The region around the Black Forest is one of the most popular holiday regions in Germany today, after all, varied natural areas, mountain and hiking trails, many leisure activities and wonderful old towns await the traveler here. But the low mountain range in the southwest of Baden-Württemberg also has a lot to offer for holidaymakers interested in history: the ancient Romans left their first mark on the country with their buildings. The following article reveals how the Roman presence in the Black Forest came about and which legacies you can still explore today.
The Roman arrival in the Black Forest
The beginning of the Roman presence in the Black Forest is forever linked to their most well-known ruler: Gaius Julius Caesar had ascended the throne and urgently needed foreign policy success. In ancient times, this usually meant war, and so it came to the Gallic War against the Helvetii. The campaign then led Caesar's troops to the edge of the Black Forest, where 58 BC. a victorious battle for the Romans took place against the Germanic tribe of the Suevi. The exact location of the battle is difficult to reconstruct today, but it was probably in present-day Mulhouse.
The Roman settlement of the Black Forest
The actual settlement of the western edge of the Black Forest, however, only took place after the conquest of Alsace and Switzerland at the beginning of the first century. As everywhere in their territory, the Romans immediately began building roads and constructing large baths (thermae), such as those in the present-day towns of Baden-Baden , Hüfingen, and Badenweiler . Most of their construction activity, however, involved the building of several forts for the Roman military, such as the forts in Rottweiler and Waldmössingen. Apart from this, the Romans likely avoided the Black Forest, which they called "Silva nigra," meaning "black forest," and which they considered uncanny.
Dice game in ancient Rome
The Roman legionaries likely enjoyed their freedoms far from the capital, as gambling for money was officially forbidden in ancient Rome. However, numerous finds of dice and game boards, such as the "Duodecim Scripta ," a precursor to modern backgammon, attest to the Romans' fondness for dice and games.
Ancient Roman destinations in the Black Forest
Anyone who has now caught the Roman bug and wants to see the sometimes impressive remnants of the Roman presence in the Black Forest has a wealth of options. Popular destinations such as the Roman thermal baths in Baden-Baden, Hüfingen, and Rottweil can easily be combined with a city break . In Rottweil, you can not only admire the ruins of Roman architecture (Rottweil received Roman city rights as a "municipium" in 75 AD), but also explore the remains of the original Roman fort. For those who prefer a bicycle tour , we recommend a circular route from the Waldmössingen fort via Hochmössingen to Rötenberg. A Roman villa can be admired near Heitersheim, and the well-preserved remains of a fully developed Roman road can still be found near Niederschopfheim and Friesenheim. As you can see, evidence of Roman settlement can be found throughout the Black Forest – we hope you enjoy exploring!
