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Darmstadt District

Site of the Former Roman Bridge over the Main

Darmstadt District

Site of the Former Roman Bridge over the Main

Highlight • Historical Site

Site of the Former Roman Bridge over the Main

Recommended by 52 hikers out of 54

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Location: Großkrotzenburg, Main-Kinzig-Kreis, Darmstadt District, Hesse, Germany

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Best Hikes to Site of the Former Roman Bridge over the Main

4.5

(24)

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1. View of the Main River – Seligenstadt Main Ferry loop from Klein-Krotzenburg

13.6km

03:26

20m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.7

(22)

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2. Seligenstadt Market Square – Seligenstadt Old Town loop from Seligenstadt (Hessen)

14.1km

03:35

30m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.8

(24)

hikers

3. Limes Park Großkrotzenburg – View of the Main River loop from Dettingen (Main)

23.2km

05:52

40m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Tips

Manfred 🔎

June 14, 2022

Großkrotzenburg was the site of a Roman fort, built around 140 AD. A few years earlier, the Romans had completed the Odenwald Limes and also built a fort in Obernburg am Main. Between Obernburg and Großkrotzenburg, the Main marked the border to free Germania. There were no stockades; Left Main forts near Niedernberg and Stockstadt were sufficient for security.
The interesting question is why the Romans used the Main as a border for 40 km from Obernburg and then, of all places, built a bridge near Großkrotzenburg and then a fort on the right side of the Main, from which the Limes continued.
The Romans wanted to avoid the dense and inaccessible Spessart when building the Limes. The Roman legions could not develop their fighting strength in Germanic forests. In 9 AD the Germans inflicted a devastating defeat on the legions of the consul Varus in the Teutoburg Forest.
The Romans built their Limes lines as straight as possible so that there was visual contact from the watchtowers and the Limes could be defended more easily. Around the year 140 AD. a simple fort already existed in Altenstadt (Hesse). Großkrotzenburg is almost due south of Altenstadt. The Limes line between Großkrotzenburg and Altenstadt could therefore largely be built in a straight north-south line.
The Romans wanted swamps, moors and damp alluvial forests to stretch in front of the Limes, because no attacks are possible in the deep soil. From Großkrotzenburg, the Limes leads dead straight through the “Schilfläche von Großauheim” over to the formerly swampy “Wolfganger Lache”. Then the Kinzigaue with the permanently wet alluvial forests is crossed until the Roman fort in Erlensee is finally reached on dry feet.

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Steven

January 1, 2020

A nice souvenir. It is always difficult for me to imagine afterwards.

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Frank Rmr

May 18, 2021

In this area, the Main took over the border security function of the Roman Limes (Nasser Limes). The bridge over the Main has been proven by excavations.

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Elevation 100 m

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Sunday 26 October

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Location: Großkrotzenburg, Main-Kinzig-Kreis, Darmstadt District, Hesse, Germany

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Limes Park Großkrotzenburg

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Steinheimer Tor

Goldschmiede im Schmalsten Haus Seligenstadts

Seligenstadt Old Town

Meadow Trail Along the Kahl

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Seligenstadt Town Hall

Site of the Former Roman Bridge over the Main

1. View of the Main River – Seligenstadt Main Ferry loop from Klein-Krotzenburg

2. Seligenstadt Market Square – Seligenstadt Old Town loop from Seligenstadt (Hessen)

3. Limes Park Großkrotzenburg – View of the Main River loop from Dettingen (Main)

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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