Pompejanum, Aschaffenburg

King Ludwig I of Bavaria brought back the idea for the Pompejaneum from one of his Italian journeys, undertaken with the architect Friedrich von Gärtner. Between 1840 and 1848, a detailed replica of a Pompeian villa—the "House of Castor and Pollux"—was built high above the Main river.

Education Instead of Splendor

The King personally chose the site. His wish was to create a walk-in model of a Roman villa that was explicitly accessible to all people. The Pompejaneum did not serve his personal residential purposes but was intended as a place for education and the study of ancient culture.

Historical Development

The building was severely damaged during the Second World War. A lengthy restoration process began in 1960. Since 1994, original Roman artworks from the State Collection of Antiquities and the Glyptothek in Munich have enriched the rooms. In addition to marble sculptures, small bronzes, and glassware, two magnificent marble divine thrones are among the villa's most valuable treasures.

Tuscany on the Bavarian Lower Main

As city fortifications lost their significance, the moats and ramparts around Schloss Johannisburg were transformed into gardens for grapes, fruit, and vegetables. Today, a vine-covered arcade connects the castle with the Breakfast Temple and leads along the old city wall directly to the Pompejaneum.

The outdoor grounds were deliberately designed to create a Mediterranean scenery. Wherever possible, Mediterranean plants such as figs and agaves were used. To complete the picture, hardy black pines replace stone pines, and pyramidal poplars stand in for the typical cypresses.

The vineyard, destroyed in the war and replanted in the 1960s, completes the southern flair. The city moat, with its enormous variety of trees, offers the perfect setting for a relaxed stroll. Whether on the weekend, during a vacation, or just for a quick break—up here, you briefly forget that you are actually in Lower Franconia.