A mysterious Roman window: Discovery under Five Guys in Aachen!

A mysterious Roman window: Discovery under Five Guys in Aachen!

In Aachen, a fast food shop on Markt 46 has a remarkable secret in the basement. The local offshoot of Five Guys Wa.de reports that ... a so-called "archaeological window" Glass floor offers a view of the remains of a castle from the Roman period.

An employee presented the discovery in a Tikok video. The window in the basement not only shows wall segments, but also the approach of a round tower that was part of a fort that has been suspected for about 140 years. However, the localization did not take place until 2011 and 2014.

historical context and meaning

The fort was built after the destruction of Aachen around 275/276 AD and was more than five meters wide. In the 12th century, the walls of the fort were laid down, which makes the research of its remains all the more valuable.

The archaeological windows in Aachen are open to the public and are part of a more comprehensive project in city archeology. In coordination with the city authorities, similar windows were installed in a drugstore and a book business to emphasize the importance of local history. These archaeological windows enable citizens and visitors to experience the ancient history of Aachen up close.

Latest finds and archaeological activities

Aachen has had its own city archeologist, Andreas Schaub, who monitors the city's ongoing projects. As aachen.de reported, recently excavated public interest in the Elisengarten and provided valuable knowledge of the early settlement of Aachen. There were, among other things, tools and coins were discovered that illustrate the historical depth of this region.

For archaeologically interested parties, there has been the opportunity to support projects in the Archeology Working Group Aachen (AAA) since 2008. On the Zeitreise.ac website there is also extensive information about Aachen's archaeological history and the current projects.

Archaeological city tour

Aachen also offers an archaeological city tour with eight stations in the historic city center. The routes vary between 2 and 4 kilometers and lead to the Aachen Cathedral, which gives insights into the Roman bathing culture and the remains of a former thermal fountain. Here visitors can discover the “archaeological window”, which not only illuminates the history of the region, but also its cultural development.

Another station is the Elisengarten, where artifacts from three epochs were found. The tour also illuminates Münsterplatz, originally a Franconian cemetery, as well as the town hall, the window with foundations of the Carolingian PalastaUs. In addition, there is the possibility to experience a virtual archaeological tour under archaeology-aachen.de that presents Aachen's rich history in digital form.

These discoveries and the initiatives to promote archaeological perception show how alive the history of Aachen is and how it is integrated into the modern cityscape. The combination of gastronomy and historical heritage creates a particularly unique experience for everyone who visits Aachen.