Fortress and Nature

The circular hiking route “Fortress and Nature” leads visitors through splendidly laid out parks, past the historic walls and buildings of the former fortress complex. Particularly impressive are the historic mining tunnels, which can be visited during a fortress tour. Originally built as a “bulwark against France” between 1834 and 1861 by order of the Bavarian King Ludwig I, the imposing Germersheim Fortress – the largest Bavarian fortress outside Bavaria – still shines in full glory today. To this day, numerous significant buildings have been preserved that enclose the entire city center. A short detour to the German Road Museum housed in the historic arsenal of the fortress is also highly worthwhile. This highly significant museum is the only one nationwide that vividly presents the history of roads and road construction on over 5000 m² of exhibition space, using countless machines, equipment, and documents, spanning from the early footpath to the high-tech road of the 21st century. With extraordinary exhibits such as an ancient Roman road, visitors gain an unforgettable insight into the regional history. The start and end point of the route is the Weißenburger Gate.