During the Roman period, Aventicum was the capital city of the Helvetians, and Avenches remains one of the most important archaeological sites in Switzerland. The atmospheric Roman ruins – amphitheatre, theatre, thermal baths and more – are a must for history fans.
Aventicum was the capital of Roman Helvetia. Today, it is one of Switzerland's most important archaeological sites. The suggested route takes visitors through the "Arènes", a vast amphitheatre that still hosts a wide variety of events today. It also leads visitors to the "Cigognier" column, to the East gate and to the Tornallaz tower. The Roman Museum houses a precious collection of ancient Gallo-Roman artefacts, including the famous bust of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, in addition to a wealth of remarkably well-preserved statuettes and mosaics.
Museum opening hours:
All year round, Tuesday to Sunday.
How to get there:
By car: the site is easily accessible via the motorway from Bale (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes), Zurich (1 hour 30 minutes) via Bern and Morat, or equally from Fribourg (15 minutes) or Lausanne (45 minutes).
