The Saalburg Roman Fort is Germany's most complete reconstruction of a Roman frontier fort.
It's located near Bad Homburg and once guarded the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, known as the Limes Germanicus. The fort was built in 90 AD and housed 500 soldiers who protected Rome's interests against Germanic tribes.
Saalburg Roman Fort near Bad Homburg
The fort is a great example of how the Romans designed their military bases. Its four gates, stone walls, and wooden towers match the original Roman blueprints. Inside, visitors can see barracks, workshops, and a headquarters building.
Saalburg was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005 and is part of the "Frontiers of the Roman Empire" group of sites.
The archaeological finds at Saalburg have answered some key questions about Roman military life. The tools, weapons and everyday items found here tell us how the soldiers defended the empire's frontiers. The site also proves that these forts were more than just military bases – they were complex communities where soldiers and civilians lived together.
Saalburg Roman fort is located just outside the town of Bad Homburg in the Taunus mountains of Hesse.
The original fortifications were started in the first century AD and developed over a couple of centuries. The reconstruction of the fort in its present state started at the end of the 19th century.
Saalburg Roman Fort is around 30 kilometres north of Frankfurt (just over a half an hour, if driving).
The castle can be reached via the A661 road to Bad Homburg and then the B456 to Saalburg. Those using public transport can either take the S-Bahn from Frankfurt to Bad Homburg and then the bus to the fort (note this only runs four times a day). An alternative route is to take the train to Saalburg/Lochmühle and then take the 45 minute walk to the fort.
The Romans built the first Saalburg fort around 90 AD, during Emperor Domitian's reign. They began with a basic wooden fort for 160 soldiers. They replaced it with a larger stone fort that could hold 500 soldiers in 135 AD, under Emperor Hadrian.
The fort was built in a strategic location. It was built on an important Roman supply route that crossed the Taunus Mountains. This road, known as the Limes Way, connected the various Roman bases along the frontier. The towers at Saalburg gave the Roman army a way to keep an eye on the Germanic tribes and protect Roman traders along the Limes way.
Over time, Saalburg's military role diminished. A civilian settlement, or 'vicus', developed outside the walls of the fort. By 150 AD, around 2,000 people were living here, including soldiers' families, craftsmen and merchants. They constructed temples, bathhouses, and shops.
The main entrance at Saalburg Roman Fort near Bad Homburg
The fort was attacked a few times between 150 and 260 AD. Each time, the Romans rebuilt and strengthened the defences. But in 260 AD, the Germanic tribes finally broke through. The Romans abandoned Saalburg and it fell into ruins.
The castle lay forgotten until 1897. Kaiser Wilhelm II ordered its reconstruction based on archaeological evidence. This took 10 years and created what we see today. The project used original Roman building techniques and materials wherever possible.
The Roman fort and museum at Saalburg is open all week from March to October and six days a week (closed on Monday) for the rest of the year.
The walls of Saalburg Roman Fort near Bad Homburg
As well as the reconstructed fort and exhibitions themselves, visitors can take a circular walking tour around the nearby surroundings, which takes around 45 minutes and visits the remains of the Limes (the former Roman frontier fortifications which stretched for hundreds of kilometres across present-day Germany). The circular tour is free for visitors.
More information: www.saalburgmuseum.com
The map below shows the location of the fort and some of the accommodation available nearby. The map can be zoomed in and out by using the '+' and '-' markers.