A fixed point of every journey back to the Roman world is a visit to the large public baths which are situated about 500 metres from the Open Air Museum Petronell and can be easily reached via a footpath. Because they were generously proportioned and lavishly equipped, the baths were originally thought – erroneously – to be the governor’s palace (palace ruins).
The public baths were in the centre of the civilian city and bordered the forum. In Carnuntum’s heyday colourful marble imported from every part of the Roman Empire decorated the walls, and the floors were covered with impressive mosaics. In the splendid halls one could meet friends and business associates, be pampered, enjoy the heat, and relax in the bathing pools.
Today the remains of underfloor heating systems, sewers, bathing and swimming pools, cellar rooms and large domestic offices can be seen. A market hall (macellum) with small rectangular rooms formed the southern part of the complex. To the north the macellum adjoined the palaestra, a large open courtyard. Further north were the actual baths, one of the largest Roman thermae north of the Alps.
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