City Center and Location @museum.de

Imagine: A vast empire stretching from Ethiopia to England, from the Atlantic to the Caspian Sea. That was the Roman Empire during the reign of Emperor Trajan, at the height of its power. And at the heart of this mighty empire? Our region here in what is now Baden-Württemberg. At that time, the country was divided into two Roman provinces: the west and the central Neckar region belonged to Upper Germania, with its administrative center in Mainz. The east – Upper Swabia, the Alb and the Remstal valley – was part of the province of Raetia, administered from Augsburg. A particularly favorable place to settle was where the Neckar River emerged from its narrow valley into a wide plain. The broad floodplain offered an easy crossing over the Neckar, and the fertile soil was well suited for agriculture. This is exactly where SUMELOCENNA – today's Rottenburg – was founded.

Thanks to Roman inscriptions, we know that SUMELOCENNA was more than just a village. Around the year 100 AD, the Romans took over Sumelocenna together with the Celtic population. It was initially an imperial domain, a so-called Saltus, and later became the capital of an entire region, the Kivitas Sumelokennensis. This meant administration, organization, and importance. Even though SUMELOCENNA did not have city rights, the town was given an urban appearance through elaborate buildings. And SUMELOCENNA was well connected: several roads led through the town in all directions. The most important was the highway from Switzerland to Regensburg: via Rottweil, Rottenburg, Köngen, and Heidenheim. This route was even marked on the famous Tabula Peutingeriana. A medieval copy of a Roman road map. Rottenburg is marked there with two towers, under the name SAMULOCENIS.

Today, the towns along the ancient route are connected by the Neckar-Alb-Aare Roman Road. Here, numerous testimonies to the history of Roman settlement can be discovered.

A place that played a central role almost 2000 years ago – as a transport hub, administrative center, and vibrant part of the Roman Empire.