Wiesental: Roman Fort, Local History and Places of Remembrance

If you also choose a travel destination for its history, Wiesental offers several different themes: the development of the district, its Roman past at the Wagbach Roman fort, the Baden Revolution, as well as church architecture and remembrance. These highlights give you different points of reference to help decide whether Wiesental suits your travel plans.

Settlement Development and Location

The district of Wiesental was founded in 1297. Its settlement is described as originally having a linear, street-based layout; it later developed into a cross shape. Wiesental lies on the lower Rhine terrace, west of the Wagbach lowlands. Its founding and later cross-shaped layout mark two distinct stages: 1297 represents the beginning of the district, while the cross shape reflects a later development. The setting in the landscape adds a geographical dimension to the local history.

The Wagbach Roman Fort and Its Roman History

The important cultural monument, the Wagbach Roman fort, is near Wiesental, within the municipal district of Waghäusel. The fort was formerly rectangular and covered about 2,400 square metres; the rampart crest measured 46 by 53 metres. It was built under Emperor Vespasian (69–79 AD). It was probably abandoned under Emperor Trajan (98–117 AD). Its abandonment is therefore recorded as a probable, not certain, date.

The local history museum in the former Wiesental town hall displays various Roman finds, as well as a model of the Wagbach Roman fort created using archaeological evidence. The finds and model offer two distinct ways of exploring Roman history: concrete artefacts on the one hand, and a model representation of the fort on the other.

The Revolution and Regional History

Decisive battles between Baden revolutionary troops and Prussian soldiers took place near Wiesental and Waghäusel on 20 and 21 June 1849. The history of the Baden Revolution is also one of the local history museum’s main exhibition themes. The museum also explores tobacco cultivation, a typical source of income in the area, and cigar-making. Thus, alongside Roman times, regional history encompasses both political events and aspects of working life at the time.

Church Architecture and Places of Remembrance

In 1843, the Grand Ducal Government officially approved the construction of a new St. Jodokus Church in Wiesental; building work began soon afterwards. Wiesental’s memorials are another historical focus. The memorial “The Great Contemplative Woman” was unveiled at Wiesental Cemetery on Remembrance Day for the Victims of War in 1985. The 2.70-metre-tall figure of a mourning woman, made of white Carrara marble, was created by sculptor Franz W. Müller-Steinfurth of Speyer. The memorial also commemorates those killed in the Second World War (1939–1945).

Another memorial honours the people of Wiesental who fell in the wars of 1870/71 and 1914–1918. It was created by Karlsruhe sculptor Karl Seckinger (1897–1978). The memorial was erected in the old cemetery in 1929 and has stood at its present location since 1992. The information about its artist and locations distinguishes the history of this memorial from that of the memorial at Wiesental Cemetery.

For the broader travel overview: Waghäusel.