Why this ride
From Eichstätt it runs 85 km to Eichstätt; allow about 1 h 45 of riding. On the way it passes Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7, Watchtowers WP 15/11 to 15/26 and fortlets and back through Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Fort site and civil settlement of Pfünz and Watchtowers WP 15/11 to 15/26 and fortlets
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 85 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 1 h 45
- 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.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Fort site and civil settlement of Pfünz
Above the village of Pfünz, on a spur of white Jura limestone looking down into the Altmühl valley, the Romans built a fort they called Vetoniana. Today a reconstructed gate and a stretch of wall stand on the hilltop, and from up there you understand the choice at once: the valley floor curls below you, the river meanders slowly, and anyone moving along it would have been seen hours before they arrived.
Read the complete Fort site and civil settlement of Pfünz 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 Pfünz is where the day begins. Next is Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7.
2. Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7
In Bavaria, the Roman frontier changed character. Instead of the wooden palisade used in the Upper German section, the Raetian Limes was eventually built as a stone wall, known locally as the Devil's Wall, because medieval people could not imagine anyone but the devil building something so long. The stretch between Watchtowers 15/1 and 15/7 crosses the hills around the Altmühl valley, near Kipfenberg and Kinding, and the line of the wall can still be traced in places as a low ridge in the forest. It is part of the Upper German-Raetian Limes World Heritage site.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7 comes up about 20 km into the recorded legs. Next is Watchtowers WP 15/11 to 15/26 and fortlets.
3. Watchtowers WP 15/11 to 15/26 and fortlets
The Altmühl valley in Bavaria is one of Germany's best kept riding secrets, a winding river valley cut deep into Jurassic limestone, lined with juniper heaths, rock towers and castles. Near where the valley meets the Danube, the Roman frontier, the Raetian Limes, ran across the land, and the stretch of watchtowers and small forts numbered WP 15/11 to 15/26 lies in the wooded hills here, between Riedenburg, Dietfurt and the Danube town of Vohburg.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 15/11 to 15/26 and fortlets write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 43 km into the recorded legs you reach Watchtowers WP 15/11 to 15/26 and fortlets. Next is back through Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7.
4. back through Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7 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 15/1 to 15/7, late in the day. Next is Fort site and civil settlement of Pfünz.
5. Fort site and civil settlement of Pfünz
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Fort site and civil settlement of Pfünz 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 Pfünz. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Fort site and civil settlement of Pfünz to Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7
Fort site and civil settlement of Pfünz → Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7 is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7 to Watchtowers WP 15/11 to 15/26 and fortlets
Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7 → Watchtowers WP 15/11 to 15/26 and fortlets is 23 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtowers WP 15/11 to 15/26 and fortlets to back through Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7
Watchtowers WP 15/11 to 15/26 and fortlets → back through Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7 is 23 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7 to Fort site and civil settlement of Pfünz
back through Watchtowers WP 15/1 to 15/7 → Fort site and civil settlement of Pfünz is 20 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.