The Römervertrag and cantonal Cooperation
19 October 2025
On October 13, the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Aargau, and Basel-Stadt celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Römervertrag (Roman Treaty) at the ancient Roman fort in Kaiseraugst. This agreement is considered a milestone for the protection, research, and development of Augusta Raurica and its museum.
With the ceremonial signing of a new version of the treaty, the joint commitment to the future of this cultural monument was reaffirmed. At the same time, nearly 30,000 collection objects from Basel-Stadt were transferred to the ownership of the Roman city Augusta Raurica.
Daniel Suter, director of Augusta Raurica
The cantons, along with the two other contracting parties—the Historical and Antiquarian Society of Basel and the Pro Augusta Raurica Foundation—confirmed with the revised treaty the protection, research, and public presentation of the ancient city. The treaty marks the beginning of a new, long-term intercantonal cooperation and will come into force on January 1, 2026.
BAK (Bundesamt für Kultur, Federal Ministry of Culture) director Carine Bachmann expressed her appreciation to the politicians who, 50 years ago, paved the way for a cultural heritage of national interest with great foresight and courage.
At the same time, the Historical Museum Basel is presenting 25 treasures from the Basel region and the nearby foreign areas. Among them is one of the most valuable treasures from the Augusta Raurica collection: the silver treasure of Kaiseraugst.
The Roman Treaty of 1975 laid the foundation for excavations, the museum, and research to no longer rely solely on private initiatives, thus playing a key role in the development of Augusta Raurica.
For the first time, the collection, archive, excavation documentation, and research were brought together. Uniform standards were introduced, and the accumulated knowledge was made accessible to science and the public.
This created space for diverse collaborations, such as with the Basel museums, the Basel-Stadt State Archive, the University Library, the Basel-Stadt, and regional tourism organisations. The Roman Treaty is still considered a model for successful cooperation across cantonal borders.
The silver hoard of Augusta Raurica
Hopefully, this unique and relatively well-functioning national and European monument to direct democracy, federalism, the principle of subsidiarity and decentralisation will be managed just as well as Augusta Raurica.
What is gone is gone – even at the democratic and constitutional level. In the 1960s, this was just as relevant in Augusta Raurica with its Roman heritage, house and road construction, as it is today with current political issues.
And nomen est omen: the cantons also played a decisive role in Augusta Raurica. The Swiss Constitution is also clear: the people and the cantons are sovereign and form the Swiss Confederation. Political opportunism sometimes prevails, also or even in Switzerland, however.
Roman archaeo-zoology in Augusta Raurica
The Roman theater in Augusta Raurica
