The Roman villa in the village of Longuich located in the beautiful Moselle Valley is a partially reconstructed Roman villa urbana originating from the end of the 2nd century AD. It was situated on the road that connected Augusta Treverorum (Trier) to Mogontiacum (Mainz). Parts of the villa were excavated in 1984. Following the restoration to preserve the facility, portions of the villa were reconstructed.

Coordinates: 49° 48′ 11.74″ N, 6° 45′ 58.65″ E

The villa was built over a farmhouse at the end of the 2nd century AD. The complex originally measured about 28 x 110 metres. Its residential quarters were intended to serve the villa’s owner and to provide facilities similar to those of a city dwelling. These included features such as an enclosed peristyle, a bathing complex, summer and winter dining rooms, and decorative features such as wall paintings and mosaics. Today we can see the reconstruction of the left-wing of the villa which housed the baths.

The bathing complex consisted of several rooms including the caldarium (hot bath), tepidarium (warm bath), sudatorium (steam bath), frigidarium (cold bath) as well as a latrine with a drainage channel (latrina). The walls were decorated with marble panels and glass mosaics and glazed windows. An underfloor heating system (hypocaust) ensured pleasant temperatures.

A stone sarcophagus of the 4th century AD was found near the villa in which the skeleton of a youthful girl lay together with grave goods. The sarcophagus is believed to have belonged to a graveyard in the immediate vicinity of the villa.

PORTFOLIO

The Saarland and Moselle Valley’s ancient Roman heritage has a lot to offer to tourists and scholars alike. With more than 120 antique sights along the Moselle and the Saar rivers, the region is a testament to the Gallo-Roman era north of the Alps (further information here).