Tongeren: The Teseum

Tongeren — the first and oldest city in Belgium. Founded by the Romans around 10 BC, it was burned down by the Batavians half a century later, only to rise again, proudly rebuilt. Tongeren became the illustrious capital of the civitas Tungrorum, the administrative district of the region, where the Mediterranean influence of Rome was undeniable: a flourishing villa landscape, a magnificent aqueduct, grand temples and bathhouses, and markets brimming with exotic goods.

Even today, the Romans are never far away in Tongeren-Borgloon. Most hotspots are just minutes apart, neatly linked by the Roman city walk. Along this city walk, you can encounter the Teseum, a unique heritage site.

The Teseum

The Teseum is a fascinating site that takes visitors deep into the city’s history. Beneath the Gothic Basilica of Our Lady (the “Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek”) lies an extensive archaeological zone where more than two millennia of building and habitation history have been preserved. Here, traces from the Roman, early medieval, and medieval periods come together, offering exceptional insight into the development of Tongeren as an urban center.

During archaeological research, the foundations of Roman houses and street structures were uncovered, along with remains of a basilica and part of the late Roman city wall. These traces show that the area had been an important zone within the city since the foundation of Atuatuca Tungrorum, modern-day Tongeren, in the 1st century AD. After the Roman period, the site was repurposed for Christian worship: remains of what was likely the first early Christian church (basilica) and successive churches from the Merovingian and Carolingian periods are still visible. They bear witness to the early Christianization and the continuity of this sacred place throughout the centuries.

Today, the archaeological site of the Teseum is accessible through a modern museum layout. With walkways, lighting, and digital applications, visitors can literally walk through the building layers and experience how Tongeren developed from a Roman city into a religious center. In this way, the Teseum reveals the hidden foundations of the city and connects archaeology with living history!

An Immersive Change to the Roman Walk, 2027

The story of Tongeren doesn’t end there. In 2027, the Roman city walk will receive a multidimensional upgrade as part of the VIA VIA project. The Roman hotspots on it will be enhanced with reconstructions and immersive storytelling. You will get an even clearer sense of the Roman road and the Roman city of Tongeren, and you will also be invited to visit the aqueduct, the Plinius springs, the Gallo-Roman temple, and other local sites. Through an app, you will see what the streets of Atuatuca Tungrorum looked like in the second century. Your guide? An AI character from the glory days of Roman Tongeren.

Are you ready for a stroll through the past?

“We cross a modern aqueduct and reach the edge of the city. Atuatuca Tungrorum. I have dreamed of visiting the only city in the region for so long. It does not disappoint. So many colours and scents. So many sounds. Barking dogs, shouting people, the rattling carts of traders like us. The streets overflow with delights. The finest fabrics. Exotic fruits and woods. Bottles and flasks. Oil from the south. Meat, bread, and perfumes. Two women argue loudly in a language I do not understand. Men in open doorways beckon passers-by inside. The sweet aroma of a bathhouse mingles with the stench of boiling animal bones for glue. I am ecstatic and despondent at the same time. For how can we sell our wares in this place? Here, in this city that already has everything?” – Ammulva Iucunda