Roman Games 2024

Enter the Roman Empire.

In the present-day territory of Rusovce, a Roman military camp once stretched out as part of the northern border of the Roman Empire. Although the Romans have long since abandoned Rusovce, on Saturday, October 12, we will be able to take a 27th look at Roman life in a cultural monument inscribed on the UNESCO list. Ancient Gerulata and its surroundings will once again be transformed into a settlement full of soldiers, gladiators, ancient weapons, armor, and their favorite dishes.

The Roman army was one of the most professional military groups in history.

Not only were their military formations advanced and progressive, but so was the entire Roman culture. During the Roman Games, visitors will be able to gain insight into their way of life, education, and architecture. Experts from the Bratislava City Museum, which manages the site, will be able to tell you about how ordinary Romans could become soldiers or legionaries, what their equipment included, how they sailed on the Danube, and other interesting facts. Young and old will be able to try out period games that were used to pass the time in ancient Rome.

PROGRAM on Saturday, October 12th

Balkanska Street – Post Office
10:00 – 10:20 opening ceremony
10:30 – 10:50 march with Roman legion soldiers to Ancient Gerulta
10:00 – 19:00 Roman combat demonstrations
10:00 – 19:00 coin minting workshop
10:00 – 19:00 archery test

Gerulatská Street – Children's Playground
Children's Roman Empire:
10:00 – 19:00 archaeological research game
10:00 – 19:00 learning about Roman numerals
10:00 – 19:00 creative jewelry making workshops

Gerulatská Street – Fire Station
12:15 – 13:00 interview with archaeologist Margaréta Musilová from the Municipal Institute for Monument Protection in Bratislava, Zsolt Visy from the University of Pécs in Hungary and archaeologist Baláž Komoróczy from the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Brno: "Revived Roman Cultural Heritage"
13:15 – 13:45 The Danube Limes will be presented in a mobile application and in virtual reality by Pavol Paulíny and Martin Varga from the Faculty of Architecture and Design of the Slovak University of Technology.
14:00 – 14:20 presentation of the video game "Heritage Quest AR" about Gerulata through the eyes of little Riman Félix, presented by Belinda Rašnerová from Impact Games
15:30 – 16:00 interesting facts about the discovery of the Roman bridge on the Danube will be presented by archaeologists-divers Miroslava Daňová from the University of Trnava and Klaudia Daňová from the Archaeological Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Nitra

Accompanying program:
10:00 – 18:00 screening of thematic films about the construction of the Roman rowboat Danuvina Alacris, its voyage around Slovakia and the film "Borders of the Roman Empire"
10:00 – 18:00 presentation of the Roman rowing boat Danuvina Alacris, its models and shields
11:00 – 15:00 getting to know the Danube Limes in virtual reality and in the mobile application environment
10:30 – 15:00 opportunity to get a correspondence card with a collector's stamp with the motif of the Roman rowing boat Danuvina Alacris

Gerulatská ul. – Ancient Gerulata
10:55 – 11:10 screening of the first documentary film about Gerulata from 1968 "Limes Romanus in Slovakia"
11:15 – 11:45 lecture by Ľudovít Mathédesz, archaeologist of the Bratislava City Museum, entitled "Geraluta, a castle on the borders of the Roman Empire"
12:00 – 12:45 guided walk through the Roman Rus' led by Ľudovít Mathédesz
14:00 – 14:45 lecture "What is the Limes Romanus?" with Jaroslava Schmidtová, archaeologist at the Bratislava City Museum
14:30 – 15:15 demonstration of a special group of soldiers with shields, the so-called turtles
15:15 – 16:00 second guided walk through the Roman Rusovci led by Ľudovít Mathédesz
16:00 – 16:30 lecture by restorer Milan Sedlár "From archaeological find to exhibited object"
16:45 – 17:15 interview with Zdeněk Farkaš about the theft of archaeological monuments
17:45 – 18:30 discussion with archaeologist and former Minister of Culture Ladislav Snopka about archaeological research in Rusovce
18:30 – 18:50 screening of thematic historical films from 1966 – 1989 from the archives of the Slovak Film Institute

Accompanying program:
10:00 – 19:00 individual tours of the Ancient Gerulata Exposition
10:00 – 19:00 virtual educational game about life in the Gerulata military camp
10:00 – 18:00 archaeological research for the little ones
10:00 – 18:00 jewelry making
10:00 – 19:00 playing the period board game "Mills"

You can also get a glimpse into the life of the Romans on the borders of the empire on Sunday, October 13, 2024. The Roman rowing boat Danuvina Alacris will be moored on the Morava River below Devín Castle all Sunday afternoon. An excellent program has been prepared both below the castle and at Devín Castle: https://bit.ly/3ZVLL58

Event partners: Bratislava – the capital of the Slovak Republic, Rusovce City District, Bratislava City Museum, Bratislava City Institute for Monument Protection, Bratislava Tourist Board. Implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Slovak Republic.

Practical information:

When arriving at the event by car, you can use the parking lot in front of the Kraj grocery store or the health center on Balkánská Street. You can also use the parking lot near Sľuk on Maľadská Street.
We recommend using public transport, namely lines 91 and 191.
During the entire festival, it will be possible to purchase refreshments at 4 food stands
Mobile toilets will also be located at the event, including for the physically challenged.

Photo: Radek Hajek