Roman Baths Zülpich – Museum of Bathing Culture

The Roman baths in Zülpich, dating from the 2nd century, are considered the “best-preserved of their kind north of the Alps.” During sewer construction work in 1929, workers in the town center unearthed the bathing complex, which soon proved to be a find of the century. While archaeologists had long since uncovered much larger complexes elsewhere, such as in Trier, these were far more severely damaged. In Zülpich, the ancient Tolbiacum on Agrippastraße, the underfloor and wall heating systems, the sophisticated drainage system, and large sections of the remaining masonry are still intact.

The Roman baths owe their good condition to the Church of St. Peter, which was built in the Middle Ages on the Mühlenberg hill next to the now-ruined site. A cemetery directly above the former Roman baths protected the ruins from destructive influences for centuries.

Since the protective structure over the 1930s excavation had been in imminent danger of collapse since the late 1990s, the city of Zülpich undertook its demolition and reconstruction in 2004. Completed in 2008, the new building now houses the “Roman Baths Zülpich – Museum of Bathing Culture.” At its heart is the Roman bath complex, which represents the pinnacle of Roman engineering and ancient lifestyle in the province: sport, fitness, wellness – Roman style. The museum also explains why bathing was avoided in the Middle Ages, who wore what in the bath and when, and the changing role of personal hygiene and cosmetics throughout history.