Roman Villa Bollendorf

The Villa rustica (Roman country estate) was one of several Roman-era structures in and near Bollendorf (Rhineland-Palatinate).

The complex is located above the present-day Bollendorf Castle. It was built in the second century AD and used until the fifth century; during this time, some alterations were made. Apparently, the villa was not reoccupied after a fire. The complex consists of the foundations of a main house measuring 27 × 23 meters. This included an atrium, which was 17 meters long and 11 meters wide and was later roofed over and used as additional living space. The house featured two risalits on the valley side, between which was a colonnade with a central grand staircase. The house and veranda had cellars. Utility rooms were located on the mountain side of the house; furthermore, in the northern corner at the back of the house, there was a room that could be heated by the hypocaust of the bathing facility later installed on the western narrow side. Between this room and the western risalit were the apodyterium, frigidarium, tepidarium, and caldarium; the firing possibility was in the main hall. The extension on the north side with the utility rooms and an exit to the east was also added later. To the west and north, the villa was equipped with a sandstone eaves gutter. The water was collected in an underground seepage basin.