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Fort (Castrum Rauracense)

Garrison of the 'Legio Prima Martia': the largest Late Roman military complex in Switzerland The modern-day village of Kaiseraugst is located in the area of the former Castrum Rauracense. During your tour, you will see the remains of numerous buildings.

- Fort wall - West gate of the fort - Rhine baths - Early Christian church of St. Gallus - Roman army
Today:		In Roman times:
Due to the collapse of the northern border of the empire and the fall of the Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes (AD 260-280) Augusta Raurica once again became a border town. As a reaction to the continuous instability on the northern boundary of the empire the Roman army built the fortification in Kaiseraugst that locals today call "the castle" around AD 300. It is known from ancient written sources as the Castrum Rauracense. However, the interior design known to date suggests that large sections of the civilian population lived here and that public buildings - such as the Rhine baths, large grain stores and the important Early Christian church of St Gallus - were built here protected by its walls. In these circumstances it seems plausible that only small military units were stationed within the fortification walls. However, it remains a mystery to date, where the Legio I Martia, whose presence is visible in the archaeological record, was stationed in the 4th century AD.
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