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ven in ancient times, the Saalburg Pass in the Taunus formed a natural transition from the plain of the River Main to the settlement area of the Germanic tribes. Roman troops built a wooden fort here at the beginning of the 2nd century and controlled this important transport route.
The Limes, the border between the Roman Empire and the Germanic tribal territories, was initially just a swathe in the forest that was guarded by towers. Around 120 AD, the border line was marked with a wooden palisade.
Around 135 AD, the 2nd Raetian cohort arrived at Saalburg with 600 foot soldiers and horsemen and continued to expand the fort. Along the road to Nida (today's Frankfurt-Heddernheim), the camp village (vicus), a large bathing complex, an inn, temples and other public buildings were built. The soldiers' families lived there together with traders and craftsmen.
In the second half of the 3rd century, the Germanic Alamanni threatened the Roman border. The Romans finally abandoned the Limes and Saalburg for good and retreated to the west bank of the Rhine. The fort and village fell into ruin.
