Villa rustica of Hartberg, Roman villa archaeological site in Hartberg Umgebung, Austria.

The Villa rustica of Hartberg is an excavated Roman country estate with preserved foundations that reveal a large property from the imperial period. The layout includes a central courtyard, residential quarters, covered porticoes, and on the western side a sophisticated bathing system with multiple pools.

The villa was built in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD as a palatial peristyle estate. Around 1700 a Roman burial mound south of the site was removed, yielding two Roman grave lions, one now in the Stadtpark Hartberg. Walter Modrijan led excavations from 1961 to 1963 that uncovered and conserved the foundations, and from 1992 to 2002 the walls were restored.

The villa shows through its features how wealthy Romans lived in this region and displayed their status. The elaborate bathing complex and central courtyard reflect a lifestyle that set residents apart from the surrounding population.

The archaeological site is located in a rural setting and accessible by simple paths that may vary in condition depending on the season. It is advisable to wear sturdy footwear and expect muddy ground after rain.

The apsidal hall on the north side, about 14 m long, was where the estate owner received small farmers and tenants and was responsible for jurisdiction and security over them. One of two Roman grave lions found around 1700 when a burial mound south of the villa was removed now stands in the Stadtpark of Hartberg.