Archaeological research at Rolduc: in search of a Roman Villa
Starting March 24, archaeologists will be searching for remains of a Roman villa near Rolduc Abbey! This research is necessary because there is a desire to plant a life tree forest at this site. We want to make sure that no important archaeological finds are lost.
Alderman Alexander Geers (Public Space) stresses the importance of this excavation: "Kerkrade has a special history. It is essential to protect our past while making room for a green future."
Previous investigations indicate that a Roman villa may have been located northwest of the abbey. A Roman villa was a large farm with several buildings. Here mainly grain was grown, both for personal use and for sale. This grain was in great demand because many people in cities such as Heerlen, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Xanten and Cologne needed it. Roman soldiers stationed along the border of the empire also used a lot of grain.
Alderman Jo Schlangen (Culture): "We know from research that there may be remains from the Roman period at this site. We are going to look for this now, so that our past is not lost, but rather contributes to our knowledge about the history of this special place."
Parkstad is an important site for Roman history in the Netherlands. As early as the 19th century, many Roman villas were excavated here. In fact, two of the three best-studied villas in the Netherlands are located in this region!
Open house on March 29
Discover extraordinary finds and see how archaeologists work. A unique opportunity to see Kerkrade's hidden history come to life. Are you curious about the Romans and their villas? Then come along to our open day on Saturday, March 29 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the intersection Berenbosweg/Roderlandbaan in Kerkrade.
Caution! The excavation site is an open area with potentially muddy and uneven ground. We recommend wearing sturdy, closed shoes or boots.
It can get crowded during the open day and parking spaces are limited. Therefore, please park as much as possible in the Rolduckerveld neighborhood, for example in the Mgr. van Gilststraat or Dir. Schrijnenstraat. Preferably come by bike or on foot.
The area of the archaeological survey is indicated by a dotted line in the photo below.
Life Tree Forest
After completing the archaeological research, we will start planning for the life tree forest, which will look like an authentic Limburg orchard with tall fruit trees. This special forest will be a green, sustainable place where nature and memory come together. We will provide timely information about this. General information about the life-tree forest can be found at kerkrade.nl/levensbomenbos