Roman Villa
In Roman times the territory around Treuchtlingen belonged to the province Raetia in the vicinity of the Limes, an ancient Roman defense system. The food supply of the military and the civilian population of the villages was ensured by a number of Roman Villas (villae rusticae).
One such complex was situated next to the present-day “Weinbergshof” farm on the south slope of the Nagelberg hill. The foundations of the residential building have been excavated and restored. The southern façade consists of a portico which had two flanking towers on each corner. The pillars are based on the excavated originals. Aerial pictures proved that the house also had several outbuildings and a bathroom, but these rooms were not excavated.
A 3D animation(3D animation of the Roman villa) visualises the complex: The house is an example of a portico villa with a corner tower, a popular structure in Roman provinces. Several residential rooms in the eastern and western aisles and an open shed in the north are grouped around a main courtyard. In the porticos a complete floor finish made out of limestone mortar and remnants of red painted wall plaster were preserved. Of the recovered findings a golden chain with garnet pearls, a crescent-shaped pendant, a piece of military decoration (latin: torques) and the occipital piece of a parade helmet received special attention.
The villa was occupied in the second and early third century AD and later destroyed by Alemani after the successful attack on the Limes in the middle of the third century.
There were at least six villas in the closer surroundings of Treuchtlingen. In 1964 a villa in Schambach was excavated. The generous architecture, the well preserved multicoloured paintings on the interior walls and the hypocaust heating system reflect the urban culture of the time. Another structure was eventually built on that site.
The Roman citizens in the hinterland of the Limes were not poor as was proven by a bronze fountain masque which was found in another villa in Schambach, although this site has not been fully excavated. This pinnacle of Roman craftwork is amazing because of its detailed portrayal of the god Okeanos despite having a diameter of just 17 centimetres. The original is on display in the archaeological national museum in Munich while larger copies are on display at the Roman baths in Weissenburg.
A votive stone located in the alleyway of the Treuchlichen’s town castle illustrates the Romans’ legacy.
Its inscription reads: ==AUREL(i)ARUM EMERITAE CON(i)UGI SABINAE FILIAE VERECUNDAE MATR(i) SABINEUS SABINUS CARISSIMIS== - Sabineus Sabinus (erects this stone for) his dearest among the Aureliens, (his) wife Emerita, (his) daughter Sabina, (his) mother Verecunda.
In Weissenburg the Bavarian Limes information centre and the Roman museum with its noteworthy treasure, the Roman baths and the Castellum Biriciana with its reconstructed north gate are also well worth a visit.
