Augusta Raurica – visiting Romans in Switzerland

Near Basel, you can find the ruins from the days of ancient Rome, which form the largest complex of Roman ruins in Switzerland. The provincial capital of Augusta Raurica has been founded in 44 BC in the territory of the Raurica Gallic tribe and in the 2nd century AD even had a population of 20,000. *)

Getting there

Augusta Raurica is located on the Giebenacherstrasse 17, 4302 Augst. It is easily reachable from Basel SBB, Frick or Rheinfelden by train S1 (stop Kaiseraugst). From the station, it is a 15-minutes walk. By car: from Bern, follow the motorway to Basel, then take the exit Augst and follow the brown signs “Augusta Raurica”. There is a metered parking lot P1 opposite the building of the museum.

Opening hours and admission fees

Museum and Roman House are open daily from 10 am – 5 pm. Outdoor areas are open 24 hours / 365 days a year. Outdoor areas, monuments, sites, and Animal park are free of charge. Admission fees to the Museum incl. Roman house is 8 CHF/adult and 6 CHF/reduced.

Outdoor areas

Theater

The entire outdoor area is open and available for free, and its biggest attraction is probably a renovated classical ancient theater for 10,000 spectators, which is the best-preserved work of its kind north of the Alps.

Forum, Basilica & Curia, Bath complex

But, of course, visitors can be well attracted by the ruins of the Curia, spa, or temple.

What I really appreciate are the “peepholes”, thanks to which the visitor has the opportunity to see what the place used to look like before.

Roman house & Museum

Visitors can also go to the Roman museum. We were lucky during our first visit that that day was the International Day of Museums and the entrance to the museum was free (a list of upcoming events can be found on the website). Children had a chance to take a peek and “feel” how life was in the house of the ancient Romans. And it was certainly an interesting life. Despite the fact that time writing on paper had not been used yet, engraving on wax tables was more common, that games were not played on iPads, but only with stones or wooden swords.