The remains of the Biriciana Roman fort is the main attraction of Weissenburg?s historic walkabout, the main part of which is the remains of the northern gate. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
The remains of the Biriciana Roman fort is the main attraction of Weissenburg?s historic walkabout, the main part of which is the remains of the northern gate. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
Few parts of the ancient Roman fort in Wissemburg, Germany, remain standing today, but the stone pillars that were an integral part of the granary remain intact, along with the fort's water cistern. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
The medieval Ellinger Gate remains the entrance to the center of Weissenburg's historic township. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
There are 38 remaining castle towers in Weissenburg that the public can view. This one is near the Ellinger Gate. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
The St. Andreas Church in Wissembourg, Germany, is open to visitors, who can sign for a key to its highest tower for a view of all of the city.. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
Seals of city officials and nobility dating back centuries are among the items showcased at the Reichsstadt Museum, which holds a small, but impressively detailed collection of artifacts of Weissenburg's history. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
The Reichsstadtmuseum holds a small, but impressively detailed collection of artifacts of Weissenburg?s history and can be found near the St. Andreas church. Among the items displayed are furniture, art and this loom. ()
At its height, the Roman Empire extended across most of Europe, reaching as far north as Scotland and extending from Portugal to what is now known as the Persian Gulf. It was at its most northern reaches that the empire built its frontline outposts that became known as the Roman Limes.
In Bavaria, several of these outposts remain standing and are open to visitors, but it is in Weissenburg that this old world meets the new in a way that is as compelling to history buff as it is to average tourists.
Historical Weissenburg in Bayern, located 30 miles southeast of Ansbach, is home to Biriciana, one of the few Roman fortresses still standing in Bavaria. The northernmost gate of this ancient cavalry fort remains its most prominent feature, as most of the fort was slowly picked apart to fuel construction of the surrounding town.
An old cistern in the middle of the ruins and the remnants of the granary show the craftsmanship the Romans dedicated toward their most important structures. The old timber barracks have long rotted away. From the gate’s remaining parapet visitors can see the outlying valleys through the eyes of the roughly 400 Roman soldiers who called Biriciana home.
The remnants of Biriciana are not very large, about 560 square feet. There are well-tended walkways throughout the structure. Signs in German, English and French give the history of the fort.
All in all, the entire fort can be explored in about 30 minutes. Depending on your level of love for Roman history, that may be enough to make a trip to Weissenburg. I certainly found it worth the drive, but for those who may want a bit more out of a travel destination, Weissenburg has plenty more to offer.
While Nuremberg became the unofficial center of the Holy Roman Empire, the Free Imperial City of Weissenburg was one of five such independent cities in Southern Franconia. The imperial influence on the town can be seen in the 14th-century Ellinger Gate that still bears coats of arms from 1241 and 1481. It also serves as the entrance to the town’s center that holds a Gothic town hall that has been used since 1476 and the visually impressive St. Andreas Cathedral, constructed more than a century earlier.
The Reichsstadt Museum holds artifacts from throughout the town’s history and can be found near the St. Andreas cathedral. Fair warning: The displays are in German only, so bring your pocket translator. I had no problem understanding what the displays were and the curator was more than happy to answer questions I had about a statue. Of particular note is the clockwork display on the third floor.
The best part of these points of interest is that they are fairly central to each other in the town. Visitors can walk from the Roman fort to the Ellinger Gate in 10 minutes, and parking is abundant for when the weather turns a bit colder. Prominent sign posts along the way point to each location.
The rest of Weissenburg can be summed up as the quintessential German town. There are restaurants aplenty, quite a few shopping destinations and a local brewery whose beer must be tried. It might not be the place to go if you’re looking for danger and excitement, but for those seeking a quiet, peaceful walk through history, I highly recommend Weissenburg.
Weissenburg, Germany Directions: From Ansbach, take highway B13 south. From Grafenwöhr, take autobahn A9 south, then get on the A6 until it leads into the B2 south, which will lead you straight to the town.
Times: The Roman fort is open from sunup to sundown. Sadly, the Roman museum is under renovation, and only a handful of exhibits remains open to the public, but it and the Reichsstadtmuseum are open 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. The museums close in January and February, but the fort remains open.
Costs: Admission to the fort is free, while the Reichsstadtmuseum is 4 euros per adult. A group rate for two adults and their children (no age restriction, according to the information desk) costs 7 euros.
Food: Nearly every other building along the main walk between historical points of interest seemed to be a bakery or restaurant.
Information: City website: www.weissenburg.de/reichsstadt (German only).
