National Roman Legion Museum

National Roman Legion Museum

Travel back in time to explore the most remote outpost of the mighty Roman Empire. Wales was the farthest reach of the Roman Empire. In 75 AD, the Romans built a fortress near Caerleon, just outside Newport in Wales, which guarded the region for 200 years. Caerleon was one of three permanent fortresses established during Roman Britain, and the National Roman Legion Museum is located within the remains of this fortress. It includes Britain’s most complete amphitheatre as well as preserved ruins of Roman legionary barracks — a feature unmatched anywhere else in Europe.

The museum was built in 1850 and became part of the National Museum of Wales in 1930. Today in Caerleon, you can discover what made the Romans such a powerful and virtually invincible force, and how our lives might have been different without them. You’ll be able to view a vast collection of artefacts and crafts that reveal how they lived, fought, were worshipped, and eventually declined. The National Roman Legion Museum researches, preserves, and displays over 500,000 items from the Roman fortress of Caerleon, Usk, and the surrounding area. These collections are of global significance, offering compelling evidence of life in two major Roman military bases and the civilian settlements that grew around them.

At weekends and school holidays, children can step into a full-size replica barrack room, try on replica armour, and experience life as a Roman soldier, travelling back a thousand years.

National Roman Legion Museum

Must-visit reason: The only legionary barracks ruins in Europe

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Britain[Britain]

Province/State: Newport [Newport]

City: Newport [Newport]