Aelium Cetium, Roman archaeological site in St. Pölten, Austria.
Aelium Cetium is a Roman settlement from the 1st and 2nd centuries in St. Pölten, with remains showing residential buildings, streets, and public structures. The excavated finds suggest a prosperous community spread across several hectares and strategically positioned on the Danube.
The site was founded by Romans in the 1st century and gained the status of municipium under Emperor Hadrian between 117 and 138, granting it administrative importance. This elevation made it a key administrative and trading hub in the Roman province of Noricum.
The settlement functioned as a trading center along a crucial river route through the Danube valley. The layout of building remains suggests an organized community with economic ties to other Roman towns.
The site is spread across the old town of St. Pölten and can be explored on foot, with informational signs explaining the history. It is best visited with enough time to see the different areas and understand the remains.
The settlement appears in the Itinerarium Antonini, an ancient Roman road map, indicating its importance as a stop on long-distance trade routes. This entry proves the place was known and valued by travelers and merchants throughout antiquity.
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