'Salvete' to Caerleon!

September 20, 2015 • Leave a Comment

There are so many places where Roman influence is still visible today in Britain. Based in Bristol, we can plunge into the Roman past easily with the Roman Baths only 10 mins away by train, but we were recently delighted to discover the Roman heritage of Carleon, just outside Newport.

Located a quarter of an hour bus ride from Newport centre, Carleon, or Isca as it was known in Roman times, is really quaint. Once there, you can easily walk from one Roman attraction to the other. We started with the Roman Baths, where with a bit of imagination and the help of a video projection in the main basin, it's easy to visualise the bathers relaxing in the caldarium and other tepidarium.

The fortress housed up to 6,000 men and Carleon, which was home to the Roman legion for over 300 years, would have been one of Britain's most vibrant Roman settlements. At the nearby National Roman Legion Museum, you can find out more about what life was like in Isca, and discover ordinary objects found throughout the years in the area, like food utensils, jewellery and soldiers' weapons and equipment.

The weather was gorgeous on the day we went so after walking through the ruins of the 40 barracks that once housed the Roman legions, we sat on the grass watching kids play football and run around in the amazingly well preserved remains of the amphitheatre, before heading into town for a delicious pint of Brains by the river Usk.

Nina

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DSC_9829 DSC_9832 Discovering Carleon's Roman heritage DSC_9836 The Roman Baths at Caerleon are amazing DSC_9860

It's easy to imagine the bathers relaxing in Caerleon Roamn Baths DSC_9859 DSC_9861 Discovering ordinary objects from the Roman life at Carleon's National Roman Legion Museum DSC_9863

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The Roman wore leather sandals by all weather DSC_9842

artefacts at Caerleon National Roman Legion Museum DSC_9864

So many examples of craftsmanship at the National Roman Legion Museum of Caerleon near Newport DSC_9865 DSC_9871 Theblethal equipment of Roman Soldiers included a shield and a javelin | Caerleon National Roman Legion Museum DSC_9873

DSC_9886 Wine and oil were kept in beautiful amphoras crafted by local potters / Caerleon National Roman Legion Museum DSC_9883 DSC_9889 DSC_9890 Examples of Roman coins found in the Caerleon area can be seen at the National Roman Legion Museum DSC_9893 A priest shows off his moves at Caerleon's National Roman Legion Museum DSC_9899 DSC_9901

Roman coins at Caerleon's Roman Legion Museum DSC_9892 You can see a reproduction of a Roman barrack, with bunk beds and kitchen corner DSC_9902 DSC_9908 DSC_9912 Kids playing football in the remains of Caerleon's amphitheatre DSC_9920 The Roman amphitheatre at Caerleon is amazingly well preserved DSC_9921 Caerleon once housed 40 barracks from the Roman army DSC_9932 Roman barracks at Caerleon DSC_9937 Caerleon is such a quaint little place DSC_9941 DSC_9943 When in Wales: drinking a pint of Brains beer by the river Usk. DSC_9944

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