20 years of UNESCO World Heritage: Discover Rome's traces on the Bavarian Limes!

20 years of UNESCO World Heritage: Discover Rome's traces on the Bavarian Limes!

What's new in Ingolstadt? On June 20, 2025, the Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes will celebrate its 20th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, together with the Ingolstadt City History Center and Pro Arch Prospektion und Archäologie GmbH, is using this festive occasion as an opportunity to organize an exciting workshop entitled “Rome's Traces on the Bavarian Limes”. The focus is on the Roman roads and old paths that stretch between the Alps and the Danube and have hardly been systematically examined to date.

The Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes is an impressive 550 km long section of the Roman external border that stretches from Rheinbrohl to Eining Castle on the Danube. Its origins go back to a time when the Romans secured a border line in the northwest with palisades, ditches, watchtowers and forts. The Limes was not only a military demarcation line, but also a central point for trade, administration and communication during Roman rule.

Hidden streets and paths

The workshop aims to highlight the importance of these ancient roads and paths. The organizers plan to use field archeology, archival research, theoretical models and digital methods to reconstruct the old path networks. The streets of the Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes are essential for understanding mobility and the way of life of people back then. This innovative collaboration between universities, museums and private specialist archeology promises interesting insights and new findings.

Did you know that the term “Limes” originally means border path or corridor? This historical designation underlines the importance of the Limes as a strategic border, which neither follows natural boundaries nor is very clearly visible in the terrain, as many parts were used as quarries in the post-antique period. The Limes also served to control commercial traffic and was a place where customs duties were collected.

Invitation to participate

Participation in the workshop is highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the fascinating history of the Romans and exploring ancient trade routes. The workshop takes place in the Baroque Hall of the Ingolstadt City Museum and is aimed at scientists and those interested in the subject. Registrations are possible by email to altertums Wissenschaften@ku.de.

Background: The Limes was the first clearly defined external border of an area of ​​control in Europe and was abandoned in the 3rd century AD when pressure from Germanic attacks increased. The Roman retreat led to the slow decline of the fortifications. But today parts of the Limes are not only recognized internationally as archaeological monuments of great importance, but are also accessible to posterity in the form of hiking trails and tourist routes.

There are numerous forces committed to the preservation and research of these historical sites. Participating scientists will verify the authenticity and structure of the remains, providing insights into Roman civilization and its influence on today's landscapes.

The celebrations and the workshop are an exciting contribution to preserving our cultural heritage and researching Roman history in Bavaria. So if you are curious about the “Traces of Rome on the Bavarian Limes”, you should mark this date in red on your calendar!

For more information, visit the websites about KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, the Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes and the UNESCO. Together we can keep history alive!