Straubing - Ostkastell and Weltenburg‐Am Galget - Kleinkastell

Scenic road chapters

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Straubing - Ostkastell

   Straubing sits on a bend of the Danube in the fertile Gäuboden, the flat, loess-rich farmland that gave Lower Bavaria its reputation for heavy harvests, and the Romans liked it for the same reason. A cavalry fort stood here, on the eastern edge of what is now the town, guarding the river line, and a civilian settlement grew around it. The most remarkable find came in 1950, when workmen digging a cellar uncovered a hoard of Roman parade armour, gilded helmets and masks used by cavalrymen in displays. It is now a prize exhibit in the local museum, and it is one of the finest such finds in Europe.

   Read the complete Straubing - Ostkastell write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Straubing - Ostkastell is where the day begins. Next is Regensburg - Östliche Canabae.

2. 2. Regensburg - Östliche Canabae

   Marcus Aurelius had the legionary fortress of Castra Regina built here, on the northernmost bend of the Danube, and its north gate, the Porta Praetoria, still stands in Regensburg's old town, built into later buildings, with a foundation inscription dated to AD 179. Outside the fortress walls, the canabae, the civilian settlements where traders, craftsmen and soldiers' families lived, spread along the river, and the eastern canabae are a piece of the World Heritage property for the Danube Limes. Regensburg's medieval old town, built on top of the Roman city, has its own UNESCO listing.

   Read the complete Regensburg - Östliche Canabae write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Regensburg - Östliche Canabae comes up about 47 km into the recorded legs. Next is Weltenburg‐Am Galget - Kleinkastell.

3. 3. Weltenburg‐Am Galget - Kleinkastell

   The Danube does something unexpected just upstream of Kelheim. Instead of wandering across flat Bavarian farmland, it cuts straight through a band of white Jurassic limestone, squeezed between cliffs that rise steeply from the water. This is the Weltenburg Narrows, and on the hill above the abbey at Weltenburg, at the spot called Am Galget, the Romans put a small fort to watch the river and the frontier.

   Read the complete Weltenburg‐Am Galget - Kleinkastell write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 80 km into the recorded legs you reach Weltenburg‐Am Galget - Kleinkastell. Next is back through Regensburg - Östliche Canabae.

4. 4. back through Regensburg - Östliche Canabae

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Regensburg - Östliche Canabae write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Regensburg - Östliche Canabae, late in the day. Next is Straubing - Ostkastell.

5. 5. Straubing - Ostkastell

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Straubing - Ostkastell write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Straubing - Ostkastell. That is the ride.