The Villa Rustica of Oberlunkhofen is an important archaeological site in Schalchmatthau near the village of Oberlunkhofen in the Swiss canton of Aargau. They are the remains of a Roman estate.
The ruins had been known for a long time, but for a long time they were wrongly interpreted as the remains of a castle. Systematic excavations were finally carried out between 1897 and 1900, which provided further information about the complex. Between 1979 and 1981, the bathing area of the villa was conserved.
The remains of the Villa Rustica discovered so far consist of the manor house and two outbuildings. The manor house is located on an elevated terrace and offers a wonderful view of the Reuss valley and the Alps. It had a portico with two corner projections in the south. A bathing area was later built into the eastern part of the house. Seven rooms in the house were decorated with simple white-ground wall paintings.
The finds of coins and ceramics suggest that the Villa Rustica was inhabited between about 50 and 250 AD. One of the most significant discoveries was the torso of a Bacchus statue, which is considered an important small find.
The Villa Rustica of Oberlunkhofen is a fascinating testimony to the history of Roman settlement in the region. It gives us insights into the life and everyday life of the Roman inhabitants and is an important cultural heritage that should be preserved and researched.
Access
From Arni to Litzi in the first forest on the left side the path leads about 300 meters past an animal enclosure.
