Carnuntum, Petronell-Carnuntum, Austria

Carnuntum was a Roman Legionary Fortress and also headquarters of the Pannonian fleet from 50 AD. After the 1st century it was capital of the Pannonia Superior province. It also became a large city of 50,000 inhabitants. In Roman times Carnuntum had a history as a major trading centre for amber, brought from the north to traders who sold it in Italy; the main arm of the Amber Road crossed the Danube at Carnuntum. Its impressive remains are situated on the Danube in Lower Austria in the Carnuntum Archaeological Park extending over an area of 10 km² near today's villages of Petronell-Carnuntum and Bad Deutsch-Altenburg.

The remains of the civilian city extend around the village Petronell-Carnuntum. There are several places to see in the city: Roman city quarter in the open-air museum, palace ruins, amphitheatre, and Heidentor.

Some way outside the city was a large amphitheatre, which had room for about 15,000 spectators. A plate with an inscription found at the site claims that this building was the 4th largest amphitheatre in the whole Roman Empire.

Between 354 AD and 361 AD, Heidentor, a huge triumphal monument was erected next to the camp and city. Contemporary reports suggest that Emperor Constantius II had it built to commemorate his victories. When the remains of Carnuntum disappeared after the Migration Period the monument remained as an isolated building in a natural landscape and led Medieval people to believe it was the tomb of a pagan giant. Hence, they called it Heidentor (pagan gate).

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Paul Skudder (14 months ago)
Great place to visit really interesting especially about the Romans in that area.

Andreea Grigore (14 months ago)
Interesting historical place. Parking place available.

Прудникова Александра (15 months ago)
Really nice place. Here you can not only see the old ruins, but also reconstruction. So you can interact with interior and image the past life. I just thought the area would be a little bigger.

András Tánczos (16 months ago)
Quite fine small museum fdom the roman times. Lots of space, it is possible to visit some original scale antic households and bath.

Erik Reimhult (22 months ago)
This is a very nice archaeological museum. Modern but authentic. You also get to walk around in villas like the Romans had it. When you visit, have in mind that the area over which the archaeological sites are spread is large. You should take a day and experience them all. Even that is challenging if you don't go by car.

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