Museu das Termas Romanas de Chaves
2024 Update - The Museu das Termas Romanas de Chaves is now fully open.
The Museu das Termas Romanas de Chaves in Chaves in northern Portugal is a museum dedicated to what is thought to be the remains of the largest Roman baths on the Iberian Peninsula. The medicinal Roman spa can be compared in importance and size with those in Bath in England and Vichy in France. The Roman city was known as Aquae Flaviae. It was on the XVII road between Braga and Astorga.
The nearly 2,000-year-old complex was discovered in 2006 during the construction work for an underground car park.
Excavations have revealed a large main pool, a secondary pool, and a complex system of pipes for transporting the waters and for drainage.
The baths are thought to have been destroyed during an earthquake and lost to history until the 21st century. Chaves was founded by the Romans as Aquae Flaviae in AD78 and the 140 meter-long Ponte Trajano (Trajan Bridge) dates from the reign of Emperor Trajan in the early second century AD.
The exterior of the museum was completed (though not without criticism by a percentage of the town's inhabitants) but the interior suffers from the problem of condensation generated by the still active thermal springs. Plans were drawn up to increase natural ventilation and use the hot water to heat the building in winter as the costs of the project and the delays mounted.
The Covid-19 pandemic also delayed proceedings but the museum is hoping to launch sometime in 2020 or maybe 2021. Watch this space.
Access - Getting There
Rua Longras 26, 5400-355 Chaves
Tel: 276 340 501 - ext. 330
www: museutermasromanaschaves.pt
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| Roman period exhibits on display |
Hours
Winter - October to March; Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 1 pm; 2.30 pm to 6 pm; Summer - April to September; Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 1 pm; 2.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Admission is free.
A recommended place to stay in Chaves is the Petrus Hotel and to eat and drink visit the Adega Faustino.
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| © Museu das Termas Romanas de Chaves |
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