Augusta Raurica, near Basel, Switzerland

Large Roman amphitheater, partially renovated.

A short train ride from Basel leads to ruins of a Roman town that has been made into a fun park and museum. When we visited on a Friday, people were getting ready for the 25th annual Roman Festival, which would happen that weekend. The fee was waived because of all the people setting up tents for the festival.

Clare as Caesar!
Tents with food and games for the festival.

The festival seems similar to the Renaissance Festival in Colorado and the Shakespeare Festival in California, except for the time being portrayed. Everyone in costume talking in feigned accents. Seems like great fun, but we would be on our way the next day.

Stone relics recovered from the ancient ruins.

The forum, part of the theatre and the well

An astonishingly large amount of Roman silver was excavated recently near the old town and is now on display in the museum at the site.

Bishop’s residence, recently rediscovered
Cover of one of the tombs in the crypt in the bishop’s residence
An immature stork, reminding us of the stories in Strasbourg
Roman wall, now surrounding a soccer field. Great reuse of space.
These pictures are in the town of Kaiseraugst, which is on the Rhine and was part of the Augusta Raurica settlement.
Replica of Roman house
Entrance to well below the bathhouse
Roman baths

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