Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Roman Watchtower Heumensoord

Roman Watchtower Heumensoord

Highlight • Historical Site

Roman Watchtower Heumensoord

Recommended by 73 hikers out of 85

Save

Location: Heumen, Gelderland, Netherlands

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Roman Watchtower Heumensoord

5.0

(29)

187

hikers

1. Mookerheide Heathland – Mookerschans Observation Tower loop from Molenhoek

24.4km

06:26

220m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Hard

4.7

(43)

265

hikers

2. Malden Glider Airfield – Nijmeegse Aeroclub Airfield loop from Grootstal

11.9km

03:01

30m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.9

(26)

192

hikers

3. Mookerheide Heathland – Mookerschans Observation Tower loop from Molenhoek

29.2km

07:39

230m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Hard

Tips

Zoe von Rambling Rocks

April 24, 2025

Where you are standing now, a Roman watchtower once towered. This third-century structure was part of a chain along the imperial border and served as a rapid communications route using torches and flags. Today, the remains and the protected archaeological site invite visitors to experience Roman history firsthand.

Translated by Google •

Miranda 🥾 TriA© / Johnny

June 2, 2025

Text:
Exciting History
NL
In the middle of Heumensoord, the remains of a Roman guard post from the 3rd century were found. The post fulfilled an important function in the new defense strategy of the Romans.

Romans and Batavians
Around the beginning of the era, the Romans settled in the Rivierengebied. Here, a special mix of Roman and Batavian culture developed. The Romans built roads, aqueducts, villas), temples, army camps and even a complete city, Noviomagus

Scan the QR code for an audio story locatle or visit spgs.nl

Translated by Google •

Miranda 🥾 TriA© / Johnny

June 2, 2025

Text:
Roman watchtower
From the third century onwards, the Romans were increasingly troubled by intrusive Frankish peoples at the border. The Romans therefore concentrated their troops further inland, such as in Cuijk. In the event of imminent danger at the border, they could quickly pass on messages thanks to a chain of guard posts. This was done with the help of torches and flags. This wooden guard post in Heumensoord was approximately 20 x 20 metres and covered with roof tiles. A lookout tower of approximately eight metres high stood at the centre. In the fourth century, the guard post was set on fire and replaced by a slightly smaller one. The terrain of the guard post has been covered with mesh and sand to protect it from treasure hunters. The canals have been made visible again in the landscape.

Strategic location
The guard post was located on the important road from Nijmegen to Maastricht and Tongeren, the Roman predecessor of the A73. The road followed a straight line from Nijmegen to the Maas crossing at Mook. The g The sloping terrain made the location ideal: from the watchtower you could see both the late Roman fort of Nijmegen (on the Valkhof) and that of Cuijk. The road itself has also been found: it was six metres wide with ditches on either side. It is remarkable that the Romans did not give this important road an artificial surface of stone or gravel. Apparently the soil here was already firm enough

Drinking water
Even in prehistoric times, the availability of water was an important reason for the establishment of the first farming communities. The Romans also made use of this when they founded a military camp on the higher grounds. There were natural springs here, fed by groundwater that spontaneously surfaced in springs and streams on the Nijmegen moraine. This groundwater is still used as drinking water today. At the location where the Romans used to keep watch, drinking water company "Vitens" now extracts water from the ground via wells. The groundwater is suitable for drinking water after simple purification. The groundwater is, however, vulnerable to contamination. It is therefore important that we protect these sources well.
Want to know more about groundwater protection?
Visit beschermjedrinkwater.nl

Translated by Google •

Details

Informations

Elevation 20 m

Weather

Today

Monday 1 December

7°C

5°C

20 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Heumen, Gelderland, Netherlands

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Mookerschans Observation Tower

N70 Hiking Trail

Malden Glider Airfield

Hilltop View of the Heathland near Nijmegen

Mookerplas

Sint-Jansberg

Trek Mountainbikeroute Nijmegen – Meerwijkselaan & Kwakkenberg

Noordstrand van Heeswijkse Plas

Mookerheide

View of the Maas Valley from Mookerheide

Pad langs bosrand en door heidegebied

Grote Markt Nijmegen

Roman Watchtower Heumensoord

1. Mookerheide Heathland – Mookerschans Observation Tower loop from Molenhoek

2. Malden Glider Airfield – Nijmeegse Aeroclub Airfield loop from Grootstal

3. Mookerheide Heathland – Mookerschans Observation Tower loop from Molenhoek

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️