Augusta Raurica

Augusta Raurica is a large Roman archaeological site and living-history museum near the village of Augst in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland, founded around 44 BC as a Roman settlement. It preserves a broad sequence of urban remains from the late Republican and Imperial periods.

The site highlights include a ruined Roman theatre, a substantial amphitheatre and an on-site museum that displays artifacts and reconstructions from the settlement. Pathways through the archaeological park allow visitors to see standing remains, excavated foundations and museum displays over several hectares.

Augusta Raurica was established in the late 1st century BC and developed into a prosperous Roman town during the early Imperial period; over subsequent centuries its fortunes changed and parts of the town were abandoned or repurposed.

The archaeological park and museum lie near the modern community of Augst, roughly on the east side of the Rhine near Basel in northern Switzerland, and are easily reached from the Basel region.

• Seasonal events: Summer season events and theatre performances are staged in the restored Roman theatre; check the site calendar for dates.

What to See #

• Roman Theatre: A Roman theatre dating to the early Imperial period, used in antiquity for performances and now incorporated into the open-air archaeological park.
• Amphitheatre: A partly excavated amphitheatre and surrounding remains that form part of the town plan preserved within the archaeological park.
• Archaeological Museum: A museum adjacent to the archaeological park that presents finds from the site, reconstructions and interpretation of the Roman town founded in the late Republican period.