Kaiser Wilhelm II took a personal interest in the Roman frontier, and at the beginning of the twentieth century, he ordered the complete reconstruction of the Saalburg, a Roman fort on the crest of the Taunus near Bad Homburg. The result, with its walls, gates and buildings rebuilt on the original foundations, is the most complete reconstruction of a Roman fort in Germany and houses a museum of Roman life on the frontier. A few kilometres north-east, near Rosbach vor der Höhe, the ruins of the Kapersburg fort lie in the forest, and the watchtowers numbered WP 4/1 to 4/19a, on the section of the Limes running from the Taunus ridge toward the Wetterau, are part of the UNESCO listing of the Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes.
The Taunus ridge rises north of Frankfurt, a range of forested hills with the Großer Feldberg, at 879 metres, the highest point. On a clear day, the view from the top stretches over Frankfurt's skyline and the Rhine-Main plain. The ridge is crossed by roads that climb through the forest, and on fine weekends, the Feldberg is a magnet for riders from all over the region, with a car park at the top where bikes gather in rows.
For riders, the roads of the Taunus are a favourite, with tight bends, steep climbs and descents through the forest, and good surfaces. But be aware that their popularity has led to problems: accidents and noise have brought lower speed limits and regular controls on the favourite stretches, and police are frequently present on sunny weekends. Ride responsibly and check for any current restrictions before you go. To the north, the Wetterau is a flat, fertile plain of fields and villages, with straight roads and little excitement, but with interesting small towns.
Bad Homburg, below the Saalburg, is an elegant spa town with a palace, a casino and a park, and Friedrichsdorf, nearby, was founded by Huguenot refugees and is known for its rusks. Frankfurt, half an hour away, has everything you could want.
Rosbach vor der Höhe, a town of over eleven thousand people about four kilometres away, has fuel, shops and restaurants; Friedrichsdorf and Wehrheim are also close. Try a plate of Grüne Soße, a cold green sauce made with seven herbs, served with boiled eggs and potatoes, a speciality of Frankfurt, or a glass of Apfelwein, the local cider, in a traditional tavern. And at the Saalburg, take a moment to walk through the reconstructed gate, and imagine the frontier as it was nearly two thousand years ago.