Rottweil is celebrating 2,000 years as the oldest city in Baden-Württemberg!

Rottweil is celebrating 2,000 years as the oldest city in Baden-Württemberg!

Rottweil, the oldest city in Baden-Württemberg, is celebrating a remarkable anniversary this year. Founded in 74 AD by Roman soldiers, it can look back on a history of around 2,000 years. Originally known asArae Flaviae, Rottweil was an important strategic point in the Roman province of Upper Germany, at the crossroads of important military roads. The Roman period had a lasting impact on the cityscape, and the legacy of the Romans is still visible in many aspects of the city today All in reported.

The region around Rottweil was not only a military base, but also a thriving civilized center during Roman times. Particularly experienced in the 2nd century ADArae Flaviaeits heyday when the city received Roman city rights under Emperor Domitian. What is exciting is that Rottweil was the only city in Baden-Württemberg to receive this status, which underlines the importance of the city. A Roman fort was built as early as 73 AD, which formed the foundation for the later city.

The long history of the settlement

But Rottweil doesn't just have Roman roots. Finds from the Neolithic Age prove that the region was already inhabited around 6,000 years ago. Traces from the Bronze and Iron Ages can also be found in the city. Particularly noteworthy are the remains of an Alemannic burial site, which indicate continuous settlement from the 6th century onwards. Under the influence of the Saint Gallen Monastery, the Christianization of the city took place in the 7th century, which represents another important turning point in history, as the city administration highlights on its website: Rottweil.de.

Over the centuries, Rottweil developed from a Roman town into an important trade and business location. The founding of the city in the 8th century as “Rotuvilla” shows the ongoing change. After the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War, which decimated the city, the region found new strength in the 19th century and economic success in cloth production and metal processing put Rottweil back on the map.

Rottweil's importance today

Today Rottweil has around 25,000 inhabitants and covers an area of ​​almost 72 km². The city remains a national attraction, with around 1.5 million visitors every year. The numerous sights, such as the medieval old town, the Bernburg castle ruins and the Dominican Museum, attract tourists from near and far.
In addition, the State Garden Show will take place in Rottweil in 2028, which will put the city in the spotlight in the coming years. A variety of transport links, including a regional railway junction and the A81 motorway, facilitate access to this historic town surrounded by nature, in the shadow of the Swabian Alb and close to Lake Constance.

Considering Rottweil's impressive history and the buildings that testify to Roman rule and later development, it is clear that the city is shaped not only by its past, but also by the many opportunities it currently offers. The Roman heritage, from the first legionary camps to the traces of the Alemanni and the Frankish influences, remains a fundamental part of the cultural heritage that Rottweil has to offer, which is also due to the age of the city and its role in German history Children's time machine comprehensively presented.