The Via Belgica crosses the town of Baesweiler from east to west, running alongside the Carl-Alexander-Park, which was newly created in 2008. At the western end of this park, in the Blaustein estate area, there is a mansio directly on the former Roman road, which serves as an information point and entry point to the Roman Road Adventure Region. So if you're following in the footsteps of the Romans in Baesweiler, you can also take a detour to the elaborately designed park.
Almost 7,000 years of settlement history
The Romans arrived in Baesweiler early on, but they were not the first: excavations have shown that people lived in the area of present-day Baesweiler long before the Romans. Archaeologists have discovered parts of a larger, well-preserved late linear pottery settlement in the Oidtweiler district – a nationally significant archaeological site. The settlement dates back to around 4,900 BC, i.e. the Neolithic Age, making it almost 7,000 years old. This clearly supersedes the first documented mention of the place in the 14th century, which had been considered authoritative for many years.
Roman period and Middle Ages
During Roman times, there was a roadside settlement (vicus) stretching 850 metres along the Via Belgica, within sight of a Roman estate. It is located in what is now the district of Beggendorf. In the heart of the historic town centre, the cultural centre Baesweiler castle invites visitors to take a trip back in time to the Middle Ages.
