Why this ride
189 km from Glashütten to Glashütten, about 3 h 31 of riding. On the way it passes Watchtower WP 3/4*, Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f, Watchtowers WP 1/78 to 1/81 and back through Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Watchtower WP 3/38* and Watchtowers WP 1/78 to 1/81
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 189 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 3 h 31
- 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. Watchtower WP 3/38*
The Taunus is a range of wooded hills north-west of Frankfurt, rising to 878 metres at the Großer Feldberg, and it has long been the city's playground, with forests, spa towns and winding roads. Through these hills ran the Upper Germanic Limes, the Roman frontier that stretched for over five hundred kilometres across Germany, and one of its watchtowers, numbered WP 3/38, stood near the village of Glashütten, close to Waldems and Königstein im Taunus.
Read the complete Watchtower WP 3/38* write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Watchtower WP 3/38* is where the day begins. Next is Watchtower WP 3/4*.
2. Watchtower WP 3/4*
In the western Taunus, between Bad Schwalbach and Taunusstein, the forest is thick and the hills roll gently, and the Upper German Limes runs along the ridge here as a still visible bank and ditch. The site labelled Watchtower WP 3/4 is one of the many small posts along this section, and a few kilometres to the east, near Taunusstein-Orlen, the fort of Zugmantel guarded a crossing of the frontier on an old trade route into Germanic territory. These remains are part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage site, and a walk along the Limes trail through the forest here is peaceful and atmospheric.
Read the complete Watchtower WP 3/4* write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Watchtower WP 3/4* comes up about 38 km into the recorded legs. Next is Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f.
3. Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f
North of the Taunus ridge, the Limes crossed a high, open plateau between the Rhine and the Lahn, and the stretch with watchtowers 2/23 to 2/26 runs through the farmland and woods near Miehlen and Singhofen in the Rhein-Lahn district. The remains here are subtle, mostly low banks and the traces of towers in fields and forest edges, but the line of the frontier is marked by the long-distance Limes trail and information boards. This is part of the UNESCO Frontiers of the Roman Empire, a stretch of the line that few visitors ever see.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 63 km into the recorded legs you reach Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f. Next is Watchtowers WP 1/78 to 1/81.
4. Watchtowers WP 1/78 to 1/81
Kadenbach, Arzbach and Eitelborn are three small villages on the broad, wooded plateau of the Westerwald, a short way north of the Lahn valley, and the four watchtowers here sit in a short run along the Roman frontier. Numbers 1/78 to 1/81 belong to the first section of the Upper German-Raetian Limes, running from the Rhine towards the Taunus. The frontier was a palisade with towers placed within sight of one another, and the signal system relied on fire at night and smoke or flag by day. In this area the Romans picked ridges and shoulders of hills so the view ran for miles over land that was then forest and scrub.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 1/78 to 1/81 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Watchtowers WP 1/78 to 1/81, about halfway. Next is back through Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f.
5. back through Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f 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 WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f sits at 104 km, about halfway. Next is back through Watchtower WP 3/4*.
6. back through Watchtower WP 3/4*
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Watchtower WP 3/4* 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 3/4* comes up about 152 km into the recorded legs. Next is Watchtower WP 3/38*.
7. Watchtower WP 3/38*
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Watchtower WP 3/38* write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Watchtower WP 3/38* closes the day.
Leg by leg
Watchtower WP 3/38* to Watchtower WP 3/4*
Watchtower WP 3/38* → Watchtower WP 3/4* is 38 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtower WP 3/4* to Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f
Watchtower WP 3/4* → Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f is 25 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f to Watchtowers WP 1/78 to 1/81
Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f → Watchtowers WP 1/78 to 1/81 is 32 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtowers WP 1/78 to 1/81 to back through Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f
Watchtowers WP 1/78 to 1/81 → back through Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f is 32 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f to back through Watchtower WP 3/4*
back through Watchtowers WP WP 2/23 to 2/26 including f → back through Watchtower WP 3/4* is 25 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Watchtower WP 3/4* to Watchtower WP 3/38*
back through Watchtower WP 3/4* → Watchtower WP 3/38* is 38 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.