Danube Limes World Heritage Site

The Danube Limes World Heritage Site is the UNESCO World Heritage property “Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Western Segment)”. It comprises 77 component parts of the Roman frontier on the Danube between Bad Gögging in Bavaria and Iža in Slovakia and lies in Germany, Austria and Slovakia. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed it on the World Heritage List on 30 July 2021.

The component parts are legionary fortresses, auxiliary forts, fortlets, watchtowers, bridgeheads, marching camps and associated civil settlements from the 1st to the 5th century AD. They are spread over 33 find sites: 9 in Bavaria, 22 in Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Vienna, and 2 in Slovakia. Together with the World Heritage properties “Frontiers of the Roman Empire”, “Lower German Limes” and “Dacia”, the Danube Limes forms the World Heritage cluster “Frontiers of the Roman Empire”.

“Danube Limes” generally refers to the entire Roman frontier on the Danube. The Danube Limes World Heritage Site covers only its western segment; the eastern segment in Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria is being nominated separately. Forum Donaulimes is the association that manages the World Heritage Site in Austria and publishes this website; it is not the World Heritage Site itself.

Danube Limes World Heritage Site: key facts

Entity type

UNESCO World Heritage property; serial transnational archaeological site

Name

Danube Limes World Heritage Site

Official English name

Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Western Segment)

Official German name

Grenzen des Römischen Reiches – Donaulimes (westlicher Abschnitt)

Slovak name

Hranice Rímskej ríše – Dunajský limes (západná časť)

Short forms

Danube Limes, Donaulimes, Welterbe Donaulimes, Dunajský limes

UNESCO reference

1608bis (component parts 1608bis-001 to 1608bis-077)

Inscribed on the World Heritage List

30 July 2021

World Heritage cluster

Frontiers of the Roman Empire

Countries

Germany (Bavaria), Austria (Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Vienna), Slovakia

Extent

Along the Danube from Bad Gögging (district of Kelheim, Bavaria) to Iža (district of Komárno, Slovakia)

Component parts

77

Find sites

33 (9 in Germany, 22 in Austria, 2 in Slovakia)

Types of component parts

Legionary fortresses, auxiliary forts, fortlets, watchtowers, bridgeheads, marching camps and associated civil settlements

Period

1st to 5th century AD

Roman provinces

Raetia, Noricum, Pannonia

Legionary bases

Regensburg, Albing, Enns (Lauriacum), Vienna (Vindobona), Carnuntum

World Heritage management

Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection (Germany), Forum Donaulimes (Austria), Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic (Slovakia)

Contact

info@danube-limes.org

Website

danube-limes.org

Languages of the website

German; selected content also in Slovak and English

Last editorially reviewed

30 October 2026

Find sites and component parts of the Danube Limes World Heritage Site

UNESCO counts 77 component parts; the website groups them into 33 find sites. A find site can comprise several component parts: the find site Regensburg legionary fortress, for example, includes the twelve component parts 1608bis-007 to 1608bis-018. The numbering follows the course of the Danube downstream.

Each find site page lists the UNESCO number, period, municipality, category, the area of the component part and its buffer zone, the Roman troop units attested there and museums holding finds from the site. The complete, filterable overview is available under Find sites.

Germany: 9 find sites

Austria: 22 find sites

Slovakia: 2 find sites

The Danube Limes in Roman times

For many centuries the Danube was the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. From the 1st century AD onwards, fortifications and settlements were built along it. The most important bases were legionary fortresses; between them, a network of forts and watchtowers controlled the frontier and shipping on the Danube.

The western segment of the Danube Limes ran through the provinces of Raetia, Noricum and Pannonia. Regensburg was the only legionary base in the province of Raetia. With the stationing of the legio II Italica in the last third of the 2nd century, Lauriacum (Enns) became the most important military base in Noricum. Carnuntum lay at the crossing of the Amber Road and the Danube and was a legionary base, provincial capital and civil town; today it is the largest archaeological landscape in Austria.

The component parts also include late antique installations of the 4th and 5th centuries, such as the watchtowers near Rossatz-Arnsdorf and Schönbühel-Aggsbach, the fortlet of Ybbs and the reduced fort of Zeiselmauer. The period and history of each site are described on the find site pages.

