Roman paths in the Odenwald - Minerva tour

The Minerva Tour is one of six Roman trails in the Odenwald and invites you on a journey back in time to the Roman past. You hike through the beautiful landscape of the Odenwald, mostly on natural ground, along parts of the Limes hiking trail.

The hike begins at the S-Bahn station in Elztal-Neckarburken. Follow the trail markings, a red "R" on a white background, which clearly marks the hiking trail.

Right at the start of the tour, you cross a hollow path. Along the way, stone foundations at designated points remind you of the former Roman watchtowers that were erected to monitor the border. Along the entire route, numerous information stations offer interesting insights into the Roman heritage of the region. Among other things, a replica of a Minerva stone can be seen. Two of the stations offer access to an audio guide via QR code.

The Limes pavilion, located a little further away, invites you to take a break. The Kneipp facility near the Herrlichau hut is an ideal place for a refreshing break and also offers children a welcome opportunity to play.

In the Trienzbach valley, you pass the Lourdes grotto and a stone circle, a work by stone sculptor Eva-Gesine Wegner, which draws attention to the valuable resource of water.

The tour ends at the "Herrlichau" hiking parking lot on the outskirts of Elztal-Dallau. From here, you can easily walk to the Elztal-Dallau S-Bahn station or take a detour to the moated castle in the center of the village. If you want to do a circular tour, it is best to follow the cycle path back to Neckarburken.

The tour can be ideally rounded off with a visit to the small but beautiful museum on the Odenwald Limes and/or the Roman fort in Neckarburken.

Hiking badges can be collected at special stamp stations with the trail pass.

Stop: S-Bahn stations: Neckarburken and Dallau

Route info:: 7.5 km / 2:00 h - medium

Roman trails in the Odenwald: Hercules Trail (Buchen), Mars Trail (Walldürn), Mercury Trail (Osterburken), Venus Trail (Limbach), Minerva Tour (Elztal) and Jupiter Trail (Mosbach). All trails are certified as quality hiking trails by the German Hiking Association and are easily accessible by public transport.

Places of interest:

• Roman watchtowers on the old Roman road
• Stone monument: Consecration of Minerva
• Museum at the Odenwald Limes
• Excavations: Roman baths and fort gate