Why this ride
From Greding it runs 265 km to Greding; allow about 4 h 19 of riding. On the way it passes Watchtower WP 13/54, Watchtowers WP 12/69 to 12/85 and back through Watchtower WP 13/54. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Fort site and civil settlement of Boehming and Watchtowers WP 12/69 to 12/85
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 265 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 4 h 19
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. 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.
Scenic road chapters
Romantic Road
Expect company on a summer weekend. Early is better than fast. For about 64 km this is Romantic Road, a road with a name of its own and a reason for it.
Chapter facts
- Length
- 64 km
- Named road
- Romantic Road
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Fort site and civil settlement of Boehming
The Altmühl valley is one of the most beautiful river valleys in Bavaria, and near the village of Böhming, a short way upstream from Kipfenberg, the Romans built a small fort to guard the point where their frontier, the Raetian Limes, crossed the river. The Limes here came down from the plateau, crossed the valley and climbed again on the other side, and the fort, with its civil settlement, controlled the crossing and the route along the river. Little is visible today beyond outlines in the fields and a few marked spots, but a stone inscription found here and the finds displayed in the Roman and Bavarian museum in Kipfenberg bring the site to life.
Read the complete Fort site and civil settlement of Boehming 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 Boehming is where the day begins. Next is Watchtower WP 13/54.
2. Watchtower WP 13/54
Gunzenhausen is a small town in Middle Franconia, on the Altmühl river, and the Roman frontier ran right through it. Watchtower WP 13/54 stood within what is now the town, and the course of the frontier is traced through the streets. It is unusual to find the Roman frontier in an urban setting, and it is a nice surprise as you wander the streets.
Read the complete Watchtower WP 13/54 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Watchtower WP 13/54 comes up about 68 km into the recorded legs. Next is Watchtowers WP 12/69 to 12/85.
3. Watchtowers WP 12/69 to 12/85
In the forests near Ellwangen the Roman frontier changes character. Here the Upper Germanic Limes, with its timber palisade and ditch, meets the Raetian Limes, which the Romans eventually built as a stone wall, and the stretch of watchtowers numbered 12/69 to 12/85 runs through the farmland and woods east of the Jagst. Archaeologists number the towers with slashes and digits, which makes them sound like spare parts, but each one was a small stone or timber post with a few soldiers watching the border, passing signals along the line. Together they form part of the UNESCO Frontiers of the Roman Empire.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 12/69 to 12/85 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 132 km into the recorded legs you reach Watchtowers WP 12/69 to 12/85. Next is back through Watchtower WP 13/54.
4. back through Watchtower WP 13/54
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Watchtower WP 13/54 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Watchtower WP 13/54, late in the day. Next is Fort site and civil settlement of Boehming.
5. Fort site and civil settlement of Boehming
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Fort site and civil settlement of Boehming 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 Boehming. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Fort site and civil settlement of Boehming to Watchtower WP 13/54
Fort site and civil settlement of Boehming → Watchtower WP 13/54 is 68 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtower WP 13/54 to Watchtowers WP 12/69 to 12/85
Watchtower WP 13/54 → Watchtowers WP 12/69 to 12/85 is 64 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtowers WP 12/69 to 12/85 to back through Watchtower WP 13/54
Watchtowers WP 12/69 to 12/85 → back through Watchtower WP 13/54 is 64 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Watchtower WP 13/54 to Fort site and civil settlement of Boehming
back through Watchtower WP 13/54 → Fort site and civil settlement of Boehming is 68 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.