Roman Era

One of the most important cultural landscapes of Carinthia (Kärnten) is the Zollfeld. At the east side you will find the 1058 metres tall Magdalensberg. As early as 1502, a life size bronze statue was discovered here, marking the start of interest in the past of this mountain.

Early 1970, the Dutch fisherman Mr. Bout raised a few pieces of sandstone from the sea bed. These showed Roman inscriptions: “to the Goddess Nehalennia, Marcus Agricola, citizen of Trier, salt merchant in Cologne has fulfilled his promise, with pleasure and with reason.” Later that year it became clear, there is talk of an area 400 x 400 metres at 25 metres depth with a Roman temple and more.

In 488 AD, the command came from Rome for all Romans to withdraw to Italy: the end of the West Roman Empire. From different areas groups of people started occupying territory in the Salzburger Land. They formed the people called Bavarii (Bajuwaren) with their own dukes, the Agolfinger with Regensburg as residence and their own laws which played an important role until the 14th century. The Bavarii held a part as large as Old Bavaria, a large part of Austria and South Tirol. They were dependent of the Franks since 595.

An interesting lake dwelling reconstruction museum can be found at Ohrid Lake, one of the oldest and deepest lakes of Europe, at the border between Macedonia and Albania. This area has attracted tourists for centuries. The Museum on Water is still under expansion and should count about 16 dwellings later on.

Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum bring history alive. Vindolanda is a fascinating Roman fort and civilian settlement lying just to the south of Hadrian's Wall.

The Martberg – Mart Mountain is looking out over the Moselle river at a height of 180 metres. This used to be a political and religious centre in the past. 100 BC, the mountain housed a stronghold, a so called Oppidum which was upgraded with a temple area in Roman Times.

The Limes-Park at Rainau is about 6 kilometres long with 11 stations. One of them is the Limes tower in the Mahdholz near Rainau-Schwabsberg.

The association behind the Roman Villa was founded in 1983 in order to safeguard in cooperation with the Bavarian Landesdamt für Bodendenkmalpflege the excavated walls and artefacts. As a second step, together with the Landesstelle für die Nichtstaatlichen Museen, one reconstructed the central complex of the Villa Rustica on top of the original foundations and exhibited all artefacts on the original spot.