Ruffenhofen and the German Limes
In Germany, the ca. 550 Km long Upper German-Raetian Limes (Obergermanisch-Raetischer Limes, abbreviated ORL) formed the border of the Roman Empire in the provinces of Upper Germania and Raetia. It advanced in several stages, with the outermost defences being built in the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD). These now form part of the World Heritage Site.
In the beginning, this border was secured only by a series of wooden watch towers located along a patrolled pathway. These were supported by timber and earthwork forts spaced at greater intervals (ca. 10-15 km) along a roadway paralleling the Limes.
Under Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD) the border was closed with the help of a palisade wall. Shortly after this, the wooden watch towers and forts were replaced with stone structures. Towards the end of the second century A.D., the wooden palisade in Raetia was replaced by a 3-4 m high stone wall – the so called “Raetian Wall“.
Map of the Upper German-Raetian Limes
