Hüfingen Roman Festival

Brigobannis — Roman Fort in the Black Forest

Hüfingen is a town with around 8,000 inhabitants in the Schwarzwald-Baar district (state of Baden-Württemberg) — directly north of Donaueschingen, near the source of the Danube and at the transition from the Black Forest to the Baar region. What makes Hüfingen world-famous is its Roman past: in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, the Roman fort Brigobannis was located here, an important stronghold on the Danube line and the Black Forest Limes. Today, the thermal baths (Roman Bath Ruins) are preserved — one of the most significant Roman monuments in Southern Germany.

The Roman Bath Ruins — Antiquity in Stone

The Hüfingen thermal baths were excavated in the 19th century and are now publicly accessible as a ruin covered by a protective structure. You can see the original walls, the hypocaust system (underfloor heating), basin structures, mosaics, and a model of the original bathing complex. The ruins are maintained by the Förderverein Römische Badruine Hüfingen e.V. (Support Association for the Roman Bath Ruins Hüfingen) and are a regular venue for lectures, guided tours, and reenactment events.

Roman Festival — Hands-on Antiquity

During the Roman Festival, the area around the ruins transforms into a vibrant Roman camp:

• Legionary Camp — Reenactor groups from Germany, Switzerland, and France set up their tents and equipment, showcasing armor, weapons, and camp life
• Roman Market — Stalls with ancient goods: oils, wines, spices, pottery, jewelry, textiles
• Ancient Craft Demonstrations — Blacksmith, potter, glassblower, leatherworker demonstrate their skills with historical tools
• Guided Tours through the ruins — Archaeologists explain the function of individual structural elements
• Sunday from 2:00 PM — Thermal Baths Open: the interior of the ruins are freely accessible

Family Program and Shows

In addition, there are demonstrations for families: gladiator fights (choreographed), dances, and music with ancient instruments (lyre, tibia), hands-on activities for children such as coin minting, writing with wax tablets, and Roman bread baking.