Two thousand years ago, legions marched across Europe. Their footsteps echoed on a road known as the Via Belgica. Here in Cologne, we stand at the very end of this incredible Roman highway. The Via Belgica wasn’t called that in Roman times. Its modern name emerged in the 20th century. Archaeologists pieced together the route of this vital artery. It stretched an impressive distance from Boulogne-sur-Mer in France to Cologne, Germany. Imagine the logistics of building such a road. It connected the newly conquered northern territories to the heart of the Roman Empire. The Via Belgica played a vital role in the 2nd century AD. It traversed fertile lands. These lands produced vast quantities of grain. This grain fed both the Roman military and civilian populations. The road facilitated the movement of goods and troops between the Rhine and Meuse rivers. It passed through towns founded under Augustus. One such town was Maastricht (Traiectum ad Mosam). Here in Cologne, the Via Belgica reached its eastern terminus. This marked not just the end of a road, but a crucial point in the Roman network.
Skulpturenpark Stammheim
A golden winged pug surveys the Rhine. That’s how many remember the Skulpturenpark Stammheim. This isn’t just any park. It’s