum was enlarged in 1981 and in 2000, and having benefited from investments totalling 1.5 million euros has now become an “archaeological park”.

As part of the most recent expansion, the museum installed a life-size and entirely faithful reconstruction of part of a Roman settlement, measuring 85 x 24 metres overall. With the enlargement accomplished, the museum now offers a complete and significant overview of what military and civil life was like along the Germanic Limes. The Roman army was superbly equipped, as witnessed by the collection of arms unearthed and skilfully restored, notably swords and spears, heavy chain-mail armour, a full-scale reconstruction of a catapult, and other machines of warfare.

Single items of everyday use and cultural significance, on the other hand - utensils, crockery, gold and silver jewellery, coins - afford a glimpse of the social milieu at these outposts. Parts of the surrounding area have also been reorganized to optimize the interface between the visitor routes and the old Roman roads. Outdoor areas are illuminated by Mininuvola and Linealuce fixtures, which provide indirect lighting and bathe the setting in a warm glow, free of glare.