Discover Roman Luxembourg: From Underground Aqueducts to Ancient Theatres

What did the Romans ever do for us? Remember that Monty Python sketch in Life of Brian?

Well, quite a lot, if you look at the Roman ruins dotted around Luxembourg, including an underground aqueduct which still delivers water to the Walferdange and Steinsel municipalities.

There are a total of 30 Roman ruins in Luxembourg and you can read about them extensively in this blog for a good background on what the Romans did in Luxembourg then take a look at the sites we suggest you visit below.

The blog states that the first traces of settlement in Luxembourg go back to the Celts around the second century BC. In 50 BC the troops of Julius Caesar occupied the Treveri lands, including what is now Luxembourg.

The Celts developed relatively peaceful relations with the Romans until the latter withdrew in the 400s, and the German Franks later invaded.

Luxembourg was strategically located at an intersection of two Roman roads – one from Trier to Reims via Arlon, the other from Metz to Aachen. Trier later became the fortified capital of Rome’s northern territories in 293 AD.

We’ve highlighted a few of the best ruins and excavations to visit if you want to discover more about the Romans from their villas to their heating systems, temples and fortifications.

Echternach Roman villa

Echternach’s Roman Villa, restored in the 1970s, gives you a real feel for what life was like for wealthy Romans, with its under-floor heating and swimming pools.

The visitor centre shows the daily life in this Roman villa, the largest one north of the alps, using models and interiors to give a glimpse into the reception and dining rooms, the kitchen, private quarters and bathing facilities. You can also track the development of the villa through time with detailed architectural models.

Afterwards, visit a reconstructed Roman garden with over 70 plants including medicinal plants, vegetables, herbs and spices, and a vine-covered pergola. Find out which crops were grown by the Celts and the new plants introduced by the Romans such as dill, asparagus, figs and peaches.

It’s open from 16 April to end of September from Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 to 12.00 and 13.00 to 17.00, with free guided tours on Sunday at 15.00. By the lake and a playground, it’s a great place to discover, followed by a walk around the lake or, in the summer season, even a swim.

Find out more here.

Goeblange villas with heated baths

Just 1 km north-east of the village of Goeblange in the Mierscher forest you can find the extensive remains of a Roman farming community, including two large villas which have been excavated and the foundations partially rebuilt, with other building foundations now being unearthed.

The remains or a Roman estate complete with fortifications against German invaders  © Photo credit: Gerry Huberty

Just 1 km north-east of the village of Goeblange in the Mierscher forest you can find the extensive remains of a Roman farming community, including two large villas which have been excavated and the foundations partially rebuilt, with other building foundations now being unearthed.

The main villa covers 700 square metres, with a cellar containing a cistern for water supply but the estate comprised at least seven stone buildings and was enclosed by a wall.

The south façade has a large porch, towers and a central door, showing it was impressive and probably belonged to someone with money.

In a second building at the north-west you’ll find a caldarium for heated baths. It’s likely, according to the panels, that the site was abandoned in the 4th century.

The site has a defensive bulwark of three moats, earthen ramparts and a watchtower – testimony to the fact the estate was subject to German invasion in the third century.

The estate was rediscovered by Pastor Georges Kaysor in 1964. On site, you’ll find information panels which give an overview of the archaeological findings from the Stone and Bronze Ages in addition to the Celtic and Gallo-Roman era but which also detail the purpose of each building.

You can also follow a 500 metre path to see the burial mounds of 13 Celtic graves between Goeblange and Nospelt.

You can visit the site for free at any time, and it’s a nice spot to go for a dog walk too. Find out more here.

Dalheim – Roman settlement with theatre

Did you know that beneath Dalheim village lie the ruins of a Roman settlement with public baths and a theatre?

The Ricciacum is home to a well-preserved Gallo-Roman theatre that could seat nearly 3,500 spectators and dating from the 2nd century AD. This site was first excavated around 1850 and thousands of objects were discovered. It appears the settlement grew until the 3rd century to cover an area of 35 hectares, with private houses, public buildings, and baths, in addition to two cemeteries. There is a temple which dates back to Emperor Hadrian’s reign.

