Castra of Irgenhausen, Roman fortification in Pfäffikon, Switzerland
Irgenhausen Castrum is a Roman fort on the Bürglen drumlin near Pfäffikersee. Its restored walls form a near-square of 60 by 61 metres, with four corner towers, a gate tower on the southeast and three low towers. Inside stood a three-roomed building interpreted as a bath suite and another as the headquarters; a red band in the wall marks where Roman masonry ends and restoration begins.
The fort was established in the late Roman period, roughly between 294 and 375 CE. It played an important role in protecting a major trade route connecting Roman settlements in the region.
The stone walls reveal how Roman soldiers lived and worked at this location. You can still see where they bathed and rested, giving insight into their daily routines.
The location sits in a rural area, so bring comfortable shoes and prepare for changing weather depending on the season. It helps to gather information beforehand, as access and available facilities may be limited.
A red band in the wall marks where the ancient Roman masonry ends and the 1898–1908 restoration begins. The hypocaust under the southern corner tower belonged to an older villa rustica of the 1st to 3rd century, on whose ruins the fort was later built.
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