Roman Villa Brombach

The Villa Rustica of Brombach is a former Roman estate (villa rustica) located in the district of Brombach, a part of the city of Lörrach in Baden-Württemberg (Germany). The remains, discovered in the late 1970s in the "Wellental" area, belong to a Roman estate built in the 2nd century AD and burned down in the 3rd century AD. The Roman ruin is protected as a registered cultural monument under the Monument Protection Act of the State of Baden-Württemberg (DSchG). The site was sold by the original owners to the city of Lörrach. The Villa Rustica has been excavated and conserved in its foundations. Artifacts from the ancient estate are displayed in the Dreiländermuseum.

In 1979, Gerhard Billmann and Hermann Ziereisen found the foundations of a Roman villa. Following an expert opinion by archaeologist Erhard Richter from Grenzach-Wyhlen, the State Office for Monument Preservation Baden-Württemberg granted permission for further excavation work, which began on March 28, 1981, under Richter's direction. The excavation work, which lasted until 1983, was accompanied by residents of Brombach and Grenzach-Wyhlen. Since the estate extended over three different properties, the city purchased it from the owners through the efforts of the then mayor Egon Hugenschmidt. After the remains were uncovered, the excavation site was officially handed over to the city in 1984. In addition to the foundations of the partially cellared estate, the archaeological group also found food supplies preserved by fire and remnants of agricultural tools, hunting weapons, and other artifacts. These can be viewed in the Dreiländermuseum and the Museum of Prehistory and Early History in the Colombischlössle in Freiburg im Breisgau. The entire complex served multiple purposes but was primarily used for residential and economic purposes.

Due to the reddening of the cellar walls and fire debris, it is assumed that the destruction of the estate in the 3rd century was caused by a fire, the cause of which is unknown. The destruction coincides with the invasion of the Alamanni beyond the Limes (Limesfall). No reconstruction took place after the destruction.