Römische Mansio

Slipping through time, imagine yourselves as weary travelers in the 3rd century AD, arriving at the Rōmische Mansio in Neuss. This wasn’t Düsseldorf, not yet. This was a bustling Roman outpost, a vital stop on the Rhine River Road. The Rōmische Mansio offered respite. A haven for those journeying by land or water. Picture the scene: a sturdy structure, roughly 12 by 22 meters, built on strong foundations of greywacke and slate. Walls of tufa stone, sourced from the Vordereifel region, rose around you, about 60 cm thick on the ground floor. These materials, painstakingly transported by ship from Andernach, spoke to the importance of this place. Inside, five distinct rooms offered shelter. Imagine the warmth radiating from the two central rooms, heated by underfloor ducts covered with brick slabs. Warm air circulated through a wall heating system, chasing away the chill. In the southeast corner, a small bath, heated by a hypocaust system, promised relaxation. Outside, a porch wrapped around the south and front sides of the Mansio, providing a shaded area for respite. A massive tufa well, a unique feature in Neuss, stood at the building’s south corner. Its precisely cut segment stones, brought from Kruft in the Eifel, ensured a steady supply of water for the travelers’ animals. Sadly, by the 4th century, the Rōmische Mansio was abandoned. From the 9th century onwards, its stones were repurposed, the once vibrant hostel slowly fading into the past. What remains today, visible through a viewing window and outlined on the pavement, is a testament to this bustling hub of Roman life. The Rōmische Mansio reminds us of a time when Neuss, not Düsseldorf, was a key stop on the Roman road, a place where weary travelers found warmth, rest, and a moment’s peace on their long journeys.