Celtic pavilion in Bad Nauheim

In particular, the large Celtic oppida (fortified Iron Age settlements) near Oberursel in Taunus and Biebertal on the edge of the Westerwald region probably owe their wealth to this salt extraction. When the Romans built a fort in Bad Nauheim around the time of Christ's birth, this may already have taken place on the ruined remains of the Celtic salt works.

The first remains of the Celtic salt extraction facilities in Bad Nauheim came to light about 160 years ago. Ash layers, fire pits, stone pavements and numerous Celtic objects made of ceramics and metal were discovered in the foundation ditches of new buildings in the town's core and during the construction of the health resort park, which were clearly related to salt extraction. Extensive excavations followed in the 50s and 60s of the last century, bringing to light not only Celtic remains but also saline findings from the early Middle Ages. Since then, two large prehistoric saltworks have emerged: a “northern saltworks” and a “southern saltworks” in the heart of today's Bad Nauheim.

The latest excavations, which since 1995 have been carried out by the Hessian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments, have uncovered the largest early industrial Celtic site in Europe to date, where a large number of Celtic salters produced salt simultaneously with a high degree of labour division.

Visitors have the opportunity to boil salt themselves in the Celtic way under expert guidance in the archaeological pavilion. A working salt-boiling oven, text and picture boards, films and selected replicas of Celtic tools provide a vivid demonstration of the Celts' working and living environment.