On Saturday and Sunday, 10 and 11 August, Roman and Gallo-Roman troops will once again set up camp in the Bliesbruck-Reinheim European Cultural Park. The Legio XIIII Gemina and other re-enactors can be found in the villa of Reinheim. In Bliesbruck you will meet the groups Ave Bagacum, Branno Teuta, Emperor Hadrian and his court, Les Ambiani and Trimatrici. All the re-enactment camps will be open to the public throughout, so that visitors can immerse themselves in the heart of antiquity as they stroll through. From civilian to military, numerous craftsmen will be showcasing their trades.
At the Roman villa in Reinheim, visitors not only gain spectacular insights into the life of the soldiers, including defence exercises and attacks by the individual camps, but also into ancient crafts, teaching and bathing.
Visitors can find out how fabrics were sewn, woven, spun and brightly coloured with purely natural ingredients at the stands of the re-enactment actors through explanations, demonstrations, show objects or independent participation. Young visitors have the opportunity to learn about traditional teaching in Roman times at the Schola Romana. This is a free museum educational hands-on programme, which includes teaching and visual materials for the "pupils". Using authentic writing utensils and wax tablets, they can put what they have learnt into practice.
Various interactive hands-on activities (some for a fee, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) for young and old, from learning old handicrafts to the art of candle making to making your own scented ointment, round off the programme offered by the re-enactors.
To make the journey into the past perfect, a Roman crockery dealer and a shoemaker in traditional costume will demonstrate their craftsmanship and work using authentic historical tools. A Roman slave owner will be present as an exhibitor and didact with many instruments.
Children have the opportunity to get creative by painting their own sword, shield or door sign, letting their imagination run wild with pottery, choosing a temporary tattoo motif or making giant soap bubbles. Weather permitting, young visitors can also let off steam on a bouncy castle.
The programme in Bliesbruck is also very extensive. A scavenger hunt invites children to defend the Bliesbruck site as young athletes of the Olympic Games. There will also be various workshops and sports demonstrations, as well as a fanfare procession on its walk through the Kulturpark. The motto of the Olympic Games will be taken up again at Acta Archeo: visitors can discover the athletes and heroes of ancient mythology and take part in the sporting demonstrations themselves.
From the arena, spectators are treated to an exciting sight: Chariot races from Les Portes de la Historie and various military manoeuvres by the Gallo-Roman troops present.
The Upper Rhine company stages unusual, entertaining and theatrical performances with its travelling theatre "Comme on dit en latin". An epic duel in the form of a battle of words between two Roman couples is on the programme of the travelling theatre company La Salamandre Bleue.
The creative children's hands-on programme (from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., partly for a fee):
- Painting signs, swords and doorplates
- Giant soap bubbles, tattoos
- Pottery
- Sewing a doll tunic
- Colouring cotton sacks for children
- Making your own scented ointment
- Dipping candles
- Bouncy castle (only in good weather)
- Spinning with the hand spindle
- Participation in Roman school lessons incl. materials
The exhibitors (from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.):
- Kerzenquelle - Imkerei van der Wel:
Beeswax candles and products from our own apiary
Honey, mead, honey beer and products
- Král - herbs - spices and much more & historical dyeing:
Naturally dyed silk scarves and shawls as well as woollen scarves and shawls
Naturally dyed wool (in various thicknesses)
Naturally dyed spinning ribbon (for felting or processing with the hand spindle)
Plant-dyed linen and woollen fabrics (small quantities)
Dyeing plants, dyeing sets and knitted items made from naturally dyed wool
The accompanying musical programme:
- Saturday, 10 August 2024, from 8 pm: High Octane in Bliesbruck
A dynamic and powerful mix of fiddle, bodhràn and wild guitar. The band draws on the touch of Irish and Scottish music. - Saturday, 10 August 2024, from 9.30 pm: Green Lads in Bliesbruck
The group Green Lads operates at the interface between Irish-Celtic music and modern rhythms of electronic music. Using their instruments, they compose an energetic oeuvre with irresistible, danceable sounds. - Sunday, 11 August 2024, from 11 am: Matinee in the Roman villa in Reinheim
A musical matinee with sounds from the Carpathian region by Karczmarze and Helmut Eisel in building B8.
The culinary offer (from 10 am to 7 pm):
The physical well-being is well catered for.
The opening hours:
- Villa von Reinheim: Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Bliesbruck: Saturday, 10 am to 11 pm and Sunday, 10 am to 7 pm
The entrance fee:
- Regular: 10,00 €
- Reduced: € 6.00 (pupils, students, trainees, senior citizens)
Admission is free up to the age of 12.
Subject to change without notice!
Further information at: www.europaeischer-kulturpark.de or phone: 06843/900211