Vindonissa Legionary Trail

Tours for schools

The Vindonissa Legionary Trail offers guided tours, play tours and overnight stays in Roman-style accommodation for schools and kindergartens. Some of the offers can be booked in English on request. I

 
Vindonissa Museum

Tours for schools

At the Vindonissa Museum in Brugg, pupils can experience Roman history at first hand. The guided tours and other offers can be booked in English on request Turn archaeologist, discover small treasures

 
Wildegg Castle

Guided tours for groups

Wildegg Castle offers guided tours and workshops for groups. These can also be booked in English on request. Discover Wildegg Castle as a group. During the tour you will get to know the former residen

 
Habsburg Castle

Guided tours for groups

Habsburg Castle offers guided tours and special offers for groups. These can also be booked in English on request. Experience Habsburg Castle in a group. Museum Aargau offers numerous guided tours and

 
Lenzburg Castle

Guided tours for groups

Lenzburg Castle offers guided tours and workshops for groups. These can also be booked in English on request. Experience Lenzburg Castle in a group. Museum Aargau offers numerous guided tours and work

 
Hallwyl Castle

Guided tours for groups

Hallwyl Castle offers guided tours and workshops for groups. These can also be booked in English on request. Experience Hallwyl Castle in a group. Museum Aargau offers numerous guided tours and worksh

 
Wettingen Abbey

Guided tours for groups

Wettingen Abbey offers guided tours for groups. On request, they can also be organised in French. Offers for groups (in German) contact +41 (0)848 871 200 Send a message Telephone availability Tuesday

 
Hallwyl Castle

Castle tour

With "Museum Aargau Guide" 0 Discover Hallwyl Castle In the many rooms at Hallwyl Castle there are individual numbers on steles as well as on portraits. By typing in the number into the "Museum Aargau

 
Lenzburg Castle

Header Logo

 
Hallwyl Castle

Permanent exhibition with mill island

Admission: Museum entrance fee Permanent exhibition on the family and construction history Sowing and reaping, rulers and servants, hopes and prayers: discover the medieval world of the lords of Hallw

Gradian
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".