Inspired by excavations of Pompeii, king of Bavaria Ludwig I tasked his court architect Friedrich von Gärtner in 1840 to build a replica of the Roman villa Castor and Pollux (Casa dei Dioscuri) in Aschaffenburg. The building was not intended for residence but was designed as a life-size museum exhibit to introduce Germans to the beautiful samples of antique art.
Since 1994 Pompejanum exhibits original Ancient Roman artwork from the glyptotheca of Munich. There is a small vineyard near the villa. Unfortunately, the famous Pompejaner wine produced here is currently unavailable for purchase – it is kept for special occasions and presents to the honourable guests of the town.