Stroll through Kaiseraugst and the Roman Colony Augusta Raurica

(This post published on December 26, 2025. No notes taken at the time).

Sunday October 27, 2013 -- On this Sunday afternoon we didn't want to do a big hike, so traveled in the direction of Basel in the Northeast corner of Switzerland to have a walk around the site of the Roman Colony of Augusta Raurica, one of the most important Roman sites in Switzerland and the oldest known colony on the Rhine.

Information from the website: https://www.augustaraurica.ch/en/archaeology/city-history

"The capital of the colony Augusta Raurica was constructed around 15 BC. Within 200 years the town developed into a regional metropolis and flourishing trade centre with some 15,000 inhabitants. This was possible not least because of its location on the intersection between the River Rhine and the north-south axis linking the Rhineland with Italy and the west-east route from Gaul to the Danube and Raetia."

Here are a few photos of the archeological site, and from the walk we did around the town of Kaiseraugst with a short stretch along the Rhine River there. 

Heading into the town of Kaiseraugst, we pass a remaining piece of the original Roman fortress wall. 

Walking past the town's church. 

Pretty Houses

Lovely window decorations

This is the St.Gallus Catholic church. Information from Wikipedia: "It stands on the foundations of a church considered one of the oldest Christian places of worship in Switzerland. Below the church, a baptistery dating from the 4th or 5th century is built into the bank of the Rhine. The church tower dates from the 14th century, while the Baroque interior was completely redesigned between 1736 and 1750."    

Along the river there is an open-air museum where we had a look inside at what used to be the Roman Rhine Baths. (More information HERE)

A map shows all the archeological sites of the old Roman city, built in 15 BC and flourishing 200 years later.  

Starting at the train station, we first walked into the actual town of Kaiseraugst, then along the river past one excavation which included the Roman baths, then we walked to the Amphitheater (which wasn't really impressive, and then ended at the large Roman Theater and Temple on the hill, and that was more impressive. We took a little over two hours to do this loop.

Heading south now through the site of the various Roman structures, we pass the ruins of what is called the Grienmatt Sanctuary, which might have been a place of pilgrimage for the sick. See also HERE on the Website. 

We then passed the outer walls of the Amphitheater, the southernmost point of the loop walk around the site. 

Back at the main Roman Theater about 25 minutes later, this structure was much more interesting!

Directly across from the theater are the steps up to the temple. 

This is what is left of the Temple on Schönbühl Hill. "In the late 3rd century the temple became a ‘stone quarry’: parts of it were removed and reused elsewhere. That is why only the core of the temple podium has survived. The recesses on the sides show where the columns used to be." 

Roman Theater seen from Schönbühl Hill

Panorama view of the Roman Theater. 

What our little walk around Kaiseraugst and the remains of the Roman Colony Augusta Raurica looks like on Google Satellite Maps.