Roman Bath in Übach-Palenberg

The Roman bathhouse in Übach-Palenberg was discovered in 1988 during the development of a local recreation area. This archaeological monument was part of a Roman farmstead (villa rustica). The ruins still reveal the original character of the bathing rooms and the overall structure.

The bathhouse, measuring 13 by 6 meters, was probably located directly on the bank of the River Wurm in Roman times. From the entrance in the north, one first entered the changing room, then an oval, unheated bathing room with a cold-water basin, and finally a heated bathing room, which was connected to a separately heated sweating room. This layout includes all the temperature stages typical of a classical Roman bath. Some finds from the building show that the facility was used in the 2nd and probably also in the 3rd century AD.

The western side of the building had particularly strong foundations—an indication that the waters of the Wurm could reach the front of the structure in Roman times and undermine it during flooding. The Roman engineers constructed this façade so well that it has survived for nearly 2,000 years. Incidentally, the ancient wall remains can be distinguished from the modern reconstructions by a recessed joint.

The conservation work on the ruins was carried out under the direction of the LVR Office for Archaeological Heritage Management in the Rhineland and on behalf of the town of Übach-Palenberg.