Why this ride
71 km from Aalen to Aalen, about 1 h 11 of riding. On the way it passes Watchtowers WP 12/39, Watchtowers WP 9/132 to 12/38 including fo and back through Watchtowers WP 12/39. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen and Watchtowers WP 9/132 to 12/38 including fo
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 71 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 1 h 11
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
The recorded total and the leg detail need reconciliation. Inspect the leg notes before using this record for timing or navigation. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen
The largest Roman cavalry fort north of the Alps stood on the site of today's Aalen, in the eastern Swabian Jura. It was home to a regiment of a thousand horsemen, the ala II Flavia, the most prestigious cavalry unit on the Raetian frontier, and its walls enclosed a huge area, with barracks, stables, granaries and a headquarters building. Beside it grew a civilian settlement, with traders, craftsmen and families. Today the site is home to the Limesmuseum Aalen, one of the most important museums of the Roman frontier in Germany, with excavated foundations, reconstructions and a rich collection of finds. It is part of the Upper German-Raetian Limes World Heritage site.
Read the complete Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen is where the day begins. Next is Watchtowers WP 12/39.
2. Watchtowers WP 12/39
Iggingen is a small village on the plateau above the Rems valley, a few kilometres east of Schwäbisch Gmünd, and like many villages in this part of Württemberg it has a Roman frontier running through its fields. The site labelled Watchtower WP 12/39 sits on the Raetian Limes, the stone wall that marked the edge of Roman Raetia, and from here the line runs eastwards towards Aalen, the largest Roman cavalry fort north of the Alps, now home to an excellent Limes museum.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 12/39 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Watchtowers WP 12/39 comes up 19 km in. Next is Watchtowers WP 9/132 to 12/38 including fo.
3. Watchtowers WP 9/132 to 12/38 including fo
Lorch is where two Roman frontiers shook hands. The Upper Germanic Limes, a line of wooden palisade and watchtowers running down from the Rhine, met the Raetian Limes, a stone wall stretching east towards the Danube, in the hills near this small town in the Rems valley. The watchtower numbers jump here from series 9, the end of the Upper Germanic stretch, to 12, the start of the Raetian, and the whole system is part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage site.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 9/132 to 12/38 including fo write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
38 km in you reach Watchtowers WP 9/132 to 12/38 including fo. Next is back through Watchtowers WP 12/39.
4. back through Watchtowers WP 12/39
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 12/39 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Watchtowers WP 12/39, late in the day. Next is Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen.
5. Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen to Watchtowers WP 12/39
Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen → Watchtowers WP 12/39 is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtowers WP 12/39 to Watchtowers WP 9/132 to 12/38 including fo
Watchtowers WP 12/39 → Watchtowers WP 9/132 to 12/38 including fo is 19 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtowers WP 9/132 to 12/38 including fo to back through Watchtowers WP 12/39
Watchtowers WP 9/132 to 12/38 including fo → back through Watchtowers WP 12/39 is 19 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Watchtowers WP 12/39 to Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen
back through Watchtowers WP 12/39 → Fort site and civil settlement of Aalen is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.