Upper German-Raetian Limes, Roman frontier archaeological site in Bavaria, Germany

The Upper German-Raetian Limes is a 550-kilometer Roman frontier line running from Rheinbrohl on the Rhine to the fort at Eining on the Danube. It was built as an artificial boundary of palisades, ditches, watchtowers and forts rather than following rivers or mountains, except for a short stretch along the Main between Großkrotzenburg and Miltenberg. Much of it was later quarried away, but reconstructed timber towers and palisade sections stand at visited sites.

The fortification began as a wooden palisade in the 1st century AD and was later partially replaced by stone walls. In the year 260, the Romans abandoned the frontier line when Germanic tribes overran the territory and soldiers withdrew behind the Rhine and Danube.

The name comes from the Roman provinces of Germania Superior and Raetia, which met along this boundary. Today visitors see reconstructed wooden towers and palisades that show how Roman soldiers guarded the line and controlled the movement of goods.

The remains are spread across wide countryside with fields, forests, and small towns, so visitors often drive or cycle between individual locations. On site, marked hiking trails lead to visible sections and information panels explain the function of each installation.

At some locations the remains of the frontier are hidden beneath modern roads and fields, while other sections run as low embankments through residential areas. The total length makes it the longest surviving Roman land frontier in Europe.