The Roman Baths



In Bonn there are the remains of small Roman baths underneath the Albertinum at Konrad-Adenauer-Allee, which can be visited.
The first Roman baths were built in the time of the Roman Emperors. In those days these bath houses were attended by citizens, because they had no running water in their houses. The public baths were huge buildings used for various purposes.
In addition to the frigidarium (a cold bath), the trepidarium ( a basin with warm water), and the caldarium ( a hot bath) people could relax and amuse themselves in exercise yards or study in halls dedicated to entertainment, reading and lectures. They could also have their bodies rubbed with oil by slaves and enjoy being spoilt from time to time. Men and women went there at different times
Usually they went to the baths for two hours: First they went into the trepidarium (warm bath for relaxation), then into the caldarium. The so-called hot, steamy bath was a basin filled with hot water in a steamy room. Finally they went to the frigidarium, which was outside. The baths were heated with an underground furnace, the walls were heated through tiles. Slaves continuously poked the fire, which was necessary to keep the heating going. Above the furnace water was heated in a boiler and went directly from there into the basins. Because the Romans frequently went to these baths, they needed water in vast amounts.
back to map