Römisch-Germanisches Museum

Introduction

Cologne's Roman-Germanic Museum is the key museum for understanding the ancient Roman origins and glorious history of Cologne. It holds a wealth of precious artifacts from the Roman era, vividly recreating the city's illustrious past as an important city of the Roman Empire. Cologne is one of Germany's oldest cities, its history reaching back to Roman times: in the 1st century, the Romans founded a colony here (Cologne, Köln, derives from the Latin colonia) and developed it into a prosperous provincial capital of the Roman Empire along the Rhine, leaving a rich Roman heritage. The Roman-Germanic Museum was established to house and display the many Roman and early Germanic artifacts excavated in Cologne and its surroundings; its collection is exceptionally rich and precious: most famous and astonishing is the huge, exquisite ancient Roman Dionysus Mosaic floor (unearthed in situ, depicting the god Dionysus and rich imagery, masterfully made and superbly preserved, the museum's crown jewel); in addition there are splendid Roman glass vessels (Cologne was an important glassmaking center, with many fine Roman glass treasures), sculptures, pottery, jewelry, everyday objects, and a tall Roman-era tomb monument, all vividly showing Roman Cologne's prosperity and civilization. Visiting Cologne's Roman-Germanic Museum to admire these precious Roman artifacts and trace Cologne's two-thousand-year Roman origins is a deep dive into the ancient city's history (note the museum may be in a relocation or temporary venue, follow official information).

✨ Highlights

🛈 Practical Info