Roman Villa Rustica

A few kilometers northeast of the former Roman city of Ladenburg (Lopodunum) lies a very beautiful testament to the ancient settlement of the Rhine-Neckar region. The impressively reconstructed ruins show the main house of a Roman estate in its final stage of development. The estate was probably built at the beginning of the first century AD and was rebuilt several times until the Romans withdrew across the Rhine around 260 AD. The main house was built in the so-called portico style, which is characterized by a semi-open colonnade in the entrance area. Also dating from this period are the construction of the courtyard temple, the small sanctuary, and the bathhouse, which lies under the field a little to the south. In the middle of the 2nd century AD, extensive enlargement measures were carried out on the bathhouse, the temple, and the main house. The main house received two-story extensions, so-called corner risalits, to the right and left of the entrance area. Also dating from this period is the creation of the rectangular fish pond (30 m x 7 m), directly in front of the entrance area of the main house. The last expansion took place in the first half of the 3rd century AD. The main house received a two-story extension and a colonnade was built, connecting the house with the temple. The fish pond was filled in again at this time.