Neumagen-Dhron

Good wine can be found all along the Mosel. But only Neumagen-Dhron boasts a Roman wine barge anchored in its port: The “Stella Noviomagi”, a floating replica of the tomb marker for a Roman wine merchant, was discovered during excavations in 1878.

Experts estimate that the stone ship was crafted in roughly 220 A.D. It, together with the Igel Column, are the two most famous tomb markers from anywhere in the Mosel region.

Neumagen-Drohn boasts a wealth of Roman antiquities. Its most famous relic, together with many other relief and inscription stones, was erected as part of a fort during the reign of Emperor Constantine. The valuable tomb paintings feature everyday scenes, including depictions of winemaking.

Most of the finds are now collected in the Rhenish State Museum in Trier. Copies are sprinkled all throughout Neumagen-Dhron, as are original reliefs, stones and walls — with a wonderful archaeological circuit tour available to help put the entire ensemble of Roman relics into context.

A well-staged replica of the Roman wine ship can also be viewed at the Chapel of St. Peter.