Castra Arelape, Roman fortress in Pöchlarn, Austria

Castra Arelape was a Roman auxiliary and cavalry fort near the mouth of the Erlauf, probably on a gravel island east of the river. Its northern part has been washed away by the Danube, while the southern part lies beneath the old town. Remains of a late antique fan tower and wall fragments survive in the basement of the Pflegezentrum and in front of the parish church and Thörringplatz.

The auxiliary and cavalry camp near the mouth of the Erlauf was occupied by Roman soldiers from the 1st to the 5th century AD. In the 4th century it gained importance with the stationing of a Danube fleet unit. Large-scale excavations by the Federal Monuments Office from 2002 to 2009 confirmed the camp's location; its northern part was washed away by the Danube, while the southern part lies beneath the old town.

The site shows how soldiers and civilian families lived side by side in this border region for many centuries. The burial grounds reveal the everyday lives of people who made this military outpost their home.

Roman artifacts and remains of the fortress are on display at the Pöchlarn City Museum, which can be visited by appointment. The museum helps interpret what you see on the ground at this archaeological site.

In the 4th century, the site served as a base for river patrol ships on the Danube and sat beside an old river channel. This waterway separated the military zone from civilian settlements and made the location strategically valuable.