The Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Brno cordially invites you to the summer program at the Mušov Visitor Centre – Gateway to the Roman Empire. You can look forward to:
July 11, 2026, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | THE GERMANS AT THE GATES OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Who were the Germanic peoples living in our region at a time when the Roman Empire was expanding as far as the Danube border? What was their daily life like, how were their warriors armed, what objects did they use, and what items did they receive from the Roman world? Come and be transported back to the time of the Marcomanni to get a glimpse into the life of Germanic society on the border of the Roman Empire.
Throughout the day, the Mušov Visitor Center—Gateway to the Roman Empire—will host a Germanic encampment run by the Projekt Marobudum group. You can look forward to demonstrations of daily life, everyday objects and warriors’ equipment, craft demonstrations, and displays of items that the Germanic peoples used or acquired through their contacts with the Roman Empire.
At 2:00 p.m., you can look forward to a LECTURE: “Equipment for the Final Journey: What Graves Tell Us About the Ancient Germanic Peoples,” presented by Mgr. Balázs Komoróczy, Ph.D., from the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno
The program is suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about the era when the worlds of the Germanic peoples and the Romans met at the very border of the empire. Children will also enjoy themselves, as accompanying activities will be prepared for them.
July 25, 2026, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | ROME AS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
How did people in Roman times imagine the universe? What did they see in the stars, and why did they believe that Earth stood right at the centre of everything? Join us on a journey through the ancient sky, filled with planets, constellations, gods, heroes, and ancient tales.
A day inspired by the Roman world, astronomy, and the night sky awaits you—presented in a playful, accessible way for explorers of all ages. You can look forward to themed games and activities, creative workshops, models of the planets, and a tellurium, which will help illustrate the movement of celestial bodies and the changing sky. Together, we’ll explore how people in antiquity explained the world above their heads—and perhaps we’ll discover that the stars were not just lights in the sky for them, but also a map of stories, ideas, and questions.
At 3:00 p.m., you can look forward to a LECTURE: “When the Earth Stood at the Centre of the Universe,” presented by Mgr. Veronika Floriánová, from the Brno Observatory and Planetarium
Lecture annotation: Let’s travel back to the 2nd century CE, to a time when the universe was orderly, finite, and the Earth stood motionless at its center. We’ll explore the world of Claudius Ptolemy, whose ingenious system of epicycles and deferents was able to explain the motion of the planets in the sky. At the same time, we’ll focus on the starry sky as a map of stories. In his work “The Mathematical System”, Ptolemy described hundreds of stars forming a fixed celestial sphere. The text remained the primary astronomical source even in the modern era, which is why we still encounter the twins Castor and Pollux or the goddess of justice in the night sky today.
August 8, 2026, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | THE MARCOMANNIC WARS
On Saturday, August 8, 2026, Hradisko near Mušov will once again become the site where Romans and Germanic tribes come face to face. We’ll travel back to the second half of the 2nd century AD, to the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the Marcomannic Wars—a period that also had a significant impact on what is now southern Moravia. Hradisko u Mušova is one of the most important sites attesting to the Roman military presence deep beyond the empire’s borders.
A day full of living history awaits you, featuring displays of archaeological finds and their replicas, as well as the atmosphere of a Roman military camp and the world of the Germanic peoples beyond the Danube. Our archaeologists will guide you through the Hradisko near Mušov site, and you’ll also get a glimpse of the ongoing archaeological research. You’ll discover what the Roman army looked like during the Marcomannic Wars, who they fought against, what equipment they used, and why Mušov is so exceptional for understanding this chapter of European history. Roman and Germanic warriors, along with a cavalry unit, will re-enact an ambush of a Roman military unit.
We’ll provide a detailed program soon, but be sure to mark this date on your calendar now!
This event is one of the outcomes of the Roman Trails project, co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg Austria–Czech Republic program.
Holders of the discount card issued by the Centre for Joint Activities of the Czech Academy of Sciences have free admission to the exhibition at the Mušov Visitor Centre – Gateway to the Roman Empire and to weekend events. Accompanying guests receive a 50% discount on admission.
You can park for free at the Aqualand Moravia parking lot upon presentation of your ticket to our exhibition.
This summer, you and your children can also try out our new summer archaeology scavenger hunt, “In Search of the Lost Legionnaire,” which will guide you through our Roman trail in an interactive way! For more information, visit our website: https://www.branadorimskerise.cz/aktuality/item/233/
For more information, visit the official website of the Gateway to the Roman Empire. And don’t forget to follow us on social media so you don’t miss the latest updates!
We look forward to your visit!
