Archaeological Walking Tour in the Roman town of NIDA
Back in the early 19th century, the excavations of places of
worship and stone funerary monuments were so fascinating, that
contemporaries spoke of a “teutsche Pompeji” – a German
Pompeii.
The traces of this cultural monument have been almost
completely destroyed by Ernst May’s „Römerstadt“, built
between 1927 and1929, and above all by the construction of
Nordweststadt starting in 1961. An enormous ‘archive in
the ground’ of Frankfurt’s ancient history was thereby
obliterated. At the time, it was only possible scientifically to
document a partial selection of finds. Today – disregarding
a few pottery kilns and the foundations of houses exposed in the
1990s – nothing remains above ground.
The 12 information panels, set up in the midst of the modern
housing, are intended therefore to make ancient life in
Heddernheim visible once again, by spotlighting “scenes from
life”, maps and photos.
Together they form a walking tour, on which the most important
findings from more than 200 years of archaeological research
into Nida are summarised. The tour permits a journey into the
Roman past – past temples and baths, over the marketplace and
through the city gate down to the port on the Nidda.
Nida. An idealised image of the Roman town at the beginning of the 3rd century, superimposed on the modern street-plan.
Stops on the walking tour
1 The port on the Nidda, northern Nidda bank,
at the level of „Hadrianstrasse“.
2 The fort „Im Heidenfeld“;
passageway with steps „Am Forum“.
3 The city wall „In der Römerstadt“, No. 77
4 A triumphal arch for the town’s foundation,
bridging „Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse“.
5 The „teutsche Pompeji“ is destroyed, like no 4.
6 Praetorium – Hotel und Fitness-Center „In der
Römerstadt“, beside the entrance to the graveyard.
7 Entertainment in the theatre „Im Burgfeld“, No 38.
8 The cult of Mithras „Im Burgfeld“, No 60/62.
9 The Forum „In der Römerstadt/Ernst-Kahn-Strasse“,
RMV-stop.
10 Where the Romans went to bathe, Römerstadtschule.
11 Roman pottery kilns „Erich-Ollenhauer-Ring“,
protective building.
12 On the road to beyond „Erich-Ollenhauer-Ring“,
Heddernheimer Steg.