The Lower Germanic Limes (NGL) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2021. The legionary camp castra bonnensia in today's Bonn-Castell district is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Frontiers of the Roman Empire - Lower Germanic Limes". As the southernmost of the four legionary camps on the NGL, it played an important role on this section of the border. With its World Heritage status, the city of Bonn has set itself the task of making the Roman heritage visible and tangible in coordination with the responsible LVR-Amt für Bodendenkmalpflege im Rheinland (LVR-ABR).
The Lower Germanic Limes was an important border section of the Roman Empire. It followed the course of the ancient Rhine and stretched for around 400 kilometers between present-day Katwijk (NL) on the North Sea and Bad Breisig in Rhineland-Palatinate. The archaeological sites of the Lower Germanic Limes provide a particularly good illustration of the development of a border of the Roman Empire as well as life and cultural exchange in its vicinity.
The structure of the Roman camp is clearly visible in today's streetscape
The legionary camp in Bonn was one of the largest camps in the Roman Empire and is one of a total of 44 archaeological sites in the Netherlands and Germany that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Frontiers of the Roman Empire - Lower Germanic Limes". The former layout of the ancient complex is still clearly visible in today's streetscape. The camp center was located in the area of today's intersection of Römerstraße (formerly via principalis) and Nordstraße/Badener Str. (the latter: formerly via praetoria).
"The Romans lived in Bonn more than 2,000 years ago and their legionary camp gave the city a structure that is still visible today," says Bonn's district mayor Jochen Reeh-Schall, emphasizing the legacy of this period. "The camp marks the beginning of our city's history, so I am delighted that the presentation area has created a place that gives people an insight into this period and highlights the achievements that the Romans left us. The political committees have always been keen to draw attention to this early city history and we are delighted that this wish has been granted."
Presentation area makes Roman mineral resources tangible
Around 83 percent of the camp has been preserved underground to this day. A partially covered presentation area has been created at Graurheindorf Straße 10 to make these "treasures" and the Lower Germanic Limes tangible. Several text and picture panels provide an insight into the dimensions of the camp and the life of the legionaries. Selected objects, such as copies of gravestones, everyday objects and parts of a wall painting in a soldier's quarters that was recovered in 2020/21, including one that is rarely found north of the Alps, have been added. The Bonn-Information department of the City of Bonn's Office for Economic Development coordinated the project in close cooperation with the responsible LVR-ABR and the LVR-Landesmuseum Bonn (LVR-LMB). "The cooperation with the LVR was characterized by a high level of commitment on the part of everyone involved," says Victoria Appelbe, Economic Development Officer of the City of Bonn, praising the good cooperation. "Supplemented by the internal administrative support of individual specialist departments and the involvement of external partners, Bonn-Information was able to implement this project professionally. With the "Didinkirica" presentation area, a permanent place of knowledge transfer was created that makes you want to travel back in time to the beginnings of our city's history."
Prof. Dr. Michael Schmauder, Head of the Department for Inventory Management and Collection Development at the LVR-LMB, was responsible for providing technical support during the construction of the presentation area. "It is the declared aim of the Rhineland Regional Association to actively support the educational work at the Lower German Limes sites by the LVR Office for the Preservation of Archaeological Monuments in the Rhineland and the LVR-Landesmuseum Bonn in the long term," says Schmauder. "The construction and design of the presentation area in the area of the legionary camp in Bonn is a special highlight here. It is also a reference to the rich holdings of outstanding finds in the State Museum, which will dedicate a separate extensive thematic focus to the Lower German Limes in its new permanent exhibition in the future." It would not have been possible to equip the presentation area without the generous support of the Ministry of Regional Identity, Communities and Local Government, Building and Digitalization of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Guided tours through Roman Bonn
In addition to the "Didinkirica" presentation area, Bonn-Information has initiated further measures to bring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Lower German Limes to life. In May 2022, for example, several tour guides were trained on the topic of "Roman tours" with specialist support from the University of Bonn. The tour lasts approx. 2 to 2.5 hours and essentially leads to the authentic locations of still visible Roman remains.
In addition to Bonn-Information, other providers also offer guided tours on the topic of "Romans in Bonn". For example, the Verein von Altertumsfreunden im Rheinland has been offering free guided tours of Roman Bonn every month from April to October for many years. Participants are taken on a journey back 2,000 years into Bonn's past and gain an expert insight into ancient military, everyday and cult history. The tour begins at the remains of the Roman baths at the Collegium Albertinum and ends at the legionary camp in Bonn's Nordstadt district. The next guided tours will take place on June 16, July 14, August 18, September 8 (Open Monument Day) and October 20, 2024. The association accepts registrations by email to roemischesbonngmailcom.
In cooperation with the museum education department of the LVR-Landesmuseum Bonn, the Bonn-Information is currently developing a Roman rally for children from primary school age. The materials for this should be available for the summer vacations and will get a young target group interested in the topic of Romans.
Visits to the presentation area only after registering with Bonn-Information
The "Didinkirica" presentation area and the diagrams and exhibits on display there are secured behind a fence to protect the exhibits. Registered groups can access the area by prior arrangement with Bonn-Information. A regularly changing code for the digital lock is issued from there. The Bonn-Information team is available Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, on Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm and on Sundays and public holidays from 10 am to 2 pm. Inquiries can be made by email to bonninformationbonnde by telephone on 0228 - 77 50 00, or in person at Windeckstraße 1 on Münsterplatz.
Further information on Bonn's Roman heritage can be found on the city's website at www.bonn.de/roemer.