Aschaffenburg - Pompejanum

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After visiting beautiful Seligenstadt, Matthias drove us to Aschaffenburg. It is in northern Bavaria, near the border with Hesse. Aschaffenburg is often referred to as the 'Bavarian Nice' due to its mild climate and Mediterranean-inspired flair. 

We visited various nice spots in the afternoon:

I talk about the Pompejanum in this post and will share the Johannisburg Palace and Schönbusch Palace and Park in separate posts.

We parked near the colourful Pompejanum. It is a pastel yellow Mediterranean building on a burgundy base with pleasing wisteria. The yellow and violet complement each other and are especially eye-catching under the sun.  


The Pompejanum was built between 1840 and 1848 as a reproduction of a Pompei. The project was conceived by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. It was never intended to be a royal residence but a place where art lovers could study antiquity and see how life was like in a Roman house. 

The rooms in the house are situated around the central atrium with impressive white red columns. This open inner courtyard acts as the reception and living area. Rooms are arranged around the four sides of the atrium.  All rooms have splendid decorations and marvelous mosaic floors. Since 1994, Roman artefacts from the State Antiquities Collection and the Glyptothek in Munich are on display inside the Pompejanum. 

 

Directly behind the atrium is a tablinum, an office where the master of the house would receive his clients.

 

A colonnaded garden (peristylium or peristyle) is in the back of the house. It acts as a central, private social hub that provides light and air to the surrounding rooms. The portioned white red columns on the wall align those at the atrium. The walls are embellished with elaborate paintings. 

Surrounding the peristyle in the Pompejanum are the summer triclinium and winter tricinium, formal dining room. Three couches are present. One could accommodate three diners who reclined on their left side on cushions while some household slaves served multiple courses. 

Summer Triclinium

Winter Triclinium

Upstairs are more rooms and some displaying ancient household objects (incorporating mythical objects such as Pegasos (a winged horse) & Chimaira (a female monster), Minotauros (half animal and half man), the deadly riddle of the Sphinz, etc. 


The Pompejanum was heavily damaged by Allied area bombing during the World War II. But it was totally restored and opened to the public in 1994. Restoration of rooms on the upper floor began in 1995 and opened to visitors since July 2002. 

It is fortunate that the Pompejanum was restored to allow us to see how a Roman villa was and the many beautiful artifacts and gorgeous mosaics floors. The vibrant colours will always stay on my mind. 




Location: Pompejanumstraße 5, 63739 Aschaffenburg, Germany

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