Watchtowers WP 9/70 to 9/99a including the and Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Watchtowers WP 9/70 to 9/99a including the

   Mainhardt sits on a ridge in the Swabian-Franconian Forest, and the Roman frontier ran right through it, on its way south in one of the longest straight lines ever drawn across European landscape. Here, the Upper Germanic Limes runs for some eighty kilometres from Walldürn to near Welzheim almost perfectly straight, ignoring hills and valleys, as if surveyors had laid a ruler on the map. The watchtowers numbered in this section stood along that line in the forest, and Mainhardt had a fort, whose site is marked in the village, with a small museum.

   Read the complete Watchtowers WP 9/70 to 9/99a including the write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

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

   Planning note

   Watchtowers WP 9/70 to 9/99a including the is where the day begins. Next is Watchtowers WP 8/11 to 8/28 including fort.

2. 2. Watchtowers WP 8/11 to 8/28 including fort

   The Romans did not much care for the shape of the land when they drew this frontier. Around Osterburken the Upper Germanic Limes stops following valleys and ridges and simply runs in long, stubborn straight lines across the Bauland, the rolling limestone country between the Odenwald and the Jagst. The watchtower sites numbered in this stretch were once timber, then stone, posts spaced so that each could see its neighbours, strung along a palisade and ditch that marked where the province ended and the unconquered north began.

   Read the complete Watchtowers WP 8/11 to 8/28 including fort write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

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

   Planning note

   Watchtowers WP 8/11 to 8/28 including fort comes up about 81 km into the recorded legs. Next is Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur.

3. 3. Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur

   Obernburg stands on the Main, in the bend where the river leaves the Spessart forest and turns north, and for a time in the second century it was the frontier of the Roman world. The Odenwald Limes, the earlier version of the frontier, ran along the hills to the south and reached the river near here, and a fort was built on the bank to guard the crossing. A civil settlement grew beside it, and finds from both are shown in the town's small Roman museum, which stands on the site and has a collection of tombstones, tools and pottery.

   Read the complete Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

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

   Planning note

   about 142 km into the recorded legs you reach Fort site and civil settlement of Obernbur. Next is back through Watchtowers WP 8/11 to 8/28 including fort.

4. 4. back through Watchtowers WP 8/11 to 8/28 including fort

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Watchtowers WP 8/11 to 8/28 including fort 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 8/11 to 8/28 including fort, late in the day. Next is Watchtowers WP 9/70 to 9/99a including the.

5. 5. Watchtowers WP 9/70 to 9/99a including the

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Watchtowers WP 9/70 to 9/99a including the 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 9/70 to 9/99a including the. That is the ride.