Editing Woerden (section)

=== Roman castellum ===
[[File:Parkeergarage Castellum te Woerden.JPG|thumb|left|Underground parking facility [[Castellum]] with photos of Roman archeological finds]]

Woerden is situated on the river Oude Rijn, near the confluence with the former {{Interlanguage link multi|Linschoten (water)|nl|3=Linschoten (water)}} stream. The lower stretch of the Linschoten stream from [[Montfoort]] and [[Linschoten (village)|Linschoten]] to Woerden silted up a long time ago and its flow was diverted through the [[Lek River|Lek]] and [[Hollandse IJssel]] rivers, but at one time it was an important branch of the [[Rhine]] [[river delta|delta]], connecting the [[Nederrijn|Lower Rhine]] from [[Wijk bij Duurstede]] to the Oude Rijn near Woerden. Near the former confluence was an area that was slightly more elevated than the surroundings, a [[Levee#Natural levees|natural levee]], which &mdash; in an area that is prone to flooding &mdash; made it an attractive location for settlement.

Here, at the highest spot, the Romans built a [[castellum]] (''Castellum Laurum''), as part of the [[Limes (Roman Empire)|limes]] of the [[Roman Empire]] and thus part of the defense lines of the northern border of the Roman Empire. The first castellum was built in the 40s [[AD]] and was destroyed in 69 AD during the [[Batavian rebellion]]. In 70 AD, the castellum was rebuilt, and the Romans remained until 402 AD, with an interruption lasting from about 275-300 AD.

The Castellum was located at the present site of the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] Petruschurch and surrounding churchyard. During construction work on a new underground parking facility in the city center of Woerden, the remains of numerous old Roman buildings and a Roman cargo ship were found. During field research, a lot became known about the Roman time in Woerden: the location of the castellum, the zone of defense waters with the entrance road and the remains of a Roman cargo ship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.woerden7.nl/|title=Woerden7|website=www.woerden7.nl|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref>