Fort site and civil settlement of Niedernb and Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe
Plan this ride
Recorded distance
143 km
Riding-time estimate
2 h 13
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.
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143 km from Sulzbach am Main to Sulzbach am Main, about 2 h 13 of riding. On the way it passes Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth, Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe, Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur and back through Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Fort site and civil settlement of Niedernb
For one stretch of the Roman frontier in Germany, the soldiers did not need to build a wall at all. Between Großkrotzenburg and Miltenberg, the Main river itself served as the border, the so-called wet Limes, guarded by a chain of forts along its western bank. Niedernberg, a village on the river just below Aschaffenburg, was one of them, with a fort and a civilian settlement beside it. Little survives above ground today; the remains lie beneath fields and houses. But the Main still flows past, broad and slow, and it is easy to picture patrol boats and soldiers watching the far bank. The site is part of the Upper German-Raetian Limes World Heritage listing.
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Fort site and civil settlement of Niedernb is where the day begins. Next is Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth.
2. Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth
For a stretch of about fifty kilometres, the Roman frontier of Upper Germany did not need a wall at all. Between Großkrotzenburg and Miltenberg, the Main river itself served as the border, and the Romans lined its western bank with forts and watchtowers to watch over the water and the forested hills of the Spessart on the other side. Wörth am Main had one of these forts, with a civil settlement where soldiers' families, traders and craftsmen lived. Very little remains above ground, but this wet frontier is inscribed as part of the Upper German Limes, and standing on the riverbank you can see why the Romans thought the river was enough.
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth comes up 19 km in. Next is Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe.
3. Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe
Miltenberg is one of those German towns that seem almost too pretty to be real, with half-timbered houses leaning over the cobbled streets, a market square sloping down toward the river, a castle on the hill above and the Main flowing slowly past. The Romans were here first. Two forts guarded this point on the frontier, one near the old town and another to the east, where the Limes left the river and ran overland through the Odenwald, and the sites, with their civilian settlements, are part of the UNESCO Frontiers of the Roman Empire. A museum in the town displays finds from the forts.
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
38 km in you reach Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe. Next is Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur.
4. Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur
Obernburg stands on the Main, in the bend where the river leaves the Spessart forest and turns north, and for a time in the second century it was the frontier of the Roman world. The Odenwald Limes, the earlier version of the frontier, ran along the hills to the south and reached the river near here, and a fort was built on the bank to guard the crossing. A civil settlement grew beside it, and finds from both are shown in the town's small Roman museum, which stands on the site and has a collection of tombstones, tools and pottery.
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
The route ends here after 143 km.
Leg by leg
Fort site and civil settlement of Niedernb to Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth
Fort site and civil settlement of Niedernb → Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth is 17 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth to Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe
Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth → Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe is 16 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe to Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur
Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe → Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur is 21 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur to Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe
Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur → Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe is 21 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe to back through Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur
Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe → back through Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur is 21 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur to back through Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe
back through Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur → back through Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe is 21 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe to back through Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth
back through Fort site and civil settlement of Miltenbe → back through Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth is 16 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth to Fort site and civil settlement of Niedernb
back through Fort site and civil settlement of Wörth → Fort site and civil settlement of Niedernb is 17 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.