The museum building is constructed to exactly match the footprint of the original Roman basilica which served as the administrative heart of the town.
The collection includes the world's only known complete Roman wooden bucket found in its entirety during local excavations.
The museum stands on the exact spot where excavations revealed the structural foundations of the Roman forum.
The exhibition utilizes high-tech lighting to simulate the interior appearance of Roman buildings as they existed nearly 2,000 years ago.
The museum serves as the administrative headquarters for the archaeological research conducted throughout the APX grounds.
Many of the exhibits on display were recovered from the deep wells and pits of the Roman city, which acted as time capsules for organic materials.
The LVR-Roman Museum is located directly on the site of the former Roman city Colonia Ulpia Traiana in Xanten, Germany. It serves as the central exhibition building for the LVR-Archaeological Park Xanten (APX), one of the largest open-air museums in the world. The architecture of the museum is designed to reflect the dimensions and spatial layout of the original Roman basilica that stood at this location. Its permanent exhibition displays over 2,500 original Roman artifacts discovered during ongoing excavations within the park. Key themes covered include Roman military life, trade, religious practices, and the daily urban existence of the settlement's inhabitants. The museum's facade features an impressive glass structure that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding park environment. It acts as a primary research center for the investigation of Roman Lower Germania. Visitors can observe archaeologists at work in the laboratory areas, providing insight into conservation and restoration processes.
The elevated viewing platform inside the main hall that provides a panoramic perspective of the museum's architectural scale and the Roman artifacts below.
Combine your museum visit with a walk through the outdoor Archaeological Park, as the two represent a single unified site.
Allocate time to view the live workshops where experts restore fragments discovered in the field.
Check the event calendar for the museum's frequent lectures and special guided tours focused on specific archaeological themes.
Attempting to see the entire Archaeological Park and the museum in under two hours, as the scale of the site requires extensive walking.
Closed on Mondays during the winter season.
