Vindonissa Legionary Trail

Accessibility

Getting here Arriving by car For those arriving by car, disabled parking spaces are available on the premises of Königsfelden Psychiatric Services. These are only a few hundred metres away from the Le

 
Habsburg Castle

Accessibility

Getting here Arriving by car We generally recommend arriving by car. The steeply sloping access to the castle courtyard is closed off with a barrier. Visitors with reduced mobility may enter the court

 
Lenzburg Castle

Accessibility

Getting here Arriving by car Visitors with reduced mobility can park at the rear entrance of the castle by appointment (follow the "Lieferanten/Behinderte" sign). From this entrance (ring the bell at

 
Wildegg Castle

Accessibility

Getting here Arriving by car Visitors with reduced mobility may drive up to the castle gate. However, no parking spaces are available here. We kindly ask you to park your vehicle in the general car pa

 
Königsfelden Abbey

Accessibility

Getting here Arriving by car Visitors with reduced mobility can park at the meeting centre of Königsfelden Psychiatric Services. From there it is about 4 minutes to the convent church on a level path.

 
Hallwyl Castle

Accessibility

Getting here Arriving by car Parking spaces for visitors with reduced mobility are available directly adjacent to the castle. There is also a disabled parking space in the general car park. Getting he

 
Vindonissa Museum

Accessibility

Getting here Arriving by car Parking spaces for people with reduced mobility are available at the Eisi multi-storey car park in the centre of Brugg. The short distance to the Vindonissa Museum is flat

 
Wildegg Castle

Bistro

Enjoy the unique ambience of Wildegg Castle in the bistro, on the loggia or the terrace facing the courtyard. Admission to the castle bistro during museum opening hours is free of charge. CHF, EUR and

 
Vindonissa Museum

Treasures from Vindonissa

Admission: Museum entrance fee Useful information The archaeological tour is included in the museum entrance fee . Registration is not required. Adults can also complete the tour without the treasure

 
Vindonissa Museum

Opening hours and entrance fees

Opening hours Regular opening hours Monday closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 1 pm – 5 pm For schools and groups on request additionally 10 – 12 midday Saturday closed Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm *Spe

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Antikes Vindonissa

History

The only Roman legionary camp in Switzerland

The Roman legionary camp Vindonissa was established at Windisch 2,000 years ago. Some 6,000 legionaries served the Emperor in Rome based at the only legionary camp in Switzerland. Eleven original sites allow visitors to view Vindonissa and experience the camp at first hand.

The origins of the ancient site of Vindonissa date back to a Celtic settlement controlling the strategically important position at the confluence of the Aare, Reuss and Limmat rivers. During the Alpine campaign of Emperor Augustus in 15 BC, Roman soldiers established a military post here which was later developed into a legionary camp under Emperor Tiberius (14–37 AD).

The camp was some 20 hectares in size and was initially constructed by the 13th Legion out of wood and clay. The 21st Legion then gradually replaced and extended the existing buildings with stone structures. The last unit to occupy the site was the 11th Legion, which was withdrawn by Emperor Trajan into the Danube region in 101 AD. As time went on, a civil settlement became established outside the legionary camp and this continued to exist after the troops were withdrawn.

The legionaries of Vindonissa had a key role to play not only in the Roman conquest of the region on the right bank of the Rhine but also in establishing provincial structures in the southern Germania Superior. There was no place between the Alps and the Rhine where Rome's presence was more powerful. As many as 6,000 legionaries and officers also brought their Mediterranean lifestyle and civilisatory achievements with them, acting as a kind of "motor of Romanization".