The settlement was founded during the reign of Emperor Augustus to serve as a road house. In 70 AD it was reorganised and stone constructions built, thus beginning the heyday of the vicus.

Locals have known about the site since the 17th century through the research of Jesuit Father Alexandre Wiltheim, but the first systematic excavations did not happen until the mid 19th century.

The first two rows of the theatre are equipped with back and arm rests so were places of honour. In the 1980s a necropolis and temples were uncovered and this century thermal baths were discovered.

Roman amphitheatre at Dalheim  © Photo credit: Marc Wilwert

The first two rows of the theatre are equipped with back and arm rests so were places of honour. In the 1980s a necropolis and temples were uncovered and this century thermal baths were discovered.

The objects found indicate it was home to artisans and merchants.

It’s open Friday to Sunday from 14.00 to 18.00 from 1 June to 30 September, you can find more information on the site and its history here.

Vichten Muses mosaic

The village of Vichten still retains a copy of the mosaic from 240 AD which now resides in the Museum of Art and History. The mosaic was discovered in 1995 and depicts the poet Homer within a circle of nine muses, in the order determined by Hesiod around 700 BC.

Muses with poet Homer. The Mosaic found in Vichten, where you can follow the Roman trail © Photo credit: Anouk Antony

The village of Vichten still retains a copy of the mosaic from 240 AD which now resides in the Museum of Art and History. The mosaic was discovered in 1995 and depicts the poet Homer within a circle of nine muses, in the order determined by Hesiod around 700 BC.

The 60 square metre mosaic was created at a workshop in Trier and covered the floor of a reception hall in a villa. A detailed copy can be viewed in situ between the church and the community centre.

Find out more here, or follow the Roman trail via five stations that provide interactive information on topics such as social structure, nutrition, dye plants and Roman games. The trail also has additional information on the mosaic.

Mamer public baths

Whilst the remains of a Roman public bath are reconstructed, Mamer was on the road linking Trier to Reims and there is an old Roman road Kiem (Latin for caminus). Mambra was a villa with thermal baths situated on the banks of the River Mamer and it is likely the original settlement was burned down by German invaders in the year 276.

Find out more here.

Steinsel – Roman temple

Not far from the apple orchards, you’ll find the remains of an extensive Roman temple in the woods, first excavated in the late 1950s. There’s a central temple plus several adjoining buildings, believed to be built in the 1st century AD as a pilgrim shrine, in an area which at the time was populated by several Roman estates. It’s likely the temple was abandoned with the spread of Christianity in the 4th century.

Find out more here.

Rodange – Trevian oppidum

Surrounded by ramparts of nearly 3km length, this Gallo-Roman vicus or small settlement was built between the 1st and 5th century.

Mersch villa with a hypocaust

This large Gallo-Roman villa was built in the 1st century with a hypocaust and a 75-metre long basin in front of the villa. The hypocaust (covered with a roof) acted as a central heating system.

The site was first excavated in the early 20th century by architect K Arendt and later, in 1966, the Roman remains were revealed. Archaeologists found foundation walls, a cellar and at least two rooms heated by the hypocaust, one decorated with a mosaic.

Find out more here.

Walferdange Roman underground aqueduct

The Raschpëtzer is an aqueduct (or qanat) from Roman times, consisting of about 35 wells dug into the rock and linked together by a 600 metre main passage and a net of secondary passages, designed to capture the underground water and take it to Roman villas.

This system was used extensively in the region and was built in 130 AD based on a Persian design used in the desserts of Iran. Built 36 metres underground, the aqueduct has a capacity of 180 cubic metres of drinking water per day for the current community.

You can visit it on a great circular walk starting in Helmsdange which also gives great views from the hill top. There are technical panel explanations nearby.

Find out more here.

A Persian-style underground aqueduct built by the Romans in Walferdange © Photo credit: Guy Jallay