Roman villa of Echternach

Near the historic town of Echternach in Luxembourg lie the impressive remains of a 3rd-century Roman villa. The complex is located next to a lake, a popular summer destination for both locals and tourists.

The site was discovered in the mid-1970s and has since been fully excavated. It was truly an opulent manor house, featuring no fewer than 40 to 70 rooms on the ground floor alone, along with underfloor heating, porticoes, inner courtyards, bathhouses, and all the other luxuries ancient Rome had to offer.

Today, visitors can marvel at white columns with capitals, a pool, and the remains of most of the original structures. There is also a garden showcasing more than 70 different plant species—some native to the Celtic (pre-Roman) populations, and others introduced by the Roman conquerors, ranging from dill and asparagus to peaches and figs. 

Next to the archaeological site is a visitor center offering information about daily life in Roman times (in French and German), along with life-size dioramas. Both the centre and the site are free to visit. During summer weekends, visitors can also join guided tours—both general and thematic—focusing on topics such as herbs, cooking, and well-being in Gallo-Roman times.