The builders are finishing the Gate to the Roman Empire near Pasohlávky

Information Center Gateway to the Roman Empire (design: Ing. arch. Jan Snášel, investor: Archaeological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences)

Pasohlávky (Brno Region) – Site preparations, the last exterior construction work, and especially the final interior construction work are being completed these days by workers at the future visitor center Mušov, which will be called Gateway to the Roman Empire. Balázs Komoróczy from the Archaeological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences told ČTK.

The construction of the visitor center, which will showcase the results of archaeological surveys at the Hradisko near Mušov as well as finds from the Roman Empire, will cost approximately 30 million crowns, and the institute is building it with financial support from the Academy of Sciences.

"Hradisko Mušov is the most authentic site in our territory with traces of ancient Romans. We have also found signs of the Roman army's presence in other places in our territory, but those were military camps, whereas Hradisko indicates a more permanent settlement suggesting that the Romans planned to operate here for an extended time," said Komoróczy.

The author of the building's architectural design is Jan Snášel Jr. Besides minor hints, the building does not refer to the period of ancient Rome in any way. "We did not want to go down the path of any stylistic imitations. It is purely modern architecture with clean lines," added Komoróczy.

The Gateway to the Roman Empire is expected to open to visitors in the second half of June, pandemic permitting. Once the construction workers finish, the installation of interactive elements will begin, followed by the installation of the exhibition itself, which will showcase some finds from Mušov that the public has not yet had the opportunity to see.

In the future, outdoor events featuring demonstrations of historical fencing from the relevant period or presentations of Roman cuisine are expected to take place at the Mušov visitor center. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, these are unlikely to be possible for now. There is also uncertainty surrounding the organization of the Roman-German festival, which is supposed to take place every year on the third weekend in September. If it cannot be held this year, the organizers will move it to next year.