Archäologischer Park Cambodunum

About the museum

On the eastern high bank of the Iller lay the Roman town of Cambodunum, founded under Emperor Augustus around the turn of the era; it is regarded as the oldest town in the province of Raetia and flourished in the 1st century. As early as 1885 the Kempten merchant August Ulrich began digging with the antiquarian society he had founded for the purpose; the forum and basilica came to light. The temple precinct was first uncovered on a large scale by Ludwig Ohlenroth in 1937/38.

In 1982 the town of Kempten, together with the Landesamt für Denkmalpflege and the University of Munich, set up its own municipal archaeology department. From 1983 the temple precinct was partly rebuilt on the basis of the old excavation plans, and the park opened to visitors in the same year. It preserves the never-built-over centre of the ancient town.

Today the open-air museum consists of three areas: the Gallo-Roman temple precinct with temples, altars and a surrounding portico; the protective building over the Small Baths, the governor's bathing complex from the mid-1st century; and the freely accessible forum grounds. Since 2020 an adventure trail with 15 stations and an app have guided visitors around the site, and since 2022 an interactive permanent exhibition in the temple precinct has shown the town's world of belief. Together with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, the municipal archaeology department is investigating the first stone forum in public excavations.

Highlights

• Partly reconstructed Gallo-Roman temple precinct
• Original wall remains of the Small Baths in a protective building
• Forum and basilica of the first capital of Raetia
• Interactive permanent exhibition “Um Gottes Willen”
• Adventure trail with 15 activity stations and an app
• Roman playground and Taberna

Permanent exhibitions

• Um Gottes Willen: Die Tempel von Cambodunum – neu entdeckt – Interactive exhibition in the temple precinct on the town's Roman and local deities and on how archaeologists draw conclusions from finds.
• Kleine Thermen – A protective building shows the original walls of the governor's bathing complex with finds illustrating Roman bathing culture.
• Forum und Basilika – In the freely accessible park, wall remains and a model mark the former centre of trade, administration and jurisdiction.

Founded

1983

Operated by

Stadt Kempten (Allgäu), Kulturamt

Director

Dr. Maike Sieler

Visitors per year

approx. 50,000

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on the 1st Sunday of every month.

Tickets at the ticket offices at the Tempelbezirk (Cambodunumweg 3) and Kleine Thermen (Merktstraße 1); tickets bought online are collected at the Tempelbezirk ticket office. Free admission for, among others, members of ICOM and the Deutscher Museumsbund and with the Ehrenamtskarte.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

Rated under “Reisen für Alle”. The temple precinct and Small Baths are accessed via ramps; the outdoor grounds have water-bound gravel paths that can be difficult depending on the weather. Two loan wheelchairs free of charge at the ticket offices, magnifying glasses and reading glasses on request. Accessible toilets in the Taberna and in the Small Baths. Tactile tours, portable tactile plans, tours with sign language; the app offers DGS (German Sign Language) videos and descriptive audio texts. Dogs only in the park grounds on a lead, assistance dogs allowed everywhere.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's tours, tours with figures, workshops and children's birthday parties (March to November). Adventure trail with activity stations and board games, colouring and puzzle sheets to download. Roman playground with water play and trampoline at the entrance, also usable without admission. Children under 10 only when accompanied by adults.

Getting there & parking

Via the A7, B12 or B19; from Berliner Platz towards the main station follow the signs. Satnav: Cambodunumweg 3 or Merktstraße 1, 87437 Kempten.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Taberna (Roman café) with drinks, cake, ice cream and Roman dishes, Tue–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Museum shop in the ticket building at the Tempelbezirk.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit