Römermuseum Schwarzenacker

Current exhibitions

About the museum

In Roman times, Schwarzenacker, now a district of Homburg, was the site of a small town on the long-distance road to Trier. Founded under Augustus, the settlement covered 25 to 30 hectares and had around 2,000 inhabitants until it burned down during an Alemannic raid around 275/276 AD. Its ancient name has not been handed down.

From 1966 onward, archaeologist Alfons Kolling had parts of the settlement excavated and built up the open-air museum. On his initiative, the town of Homburg, the Saarpfalz district, and the Karlsberg brewery established a foundation that still funds operation, maintenance, and further research today. About one hectare has been uncovered so far; several buildings, such as the "Haus des Augenarztes" (eye doctor's house), the taberna of Capitolinus, a bakery, and an inn, have been reconstructed.

The museum also includes the pink Edelhaus, a Baroque manor house from around 1725 built to plans by Jonas Erikson Sundahl. The upper floors display finds from everyday Roman life, and since 2003 the first floor has shown around 30 paintings by Johann Christian von Mannlich and the Zweibrücken court painters, on loan from the Bavarian State Painting Collections (Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen). A Baroque garden with a reconstructed Gallo-Roman ambulatory temple and a Jupiter giant column links the Edelhaus and the excavation site.

Highlights

• Reconstructed "Haus des Augenarztes" (eye doctor's house) with wall paintings and underfloor heating
• Taberna of Capitolinus and a Roman bakery
• Baroque garden with ambulatory temple and Jupiter giant column
• Gallery of paintings by the Palatinate-Zweibrücken court painters in the Edelhaus
• Replicas of the Roman equestrian statues from Breitfurt

Permanent exhibitions

• Römische Siedlung Schwarzenacker – Excavated foundations, cellars, streets, and drains of a Gallo-Roman vicus, with reconstructed houses and finds from everyday life.
• Johann Christian von Mannlich und die Pfalz-Zweibrücker Malerei des 18. Jahrhunderts – Around 30 landscape, animal, and court paintings from the circle of the Dukes of Zweibrücken, on permanent loan from Munich, in the Edelhaus.

Operated by

Stiftung Römermuseum Homburg-Schwarzenacker

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the Saarland Card. Special events have their own prices.

Accessibility

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

According to the museum, several areas are not accessible; seeking advice before your visit is recommended. Ticket desk and information in the Edelhaus are reached via an exterior staircase. Leashed dogs are allowed in the Baroque garden and on the outdoor grounds, but not in the Edelhaus.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

Workshops such as pottery or cooking at a Roman hearth (March to October, not on Sundays and public holidays), children's birthday parties, museum suitcases and the play set "Flasche, Sack & Römerseil"; plus a free explorer tours app.

Getting there & parking

From the bus stop, cross at the pedestrian signal on Homburger Straße to the museum parking lot.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop at the ticket desk in the Edelhaus.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Civil weddings by the town of Homburg in the Christian-von-Mannlich-Salon of the Edelhaus (Saturdays, weekdays on request); champagne reception on the outdoor grounds possible.

Plan your visit