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Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Germany: Archaeological Park of Xanten

On Wednesday I got a postcard from Germany.

It shows the Harbor Temple in the Archaeological Park of Xanten. As Colonia Ulpia Traiana Xanten was one of the most important Roman cities in Germany and also the third largest Roman city north of the Alps. It was given the rights of a colonia in 110 by the Roman emperor Trajan and existed roughly until 275, but earlier it was already the site of the castrum Vetera, which was destroyed during the Revolt of the Batavi in 70. By the 19th century not much of the Roman city was left. Mainly in the 1950s and 1960s the city was excavated and reconstructed in parts. In 1977 the Archaeological Park was opened, extended since then it is now one of the largest archaeological open-air museums in the World. Even today excavations are carried out and during the summer there is the chance for university students to follow archaeologists at work. Reconstructed buildings today include city walls, a mansio, an amphitheatre, temples and parts of an aqueduct. Also a museum is located in the park. 

EDIT: As part of the Lower German Limes is Xanten since July 2021 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.


One of the two stamps showing a panorama of Bonn (issued 02-01-2020), the former capital of West Germany, was used on this card.


Thank You very much Marcel!

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