The Saalburg Fortress, an ancient Roman fort in Hesse, Germany, is an outstanding testament to Roman military history. It was built in the 2nd century AD as part of the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, a border system of the Roman Empire, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Constructed in 148 AD by Roman legionnaires, the Saalburg served as a military outpost to monitor this section of the Limes. It is located on a 136-meter high ridge in the Taunus mountains and played a crucial role in the history of the Roman Empire.
The architecture of the fortress is typical of Roman military installations. A wooden-earth wall, protected by a four-meter deep and six-meter wide moat, surrounded the complex. Within its walls, there were various buildings, including barracks, a command center, a bathhouse, and a chapel. Since many of the original wooden structures decayed over time, numerous buildings are now presented as reconstructions.
Ludwig Bickell and Friedrich von Thiersch are two prominent figures who were significantly involved in the restoration of the Saalburg. While Bickell led the reconstruction of the fortress in the 19th century, von Thiersch was responsible for further reconstructions in the 20th century.
After the end of Roman rule in the Taunus and the withdrawal of the legions, the Saalburg served as a quarry in the Middle Ages and was partially dismantled. Its true significance was only rediscovered in the 19th century, leading to comprehensive restoration of the site.
During its active time in the Roman Empire, the Saalburg housed an estimated 600 to 800 soldiers responsible for securing this border section. Nowadays, the fortress invites visitors as an archaeological and open-air museum to explore the reconstructed buildings and gain deeper insights into the life and daily routine of Roman soldiers.
The exact address is:
Fort Saalburg
Saalburg 1
61350 Bad Homburg vor der Höhe
Hesse, Germany
The GPS coordinates are:
Latitude: 50.2717504
Longitude: 8.5639965
You can find the website at:
https://www.saalburgmuseum.de/
Photo: Archaecopteryx
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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