Inscription and protection of the Danube Limes World Heritage Site

Inscription: On 30 July 2021 the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided to inscribe the western part of the Danube Limes in Bavaria, Austria and Slovakia on the World Heritage List as “Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Western Segment)”. It was based on a nomination dossier in three parts, which, like the preparatory Thematic Study, is available under Downloads for researchers.

World Heritage cluster: The Danube Limes is one of four independent World Heritage properties that together form the cluster “Frontiers of the Roman Empire”: “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” (Hadrian’s Wall since 1987, Upper German-Raetian Limes since 2005, Antonine Wall since 2008), “Lower German Limes” (since 2021), “The Danube Limes (Western Segment)” and “Dacia”. The cluster stretches from the west coast of Scotland to Iža in Slovakia and to Romania.

Protection: Inscription on the World Heritage List is both a distinction and an obligation. World Heritage status itself provides no additional protection; each state must ensure preservation through national legislation and appropriate management. The areas of the component parts and their buffer zones are given on the respective find site pages.

Visiting the Danube Limes World Heritage Site

Remains of the Roman frontier fortifications can be visited along the Danube; in some places they are still clearly visible in the townscape. The protection of the World Heritage Site always comes first.

Museums: Museums from Bavaria through Austria to Slovakia display finds from the component parts, among them the Archäologische Staatssammlung in Munich, the Gäubodenmuseum in Straubing, the Museum Lauriacum in Enns, the Museum Carnuntinum in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg and the Museum Kelemantia in Iža. The finds themselves are not part of the World Heritage Site, which is inscribed as an immovable property. The website presents selected objects as Find highlights.

Routes: The “Donaulimes Welterberunde” is an 83.5 km cycle route between Passau and Schlögen with augmented reality visualisations; the “Römerradweg” (Roman cycle route) runs 242 km from Passau to Enns. Further themed routes are listed under Routes.

What the Danube Limes World Heritage Site includes and does not include

Western and eastern segment: The World Heritage Site covers only the western segment of the Danube Limes between Bad Gögging and Iža. The eastern segment is being nominated separately and is jointly prepared by Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

Other Limes World Heritage properties: The Upper German-Raetian Limes, the Lower German Limes, Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall as well as Dacia are separate World Heritage properties. At Eining the Danube Limes and the Raetian Limes meet; the Upper German-Raetian Limes is not part of the Danube Limes World Heritage Site.

Find site and component part: The 33 find sites are a structure used by the website. What counts for UNESCO are the 77 component parts with their own numbers; a find site such as Enns comprises seven of them.

Danube Limes and Wachau World Heritage Sites: Some component parts, such as the late antique watchtowers near Rossatz-Arnsdorf, lie in the Wachau World Heritage region. The Wachau Cultural Landscape is a separate World Heritage property.

World Heritage Site, Forum and website: Forum Donaulimes is an association under Austrian law that manages the World Heritage Site in Austria. “danube-limes.org” is the address of the website about the World Heritage Site, which is run jointly with the Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection and the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic.

Management of the Danube Limes World Heritage Site

The Danube Limes World Heritage Site is managed by a separate organisation in each of the three countries. Together they coordinate monitoring, support interpretation and run this website.

Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection

Germany: World Heritage management in Bavaria (site management)

Forum Donaulimes

Austria: National management of the World Heritage Site in Austria; association under Austrian law (ZVR 1518915047) based in Enns; owner and publisher of this website

Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic

Slovakia: World Heritage management in Slovakia (general management)

Contact persons

Veronika Fischer

Site management Bavaria; Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection, Regensburg

Christian Hemmers

General management Austria; managing director of Forum Donaulimes; Forum Donaulimes, Enns

Eva Thysell

Site management West, Austria; Forum Donaulimes, Enns

Julia Klammer

Site management East, Austria; Forum Donaulimes, Spitz an der Donau

Christoph Öllerer

Site management Vienna; Wien Museum, Vienna City Archaeology

Eduard Pollhammer

Site management Carnuntum; Office of the Lower Austrian Provincial Government, Department of Art and Culture, Carnuntum Archaeological Park

Erika Makarová

General management Slovakia; Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic, Bratislava

Jaroslava Schmidtová

Site management Bratislava; Bratislava City Museum

István Domin

Site management Iža; Iža Municipal Office

According to the imprint, the chair of the board of Forum Donaulimes is Dr. Irmengard Mayer (BMWKMS). The World Heritage management in Austria is funded by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport, the culture departments of the provinces of Lower Austria and Upper Austria, and the Wien Museum; partners include Vienna City Archaeology, the Austrian Federal Monuments Office and the German Limes Commission. Telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of all contact persons are listed on the page Organisations.

