Roman Baths Murrhardt: Schwäbischer Wald

In 2010, during construction works in Murrhardt, a sensational find was made. In the middle of town – where today the medical centre stands on Theodor-Heuss-Straße – the remains of a large, stone bathhouse were found: an ancient Roman baths.

Regrettably, because of the advanced stage of the planning for the medical centre, it was not possible to preserve, even partially, the remains of the baths in the floor. However, after conclusion of the archaeological investigations and with support from the Rems-Murr district, the city of Murrhardt, the property developers and a large number of volunteers – from the Limes Cicerones among others – it was possible to salvage the best-preserved parts of the ancient substance of the building. Thus, the semicircular apse with parts of the heating system and the remains of the cold-water basin could be cut out of the ruins and secured as a block. Today, integrated into the modern building of the medical centre, they copy the southern wall section – somewhat foreshortened in contrast to the original – of the baths. The presentation is complemented by an exhibition on Roman remains and artefacts with information panels as well as a screen presentation of the course of the excavation.