Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths facts for kids
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| Location | Caerleon, Newport, Wales |
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| Type | Archaeological museum |
| Owner | Cadw |
The Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths museum (Welsh: Caer a Baddonau Rhufeinig Caerllion Amgueddfa) is a historical site located in the town of Caerleon, South Wales. Near to the city of Newport, it is run by the Welsh historic environment service Cadw.
Background and history
Roman Wales was the farthest point west that the Roman Empire in Roman Britain extended to, and as a defence point, the fortress at Caerleon built in AD 75 was one of only three permanent Roman Legionary fortresses in Roman Britain. It was occupied and operational for just over 200 years.
The site of the baths was excavated in the late 1970s, and a curator was appointed in 1980 when the site was opened to the public.
The Roman Baths Museum lies inside what remains of the fortress of Isca Augusta close to the National Roman Legion Museum. The baths museum has a covered walkway over part of the remains of the military bath house. There was a frigidarium, tepidarium and caldarium, as well as an open-air swimming pool.
The baths museum is administered by Cadw, as are the remains of Isca Augusta. Within a short walk of the baths museum are:
- The most complete Roman amphitheatre in Britain
- Sections of the fortress walls
- The only remains of a Roman legionary barracks on view anywhere in Europe at Prysg Field
There were over 40,000 visitors to the Baths in 2012.
