The Original Roman Footprint In Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria, was once the site of a Roman military camp called Vindobona. The settlement was located on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, with the Danube marking the border. It was part of a defensive network of camps, including Carnuntum, Brigetio and Aquincum. At its peak, Vindobona and its surrounding settlements had a population of around 30,000 people.

The Roman settlement of Vindobona was located on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, with the Danube marking the border

Vindobona was a military camp, or castra, in the province of Pannonia, located on the site of the modern city of Vienna in Austria. The military complex covered an area of about 20 hectares, housing around 6,000 men. The settlement had a population of around 15,000 to 20,000 people.

Vindobona was part of a defensive network that included the camps of Carnuntum, Brigetio and Aquincum. It was also a centre of trade, with a developed infrastructure, agriculture and forestry. Civic communities developed outside the fortifications, as well as another community that was independent of the military authorities in today's third district.

Vindobona was located on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, and as such, it fell prey to the chaos of the Migration Period. There is evidence of a catastrophic fire that occurred around the beginning of the 5th century. However, the remains of the encampment were not deserted, and a small settlement remained. The streets and houses of early medieval Vienna followed the former Roman walls, indicating that parts of the fortification were still in use by the settlers.

The military complex covered 20 hectares and housed 6,000 men

The Roman settlement in Vienna, Austria, known as Vindobona, was a military camp located on the outskirts of the Roman Empire. The military complex covered 20 hectares and housed 6,000 men. The Danube marked the border of the Roman Empire, and Vindobona was part of a defensive network that included the camps of Carnuntum, Brigetio and Aquincum.

Vindobona was a centre of trade with a developed infrastructure, agriculture and forestry. It was provisioned by the surrounding Roman country estates (Villae rusticae). Outside the fortifications, civic communities developed (canabae legionis), as well as another community that was independent of the military authorities in today's third district.

At its peak, the military fort and associated military and civil settlements had a population of around 30,000. The Romans stayed for roughly 350 years, beginning in the early 1st century. The streets and houses of early medieval Vienna followed the former Roman walls, indicating that parts of the fortification were still in place and used by the settlers. Byzantine copper coins from the 6th century have been found in the area of today's city centre, suggesting considerable trade activity.

UNESCO has Austrian and Viennese parts of this Roman frontier on its World Heritage List.

The population of Vindobona is estimated to have been between 15,000 and 20,000

The population of Vindobona, the Roman settlement in Vienna, Austria, is estimated to have been between 15,000 and 20,000. The settlement was located on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, with the Danube marking the border. It was a military camp, or castra, in the province of Pannonia. The military complex covered an area of 20 hectares, housing about 6,000 men. The Romans built fortifications and settlements on the banks of the Danube, and Vindobona was part of a defensive network that included the camps of Carnuntum, Brigetio and Aquincum.

Vindobona was also a centre of trade, with a developed infrastructure, agriculture and forestry. Civic communities developed outside the fortifications (canabae legionis), as well as another community that was independent of the military authorities in today's third district. At its peak, the military fort and associated settlements had a population of around 30,000. The Romans stayed for roughly 350 years, beginning in the early 1st century.

The settlement area took on a new name in the 13th century, becoming known as Berghof, or now simply Alter Berghof (the Old Berghof). There are some indications that a catastrophic fire occurred around the beginning of the 5th century, but the remains of the encampment were not deserted, and a small settlement remained. The streets and houses of early medieval Vienna followed the former Roman walls, indicating that parts of the fortification were still in place and used by the settlers. Byzantine copper coins from the 6th century have been found in the area of today's city centre, suggesting considerable trade activity continued after the Romans left.

The Roman fort and its associated settlements had a population of around 30,000

Vindobona was part of a defensive network including the camps of Carnuntum, Brigetio and Aquincum. It was also a centre of trade, with a developed infrastructure, agriculture and forestry. Civic communities developed outside the fortifications, as well as another community that was independent of the military authorities in today's third district.

The camp and surrounding settlements roughly match up with much of the current first district, i.e. 'old Vienna' and the very centre of today's city. The civil Roman town extended out into today's third district.

The streets and houses of early medieval Vienna followed the former Roman walls, which suggests that parts of the fortifications were still in place and used by the settlers. Byzantine copper coins from the 6th century have been found in the area of today's city centre, indicating considerable trade activity.

Vindobona was a centre of trade with a developed infrastructure, agriculture and forestry

Vindobona was part of a defensive network that included the camps of Carnuntum, Brigetio and Aquincum. Four legions were stationed in Pannonia by the time of Emperor Commodus. The military camp was provisioned by the surrounding Roman country estates (Villae rusticae). Outside the fortifications, civic communities developed (canabae legionis), as well as another community that was independent of the military authorities in today's third district.

Vindobona was an important site of trade, with UNESCO recognising the Austrian and Viennese parts of this Roman frontier as a World Heritage Site. Byzantine copper coins from the 6th century have been found in the area of today's city centre, indicating considerable trade activity. The streets and houses of early medieval Vienna followed the former Roman walls, suggesting that parts of the fortification were still in use by the settlers.

The settlement area took on a new name in the 13th century, being changed to Berghof, or now simply known as Alter Berghof (the Old Berghof).

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