The ancient Roman scholar Varro used the term villa rustica to describe a farmhouse set in the countryside. This specific label distinguished agricultural estates from leisure resorts known as otium villas.
Standard designs usually split the complex into two distinct parts called pars urbana and pars rustica. The residential pars urbana housed the owner while the farm area handled all production tasks.
Excavations near Valjevo uncovered a fourth-century site that still stands today. These structures functioned as management centers for large landholdings known as latifundia throughout the empire.
Remains of these farmhouses appear in modern countries including Italy Britain Germany and Serbia. Austria hosts several known locations such as Altheim and Baden-Baden-Haueneberstein while France preserves ruins at Montmaurin and Coustaty.
Servants often resided in separate buildings attached to the main residence. Archaeologists found evidence of simple sleeping quarters near barns where animals were kept while the owner enjoyed private chambers.