Traismauer - Kastell Zentralbereich and St. Johann im Mauerthale - Wachtturm

Scenic road chapters

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Traismauer - Kastell Zentralbereich

   Traismauer is a small town of under three thousand people on the Traisen river, a few kilometres from the Danube, and underneath its streets lies a Roman fortress. In Roman times, it was called Augustianis, a cavalry fort on the frontier of the Empire, one of a chain of military posts that ran along the south bank of the Danube. The line of forts, towers and roads was the Danube Limes, and in 2021 UNESCO added its western section to the World Heritage List, with sites in Austria, Germany and Slovakia.

   Read the complete Traismauer - Kastell Zentralbereich write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

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

   Planning note

   Traismauer - Kastell Zentralbereich is where the day begins. Next is Mautern - Kastell Ostbereich.

2. 2. Mautern - Kastell Ostbereich

   In the fifth century, as Roman authority along the Danube collapsed, a holy man named Severinus lived at a place called Favianis, organising food supplies, ransoming captives and negotiating with barbarian kings on behalf of the remaining Roman population. His biography, written by his disciple Eugippius, is one of the most vivid accounts of the end of Roman rule in central Europe, and Favianis is generally identified with Mautern, a small town on the south bank of the Danube opposite Krems. The Roman fort here, parts of which survive in the town walls, is part of the Danube Limes World Heritage listing.

   Read the complete Mautern - Kastell Ostbereich write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

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

   Planning note

   Mautern - Kastell Ostbereich comes up about 15 km into the recorded legs. Next is St. Johann im Mauerthale - Wachtturm, 18 km on.

3. 3. St. Johann im Mauerthale - Wachtturm

   Above the Wachau, in the forested hills on the south bank, a watchtower stood in the Roman period, and its stones are a quiet reminder that this valley was once the border of an empire. The Danube was the northern frontier of the province of Noricum, and the Romans guarded it with forts and signal towers every few kilometres, a chain that now forms part of the UNESCO listing for the Danube Limes. The tower near St Johann im Mauerthale was one of these, placed to see along the river and warn of anyone crossing from the north. Not much remains but the foundations, and they sit in a place with a long view.

   Read the complete St. Johann im Mauerthale - Wachtturm write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

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

   Planning note

   about 33 km into the recorded legs you reach St. Johann im Mauerthale - Wachtturm. Next is back through Mautern - Kastell Ostbereich.

4. 4. back through Mautern - Kastell Ostbereich

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Mautern - Kastell Ostbereich write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

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

   Planning note

   back through Mautern - Kastell Ostbereich, late in the day. Next is Traismauer - Kastell Zentralbereich.

5. 5. Traismauer - Kastell Zentralbereich

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Traismauer - Kastell Zentralbereich write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

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

   Planning note

   Back at Traismauer - Kastell Zentralbereich. That is the ride.