The Roman Villa Otrang
Villa Otrang is around a 30-minute drive from Trier and is one of the largest and best preserved Roman villa complexes north of the Alps. It is an elegant country house with numerous mosaic floors decorating the 66-odd rooms of the generous complex. The villa is a grandiose testament to Roman history as well as an exemplary record of monument preservation and archaeological work. Built in the 1st century AD, the complex covers an area of around 379 metres long by 132 metres wide. After it was discovered in the 19th century, the remaining building fragments were first made secure and investigated.
The excavations revealed a comprehensive extension to the villa in the mid-2nd century to reflect the increasing affluence of the region. As well as the impressive estate house, the complex includes several baths, a heating system (hypocaust) and a temple area. A farm area and a small farm building were also found, providing evidence of agricultural work. Villa Otrang was inhabited until the 4th century and afterwards partly destroyed by the Franconians. The floors and floor plans discovered in the 19th century were damaged in the Second World War. Additional work to restore some of the mosaics, the heating system and the replica of the south wing, complete with viewing terrace, began in the 1960s.
There is disabled access to the first two rooms of Villa Otrang. The remaining rooms are accessed via steps. There is a toilet on the ground floor which is accessed via steps. There are natural stone steps between the car park and the villa.
There are parking spaces in front of Villa Otrang.