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These impressive limes don鈥檛 grow on trees.

A string of fortified settlements once traced the westernmost extent of the ancient Roman Empire, stretching across much of Central and into Eastern Europe. Now known as the Danube Limes, a group of them was in 2021.

But what exactly are they? And how can you visit these little-known yet fascinating sites today?

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Costumed fans reenacting scenes from ancient Roman life can occasionally be spotted at Danube Limes sites 漏 NurPhoto/Corbis via Getty Images

What are the Danube Limes?

The ruins of the Roman Empire鈥檚 militarized frontier towns 鈥 called limes in Latin 鈥 span eight European countries along the mighty Danube River: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. Comprising sites in Austria, Germany and Slovakia, the western segment of the Danube Limes was a Unesco World Heritage site , attesting to the historical significance of what the organization describes as 鈥渒ey elements from roads, legionary fortresses and their associated settlements to small forts and temporary camps.鈥

For ancient-history buffs, a tour of these sites offers a unique journey into the vast cultural, architectural and military achievements of the Roman Empire 鈥 not to mention an excellent excuse to travel through some of Europe鈥檚 most beautiful cities and countryside.

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The ancient Porta Praetoria, the remaining Roman wall from AD 179, alongside the Wiedfangbrunnen Well in the Old Town Alstadt district of Regensburg, Germany 漏 Kirk Fisher/Shutterstock

Where can you visit the Danube Limes?

If your attention is piqued, here鈥檚 how to work the Danube Limes into your next European itinerary.

Regensburg, Bavaria

Porta Praetoria in Regensburg, Bavaria features an arched gateway built in 179 CE by Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It served as an entrance to the , a military station facing the confluences of the Regen, Naab and Danube Rivers.

Lower Austria

Located halfway between Vienna and Bratislava in Lower Austria are the remains of Carnuntum, the former capital of Upper Pannonia province. The ruins date to 50 CE, and once covered an area of 10km that was home to around 50,000 people. Sites to see at the include the Roman city quarter, two amphitheaters, the School of Gladiators, a monument called Heidentor (or 鈥淗eathens Gate鈥), and a museum housing a wide variety of artifacts attesting to the 鈥渓uxurious life in ancient Carnuntum.鈥

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Roman Ruins at Schonbrunn Palace Gardens 漏 Diego Grandi/Shutterstock

Vienna, Austria

痴颈别苍苍补鈥檚 R枚mer Museum showcases the ruins of Vindobona, the massive Roman military camp, first established in 97 CE, that would eventually become the city of Vienna. Today, you can see the remains of Roman walls, ruins of houses, plus hundreds of objects including toys, pottery, statues and even a plaque from the emperor granting municipal rights. Other Roman ruins can be seen on a walking tour , including stones that were once part of Roman baths and, at Michaelerplatz Square, remnants of ancient dwellings. Other Roman antiquities are on display at the peerless Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Enns, Austria

The Roman legionary camp of Lauriacum in Noricum province was built at the end of the second century CE. The dedicated to the site, in modern-day Enns, is home to over 1200 archaeological artifacts, plus reconstructions and media stations.

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Devin Castle, part of Bratislava's City Museum, has preserved Roman structures as well as great views of the city 漏 Maksim Budnikov/Shutterstock

Bratislava, Slovakia

The , built in the second century CE, was part of Pannonia province 鈥 and abandoned when the Romans withdrew around 400 CE. Ruins, including the walls of a building, are showcased at the .

Iza, Slovakia

The of the watchtower and settlement at Celemantia (or Kelemantia) is the largest collection of Limes ruins in Slovakia. It was constructed in the first century CE, before being burned by Germanic tribes and later rebuilt. A local legend holds that a Roman soldier housed his mistress in the tower 鈥 the purported origin of the lovely first name Le谩nyv谩r, which means 鈥済irl castle鈥 in Hungarian.

Ruins of ancient fortress Durostorum, near Silistra, Bulgaria
The ruins of Durostorum in Bulgaria overlook the Danube near Silistra 漏 OmiStudio / Shutterstock

Silistra, Bulgaria

The ruins of the imperial outpost of , founded in 106 CE by Emperor Trajan, are located in Silistra, in the northeast of Bulgaria. Although modern construction has obscured some archaeological findings, detailed ruins remain of a painted tomb from the fourth or fifth century, and the city garden is home to the ruins of a Roman basilica. A nearby archeological museum showcases objects retrieved from the site.

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