Forum And Temple Ruins At Augusta Raurica

The Forum was the centre of public life in a Roman town, and at Augusta Raurica the forum and its temple stand at the middle of the archaeological park in Augst. A forum was the open space where citizens met to trade, hear legal cases, discuss politics and take part in religious ceremonies, surrounded by public buildings. In Augusta Raurica, the forum was laid out as a large rectangular space bordered by porticoes, with shops and offices behind them, and the basilica, the hall where justice was administered, at one end. The temple stood at the other end, on a high podium, so that it dominated the whole space.

The temple was the religious centre of the town, dedicated to the cult of Rome and the emperor, a sign of Augusta Raurica’s place in the empire and of how Roman authority was expressed in every provincial city. A broad flight of steps led up from the forum to the porch, behind which was the cella, the inner room where the cult statue stood. In front, on the forum, stood an altar where sacrifices were made on behalf of the community, and the surviving altar, made of fine imported marble, is decorated with symbols of imperial power, including an oak wreath and an eagle, reflecting the way Roman rulers presented themselves as protectors of the state. Excavations have also revealed that the temple was rebuilt and altered over several centuries, as the town changed.

What remains today in the Forum and Temple ruins is the foundation of the temple podium, the lower parts of walls and the layout of the porticoes, with the basilica nearby covered in its own entry. The site is open and informal, so you can walk across the former forum, climb the steps of the temple podium and look out over the space the way a Roman citizen would have done. The scale of the foundations conveys the importance of the forum, even if the visible remains are low. Information panels explain the plan, and the nearby museum and Roman House give a sense of how the town’s public and private spaces fitted together. The open-air park can be visited at any time without a ticket, while the museum has its own hours.

Because the site is an open grass field on the edge of Augst, it is best explored in good weather, with sturdy shoes and sun protection in summer. Facilities such as parking, toilets and a café are near the main entrance, and maps help to find the monuments. It is easy to combine the forum with the theatre, the amphitheatre and the baths for a full day.

It suits history and archaeology lovers, school groups and anyone who wants to understand how a Roman town worked. Start here before you go to the theatre, as the forum shows the town’s political and religious centre.