Cologne was an important Roman city

Did you know that Cologne was a Roman city for almost 500 years? During a visit to the Roman-Germanic Museum, you can learn everything about that period.

The Roman-Germanic Museum in Cologne focuses on both the Roman and the Germanic eras. You will find an extensive exhibition of stone, bronze, and iron objects from the tribes that lived in the Cologne region at the time of the Romans’ arrival. You will also learn about the history of the Germanic peoples and their everyday life.

The main highlights are two icons of the Roman collection: the Dionysus Mosaic, an enormous work of about 70 square meters depicting the life of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine; and the almost 15-meter-high tomb monument of Lucius Poblicius, a Roman legionary who spent the last years of his life in Cologne. And there is more than just the museum itself: all over the city, you can find Roman remains managed by the museum. Be sure to also visit the Römerturm, one of the towers of the ancient city wall, and the underground burial chambers to the west of the city.