Bergheim

Ancient foundations, a well, waste pits – many finds since the mid-19th century indicate that there was a Roman road settlement (vicus) here in what is now the village of Thorr. The closely spaced remains of the settlement suggest that it probably stretched at least 250 metres on both sides of the road. The settlement area probably began about 280 metres west of the Erft lowlands.

There is further evidence that the Romans once settled here: on the western edge of the village, the Via Belgica crosses a road leading from Zülpich to Neuss. Several burial grounds are grouped around this intersection. In 1995, 188 cremation graves from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD were excavated south of the Roman road.

Gravestones that had been used as building material for the old church in Thorr and came to light when it was demolished at the beginning of the 20th century may have come from this burial ground. In addition, the remains of a Roman Mercury altar and many matron monuments were used in the construction of the church – so there may have been a sanctuary nearby.

Across the Erft river towards Cologne, the construction of the sewage treatment plant in Kenten in 1975 also uncovered the junction of a side road to the Via Belgica and a Roman road station. Based on current research, it is not possible to say whether the Roman settlement in Bergheim-Thorr is the Tiberiacum mentioned in ancient sources. The place name Thorr could also be derived from a Roman guard post (ad turrem), which would certainly have had strategic importance at this location for monitoring the Erft crossing.