Wesel: Roman History, Floodplains and Culture

Roman Urban 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 origins, heyday and decline. A tour takes you through the Roman centuries in a spectacular building, bringing together the history of the site and finds from the camps.

The Archaeological Park and the Roman Museum regularly host demonstrations, festivals and a variety of activities to watch and take part in. This offers different ways to explore the Roman past: you can take an interest in the original finds and their stories, or include events and activities as experiences in your trip plans. If you are travelling with children, the hands-on activities offer a specific shared activity alongside the historical exhibits.

Floodplain Landscapes and Nature Watching

Bislicher Insel in Xanten is one of the last near-natural floodplain landscapes on the Lower Rhine and is largely protected as a nature reserve. The area reveals a different side of the region from the Roman sites: here, bodies of water and the protected landscape shape the experience of nature. In winter, the nature reserve is home to several thousand Arctic geese, especially greater white-fronted geese and barnacle geese. The seasonal aspect is important when planning if these birds are of particular interest to you.

Three observation huts along the trail offer views of the bodies of water. With a little luck, you can spot numerous bird species there. The huts provide specific observation points, but spotting many species is still a matter of luck. If you prefer to follow a set route, the stag beetle route offers another point of reference: it is 3.7 kilometres long and starts at the car park for hikers at the southern entrance to the Diersfordter Wildgatter.

Trails and Cultural Sites with Distinctive Themes

The ADFC-certified “Sustainability Along the Way” route runs through Wesel and Hamminkeln and mostly follows the Hohe Mark Nature Park. When choosing a route, you can therefore consider a cycle path that specifically connects these places and the nature park. The stag beetle route offers a different focus: its stated length and starting point at the car park for hikers make it a clearly defined option for planning a day out, without implying a walking time.

At the Humberghaus history site, a rare, well-preserved private mikveh—a Jewish ritual bath—preserves a special part of the house’s history. Authentic details tell the story of the house’s residential history and uses, as well as Jewish life in Dingden. Those interested in everyday history and Jewish history will find a different perspective here from the Roman finds in Xanten.

Haus Esselt also offers its own points of interest: the grounds include a park with the Issel River and a forest. Visitors can take part in a Biparcours with activities and quiz questions, turning a walk into an experience for the whole family. At the Kloster Kamp Monastery Museum, the treasury, established in 1987, documents the abbey’s centuries-old history. The monastery shop sells Kamper honey, Kamper chocolates and Kamper beet syrup as souvenirs.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first consider which experiences you want to shape your trip: Roman history, nature watching, cycling routes or cultural sites each offer a different focus. The town pages provide further guidance: Xanten, Wesel, Schermbeck, Neukirchen-Vluyn, Moers, Kamp-Lintfort, Hamminkeln, Rheinberg, Voerde, Voshövel, Dinslaken, Sonsbeck, Hünxe and Alpen.

For the broader travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.