Augusta Raurica (one day)

3 September

Description

In ancient times the Rhine was one of Europe’s most important transport links. Augusta Raurica owes its existence to Gaius Julius Caesar’s strategic considerations. He ordered his general Lucius Munatius Plancus to establish a first colony directly on the river, in other words at the junction of the North-South / West-East road connections. The actual construction of the main town of the colony started around 15 BC.

The town quickly developed into a regional center with market places, theaters, thermal baths and temples and more than 10,000 people lived there in its zenith around 200 AD. The decline started in the 3rd century: The former town center around the forum was abandoned and the army built a mighty fort directly on the Rhine, which developed into the modern Kaiseraugst in the early middle ages. With the development of the city of Basel in the 7th century, the settlement lost its importance and became a small fishing village.

The traces of the former metropolis have been archaeologically explored for the past 450 years, and today Augusta Raurica is an archaeological site, a research center and a museum with impressive ruins and rich finds. The well-preserved monuments, numerous workshops for adults and children and the fascinating guided tours make this old Roman town an important tourist attraction in the region, with more than 130,000 visitors per year.

For the Congress tour on 3rd September 2019 to Augusta Raurica there will be organized guided tours in English to Theatre, Temple on the Schönbühl hill, Forum, Curia, Subterranean well house, Museum with the silver treasure, Roman house, Trading house Schmidmatt, Kaiseraugst Fort, Rhine baths and Early church.

Capacity:

10 - 25 people

Price:

130 EUR (includes transportation from and to Bern, lunch, guides and tickets to all visits)

Transportation:

train

Meeting point:

"Treffpunkt" in Bern train station, 8:40

Approximate schedule

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