Roman Castle CELEVSVM (Celeusum)

The Roman fort CELEVSVM, also known as Castrum Celeusum, was a military stronghold during the Roman era. It is located in the fields in front of the market town of Pförring in the district of Eichstätt, Bavaria, and once served to secure a Danube crossing. The remains of the fort are still visible in the landscape today.

The fort's garrison, the Ala I Flavia singularium civium Romanorum pia fidelis, a cavalry unit of about 500 men, constructed the first timber-and-earth fort at the beginning of the 2nd century. In 141, under Emperor Antoninus Pius, the fort was expanded in stone, as evidenced by a building inscription. The limestone defensive wall was about one meter thick and featured a wooden parapet walk. The four double gates were equipped with tuff stone arches. The end of the fort is believed to have occurred during the Alamannic invasion of 233 AD. As early as the 16th century, the Biburg, as the fort site was also known, attracted the attention of scholars like Johannes Aventinus. In the 19th century, numerous finds were made, including coins from Hadrian's reign and a building inscription. The Imperial Limes Commission later conducted excavations, revealing the fort's structure with its double pointed ditch, corner towers, gates, and the Principia (headquarters building). Recent research using magnetometry and aerial photographs has provided insights into the internal structures, such as barracks and stables. In 2009, excavations took place at the northeast gate, with the aim of developing the area for visitors and erecting a steel framework replicating a Roman gate.