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

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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

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Die antiken Abwasserleitungen im Legionärspfad

Roman sites

Main sewage drain – Cloaca Maxima

Not only Roman towns were fitted with modern-style sewage systems but also the permanent legionary camps. Part of the ancient system of drains is still accessible today at Vindonissa. The Main sewage drain can be visited with museum admission.

The main sewage drain ran along the western front of the legionary camp, immediately adjacent to the camp wall. It lay under the road parallel to the camp wall (via sagularis) and formed part of an extensive subterranean sewage system. The system as a whole is estimated to have been more than five kilometres long, running through the entire camp.

Built out of stone, the drains were used for the latrines, thermal baths and well overflows, also ensuring fast drainage of water from the roofs and roads when it rained. The large sewage drain collected the effluent from the smaller side drains, allowing it to flow directly out of the camp to the River Aare in the north.

A functional drainage system was required so as to prevent the spread of disease and epidemics in the legionary camp. Together with the troop toilets, thermal baths and camp infirmary, the drainage system was one of the most important hygienic facilities in keeping the approx. 6,000 legionaries healthy and therefore fit for action.

The sewage drain was discovered as long ago as 1899. It was investigated once again in 1907 and the excavator at the time named it the "Cloaca Maxima of Vindonissa" - in reference to the monumental drainage system in Rome itself. In order to make the sewage drain accessible to the public in the early 20th century, a section measuring at least 20 metres in length was preserved. After this the "Cloaca Maxima" was neglected. It was not until some 100 years later that it was possible to open up the drain to Legionary Path visitors: measuring two metres in height and one metre in width, it can be conveniently accessed.

The main sewage drain can be visited with museum admission.