Villa Kaalheide is the only Roman villa in the Netherlands whose remains have been made visible above ground.
Granted not everything you look at now is Roman, but that does not detract from this special place. Beneath this stone building stoodVilla its predecessor, a wooden building from the first century AD. Post holes have been recovered and fire layers, proof that it was burned down and rebuilt more than once.
Its successor, the stone building, was a so-called porticus villa, with such a typical colonnade. Toys have been found including a children's rattle. So chances are that a family lived here just like the young families here in the Kaalheide neighbourhood.
Tourist information:
De Vondst: Center for Archeology in Limburg
Raadhuisplein 20, 6411 HK Heerlen
www.devondst.nl
Rolduc Abbey (hotel restaurant & conference center)
Heyendallaan 82, 6464 EP Kerkrade
www.rolduc.com
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