Amphitheatre Bad Deutsch Altenburg

The world of the arena and the gladiators awakens to new life in the Amphitheatre Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, which is situated beside the main road, about 3 km from Petronell-Carnuntum and about 500 metres from the outskirts of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg.

The atmosphere of ancient gladiatorial contests can be felt even today as one walks through the arena.  However, the arena was also used by the legionaries for drill and training, as well as for parades and public meetings.  Perhaps Septimius Severus, governor of the province of Upper Pannonia, was proclaimed emperor here in the Amphitheatre.  The Amphitheatre is the only visible part of the former civilian settlement that can still be seen today.  The walls date from a new building erected towards the end of the 2^nd century AD.  The arena had an east and a west entrance and there was room for a total of 8,000 visitors.

Current Exhibition

Gladiatoria Carnuntina – World of the Arena

To a great extent gladiators have shaped our modern view of Roman antiquity.  The importance of  gladiators in the Roman world is documented by innumerable depictions of gladiatorial scenes on reliefs, graffiti on walls of houses, on floor mosaics and frescos. 

With depictions of scenes showing life-size figures, acoustic effects and with the evaluation of the latest scientific knowledge, this exhibition shows new insights into this bloody mass phenomenon of ancient times.  It depicts both the cruel reality of the arena, but also illuminates the social status that a few of the gladiators were able to achieve.

The design of the Exhibition is based primarily on ancient sources and shows for instance the popularity of the gladiators with the masses as demonstrated by drawings scratched on house walls.  Based on the evaluation of ancient sources down to the finest detail, the oppressive and bloodthirsty acoustic atmosphere of the Amphitheatre has been reconstructed.

Wiener Strasse, 2405 Bad Deutsch-Altenburg

Information: Tel. +43 2163 33770 or email