Anyone following in the footsteps of the Romans to Elsdorf will be a little surprised: the town is still in its proverbial infancy – it only officially received its town charter in 2011. However, there is no question that the area that is now Elsdorf has a much longer history.
Four centuries of Roman settlement history
As early as the first century, the Romans settled on the eastern edge of today's town on both sides of the Via Belgica. A roadside settlement, known as a vicus, was built over a length of around 700 metres. The Romans inhabited this area until the fourth century AD. One of the most important parts of the settlement was a Gallo-Roman temple with surrounding walkway – a Roman sanctuary. Further evidence of Roman life came to light during investigations prior to the Hambach open-cast mine: numerous graves, settlement remains, a civilian road station and several estates were uncovered.
Enjoy an impressive view
Modern Elsdorf comprises 14 villages, in which there are some real cultural highlights to be discovered. These certainly include the "Forum :terra nova ", a multifunctional building in the north of the Hambach open-cast mine. On the one hand, it serves as a viewing point over the lignite mine – from the terrace, you can watch from a distance as the huge bucket wheels of the excavators dig their way into the earth. On the other hand, the Forum :terra nova houses a visitor information centre.
