Kaiseraugst lies on the High Rhine and borders Germany and the canton of Basel-Landschaft. The Swiss municipality belongs to the canton of Aargau and the district of Rheinfelden. The town’s Roman history brings together border defence, bathing facilities, production and church finds. A surviving fort wall, a cold-water bath and visible brick kilns offer tangible points of interest for a range of visitors.
Fort and Border Defence
The Kaiseraugst fort was built around 300 AD, after the Roman Empire moved its northern frontier back to the Rhine. It was constructed to protect the Rhine crossing. The surviving fort wall is up to 4.5 metres high. Conservation work may affect what is visible, so check local conditions before your visit. This allows the fort’s historical role and the surviving wall to be appreciated as two distinct aspects.
Rhine Baths and an Early Church
Part of the Roman bathing complex known as the Rhine Baths in Kaiseraugst is open to visitors. The large cold-water bath retains its seating steps and a drain; these architectural features bring the design of the baths to life. Check local access conditions before travelling. The early church shelter can be reached through the fort wall. There, part of the semicircular apse of the Late Antique church is visible. Check access in advance for this visit too. The baths and the church building offer distinctly different points of interest, although both belong to Roman or Late Antique history.
Trade and Animal Husbandry
Among the Augusta Raurica buildings preserved on Aargau soil are the exceptionally well-preserved ruins of the Schmidmatt commercial buildings. A free ticket is required for access; check the ticket arrangements before your visit. Two of several Roman brick kilns are visible in the area of today’s Liebrüti quarter. In the 4th century AD, building ceramics were produced there on a large scale for the entire city. This takes the story from commercial buildings to production intended to supply the city. Alongside the fortifications and baths, it offers a glimpse of the commercial side of the town’s Roman history. Check local access conditions for the brick kilns as well.
The Augusta Raurica animal park features old domestic animal breeds associated with Roman animal husbandry. The park adds another perspective on animals in antiquity to the architectural traces. The animals and programmes may change over time.
Church Find and Well House
A church built between 360 and 400 AD was discovered at the site of today’s village church of St. Gallus. An underground well house was discovered in 1998; at the time, it was completely intact, having lain undisturbed underground for 1,800 years. The dates refer to different things: the period from 360 to 400 AD dates the church’s construction, while 1998 is the year the well house was discovered. Its long time underground is part of its preservation history.
Hiking and Planning Your Visit
The “Roman City & Observation Tower” hike starts at Kaiseraugst railway station. Before setting off, check the route length and trail conditions so you can fit the hike into your day’s plans. Access information varies between the historical sites: a free ticket is required for Schmidmatt, while local access conditions should be checked for the Rhine Baths, the church shelter and the brick kilns. This lets you plan your visits according to the relevant conditions without treating any one site as representing the entire Roman history.
Discover more destinations: Möhlin, Wegenstetten, Rheinfelden, Stein
Go to the parent travel overview: Rheinfelden.
