Discover Wesel: Roman history, floodplains and cultural sites

Roman city history in Xanten

The LVR Archaeological Park Xanten is located on the site of the Roman city of Colonia Ulpia Traiana and is Germany’s largest archaeological open-air museum. The LVR Roman Museum displays numerous original finds from the Roman city and the two legionary camps. They tell the story of the city’s beginnings, heyday and downfall, tracing the arc of its history.

A tour through the Roman centuries is part of the museum experience; the Roman Museum is housed in a spectacular building. The Archaeological Park and museum regularly host demonstrations, festivals and hands-on activities. As individual dates and offerings change, it is worth checking the current programme before your visit.

So the focus in Xanten is not just on viewing artefacts: city history, legionary camps and changing hands-on activities offer different ways to explore the Roman past. If you are particularly interested in historical context, the original finds and the tour provide a tangible starting point.

Floodplain landscape and birdwatching

Bislicher Insel in Xanten is one of the last near-natural floodplain landscapes on the Lower Rhine; large areas are protected. In winter, the nature reserve is home to several thousand Arctic geese, especially greater white-fronted geese and barnacle geese. This seasonal focus is quite different from a visit centred primarily on Roman city history.

Three observation huts along the path offer views over the water. With a little luck, you can spot numerous bird species there. Both the season and your interest in nature watching are useful guides when planning your visit: Arctic geese are a particular highlight in winter, while the huts offer views over the water.

Routes through nature and the landscape

The ADFC-approved “Sustainability Along the Way” route runs through Wesel and Hamminkeln, mostly through Hohe Mark Nature Park. Its course is shaped by the two towns and the nature park landscape. Check the route details before setting out, as they may be updated.

A specific distance is given for the Hirschkäferroute (Stag Beetle Route): it is 3.7 kilometres long and starts at the hiking car park at the southern entrance to Diersfordt Wildlife Park. Unlike the ADFC route, which is described by its course, this route can be identified by its length and starting point.

Local history, monastic history and a walk

At the Humberghaus historical site in Dingden, Hamminkeln, authentic details about the house’s residential and usage history, as well as Jewish life in Dingden, have been preserved. The house includes a rare surviving private mikveh, a Jewish ritual bath. The combination of the house’s history and Jewish life gives the visit a different historical focus from the Roman finds in Xanten.

The treasury at the Kloster Kamp Museum was established in 1987 to document the centuries-old history of Kamp Abbey. The monastery shop sells Kamp honey, Kamp chocolates and Kamp beet syrup as souvenirs. As product availability may change, check before your visit whether the products you want are available.

The grounds of Haus Esselt include a park with the Issel River and a woodland. Visitors can take part in a Biparcours there, with activities and quiz questions that turn a walk into an experience for the whole family. The focus here is therefore not a museum collection, but a combination of walking, landscape and fun questions.

When choosing a hotel in the Wesel destination, you can start by deciding which of these themes matters most to you on your trip: Roman city history, nature watching, a route, or the history of a house and an abbey. This gives your search a specific travel purpose, rather than focusing on accommodation alone.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rheinberg, Hamminkeln, Kamp-Lintfort, Moers, Neukirchen-Vluyn, Schermbeck, Wesel, Xanten, Voerde, Voshövel, Dinslaken, Sonsbeck, Hünxe, Alpen.

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