Why this ride
321 km from Hungen to Hungen, about 4 h 34 of riding. It goes by way of Watchtower WP 3/38*, Watchtowers WP 2/7 and 2/13 including fort and back through Watchtower WP 3/38*. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73 and Watchtowers WP 2/7 and 2/13 including fort
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 321 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 4 h 34
- 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. Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73
Behind the name is a number system, because the Limes archaeologists gave every watchtower a code. WP means Wachposten, a watchtower, and 4/72 means the seventy-second one on the fourth section of the frontier, the one that crosses the Wetterau. This pair of towers stands in farmland near Hungen, in central Hesse, and the Romans placed them on a gentle rise from which a watchman could see across the open plain and signal to the next tower along the line.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73 is where the day begins. Next is Watchtower WP 3/38*.
2. 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* comes up about 76 km into the recorded legs. Next is Watchtowers WP 2/7 and 2/13 including fort.
3. Watchtowers WP 2/7 and 2/13 including fort
Between the Lahn and the Rhine, the Roman frontier crossed a high, wooded plateau known locally as the Einrich, and the watchtowers from 2/7 to 2/13 stood on this stretch, near the village of Dachsenhausen. In the forest, the earth bank and ditch can still be followed, and small forts, built to house the soldiers who manned the towers, have left their outlines in the ground. Here, as elsewhere in Germany, the Limes belongs to the frontiers of the Roman Empire on the World Heritage list, but the forest is quiet, and you may walk the line for an hour without meeting anyone.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 2/7 and 2/13 including fort write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 156 km into the recorded legs you reach Watchtowers WP 2/7 and 2/13 including fort. Next is back through Watchtower WP 3/38*.
4. back through 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
back through Watchtower WP 3/38*, late in the day. Next is Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73.
5. Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73 to Watchtower WP 3/38*
Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73 → Watchtower WP 3/38* is 76 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtower WP 3/38* to Watchtowers WP 2/7 and 2/13 including fort
Watchtower WP 3/38* → Watchtowers WP 2/7 and 2/13 including fort is 80 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtowers WP 2/7 and 2/13 including fort to back through Watchtower WP 3/38*
Watchtowers WP 2/7 and 2/13 including fort → back through Watchtower WP 3/38* is 88 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Watchtower WP 3/38* to Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73
back through Watchtower WP 3/38* → Watchtowers WP 4/72 to 4/73 is 77 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.