Wetterau-Limes, Roman fortification system in Hesse, Germany
The Wetterau-Limes is a section of the Roman frontier system stretching across the Wetterau region over several kilometers. The defense network consisted of watchtowers, wooden palisades, and earth ramparts built to monitor and protect the empire's border.
Construction began under Emperor Domitian around 83 AD as part of Roman expansion against the Chatti tribes east of the Rhine. The fortification served as a crucial border defense for about 200 years before being abandoned.
The fortifications show how Rome marked and controlled its borders in this region. Visitors can see remains of wooden palisades and earth ramparts that reflect the daily life of soldiers stationed at this remote frontier line.
The remains are accessible via marked hiking trails connecting various archaeological points that can be explored on foot. The Saalburg Museum offers detailed information and context about the significance of this Roman frontier system.
Large sections of the limes lay hidden beneath vegetation and soil layers until 19th-century historians systematically excavated them. This rediscovery helped archaeologists understand the entire Roman frontier system in central Europe more clearly.
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