Villa Rustica Peiting

About the museum

The Roman country estate on the edge of Peiting was built in the 2nd century AD and was inhabited in several building phases until the 4th century. At around 2.5 hectares, it is among the largest complexes of its kind in the province of Raetia. The main house was laid out around a courtyard as an atrium house, a rarity in Germany; a detached bathhouse with hypocaust heating and finds such as terra sigillata tableware, remnants of wall paintings, and window glass attest to a high standard of furnishing.

After wall remains in the "Neukirchwiesen" were mentioned as early as 1837, a rescue excavation in 1956 saved the foundation walls from the leveling of the field. Further excavations followed in 1962 and before the construction of the B 17 bypass in the late 1980s; a long-distance gas pipeline and road construction destroyed parts of the archaeological site in the process.

The Förderverein Villa Rustica (friends' association) was founded in 1992. Between 2000 and 2003, its members uncovered the bathhouse with the original brick pillars of the underfloor heating and, largely through volunteer work, built a glazed protective building with an information pavilion above it, as well as a Roman kitchen and medicinal herb garden. A geophysical survey in 2015 showed that the complex is much larger than previously known; since 2021/22, transparent reconstruction panels have illustrated the unexcavated buildings on the site.

Highlights

• Excavated bathhouse with hypocaust heating in a glazed protective building
• Roman educational garden with about 75 plant species
• Replicas of the "Peiting Love Charm" and other finds
• Model of a Roman underfloor heating system
• Reconstruction panels as "windows into the past"
• Accessible year-round and free of charge

Permanent exhibitions

• Römisches Badehaus im Schutzhaus – The excavated remains of the bath with brick pillars of the hypocaust heating under a glazed protective building, explained by information panels and a heating model.
• Funde der Villa Rustica – Display cases with replicas of important finds such as the inscribed lead tablet "Peiting Love Charm," a terra sigillata bowl, and a Roman key.
• Römischer Lehrgarten – Kitchen and medicinal herb garden with about 75 plants that the Romans brought to the region or cultivated, with information panels.

Operated by

Förderverein Villa Rustica Peiting e. V.

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; a donation for the upkeep of the site and the planting of the educational garden is requested (donation column at the information pavilion).

Accessibility

• 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

The protective building and the Roman educational garden are accessible without barriers; benches in the educational garden. A restroom is available only to groups that have registered.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

Described by the Förderverein (friends' association) as an excursion destination for the whole family; the grounds with the protective building and educational garden are freely accessible.

Getting there & parking

On the southwestern edge of Peiting between the B 17 and the road to the hamlet of Kreut (Kreuter Weg). GPS: 47° 47′ 02″ N, 10° 54′ 04″ E.

Amenities & dining

Restroom only for registered groups (key available during the tour).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit