Windisch Roman Amphitheatre

Windisch, Switzerland

The Roman amphitheatre in Windisch was built in the first half of the 1st century AD in the immediate vicinity of the Roman legion camp Vindonissa. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre in Switzerland.

During the reign of Emperor Tiberius (14 to 37 AD), when the Legio XIII Gemina was stationed in Vindonissa, a first wooden amphitheatre was built. It was destroyed by fire around 45 AD.

The camp was rebuilt of stone around 50 AD by Legio XXI Rapax and it has been preserved until today. The outer wall was 111 × 99 meters, the arena 64 × 52 meters. There was space for around 11,000 spectators.

Address

Amphirain 2, Windisch, Switzerland

See all sites in Windisch

Details

Founded: c. 50 AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Switzerland

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Stein Castle (7 km)
Landvogteischschloss (7,3 km)
Königsfelden Monastery (0,5 km)
Willdegg Castle (7 km)
Vindonissa Museum (1,1 km)

Kapellbrücke (47,8 km)
Wasserkirche (27,5 km)
Grossmünster (27,5 km)
Fraumünster (27,4 km)
St. Peter's Church (27,2 km)
Jesuit Church (47,8 km)
Swiss National Museum (26,8 km)
Lindenhof Hill (27,2 km)
Laufen Castle (37,5 km)

User Reviews

William Stemwell III (8 months ago)
Enjoyed the self guided learning visuals while spending as much time as we wanted in the area. I wish we had brought lunch for a picnic.

Bernardo Lamere (9 months ago)
a simple place but with a lot of history. more than 2000 years of history…

Thamarai Kannan (13 months ago)
Extraordinary historical event... Proud to be viewed...

Christian Rohner (2 years ago)
Great trip to the past. Very informative with hands-on exhibits. Food and drinks available, too.

Marianna Weaver (2 years ago)
Beautiful ruins

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Infomastern

Historic Site of the week

Visby Cathedral

Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.