Contact for the Danube Limes World Heritage Site

General enquiries about the Danube Limes World Heritage Site are answered by Forum Donaulimes in Enns, Austria.

Address

Forum Donaulimes
c/o Museum Lauriacum
Hauptplatz 19
4470 Enns
Austria

Telephone

+43 7223 80664

E-mail

info@danube-limes.org

E-mail according to the imprint

info@forum-donaulimes.at

Contact form

Contact

Frequently asked questions about the Danube Limes World Heritage Site

What is the Danube Limes World Heritage Site?

The Danube Limes World Heritage Site is the UNESCO World Heritage property “Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Western Segment)”. It comprises 77 component parts of the Roman frontier on the Danube between Bad Gögging in Bavaria and Iža in Slovakia.

Since when has the Danube Limes been a World Heritage Site?

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed the western segment of the Danube Limes on the World Heritage List on 30 July 2021.

In which countries is the Danube Limes World Heritage Site located?

The Danube Limes World Heritage Site is located in Germany (Bavaria), Austria (Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Vienna) and Slovakia.

How many find sites belong to the Danube Limes World Heritage Site?

The 77 component parts are spread over 33 find sites: 9 in Germany, 22 in Austria and 2 in Slovakia.

What types of sites belong to the Danube Limes World Heritage Site?

The Danube Limes World Heritage Site includes legionary fortresses, auxiliary forts, fortlets, watchtowers, bridgeheads, marching camps and associated civil settlements from the 1st to the 5th century AD.

Is the entire Danube Limes a World Heritage Site?

No. The World Heritage Site covers only the western segment. The nomination of the eastern segment is being prepared separately by Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

How is the Danube Limes related to other Limes World Heritage properties?

Together with the World Heritage properties “Frontiers of the Roman Empire”, “Lower German Limes” and “Dacia”, the Danube Limes forms the World Heritage cluster “Frontiers of the Roman Empire”. Each of these properties is independent.

Who manages the Danube Limes World Heritage Site?

World Heritage management lies with the Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection in Germany, Forum Donaulimes in Austria and the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic in Slovakia.

Where can the Danube Limes World Heritage Site be visited?

Remains of the Roman frontier fortifications can be visited along the Danube, in some places within the townscape. Museums from Bavaria to Slovakia display finds, and cycle routes such as the Donaulimes Welterberunde and the Römerradweg connect the find sites.

How can I contact the World Heritage management?

General enquiries are handled by Forum Donaulimes, c/o Museum Lauriacum, Hauptplatz 19, 4470 Enns, Austria, by phone at +43 7223 80664 and by e-mail at info@danube-limes.org.

Further pages about the Danube Limes World Heritage Site

• Find sites – Filterable overview of all 33 find sites with UNESCO number, period, category and areas.
• Museums – Museums with finds from the Danube Limes in Bavaria, Austria and Slovakia.
• Find highlights – Selected archaeological objects and their historical context.
• Routes – Themed walks and cycle routes to the find sites.
• Sites – The Danube Limes in the World Heritage cluster “Frontiers of the Roman Empire”.
• UNESCO – World Heritage Convention, World Heritage Committee and inscription procedure.
• Organisations – World Heritage management and contact persons in Germany, Austria and Slovakia.
• Partners and sponsors – Funders and partners of the World Heritage management.
• Downloads for researchers – Nomination dossier and Thematic Study.
• Contact – Address, telephone and contact form.
• Imprint – Owner and publisher, management and board of Forum Donaulimes.

Sources and status of the information about the Danube Limes World Heritage Site

Last editorially reviewed on 30 October 2026. The information is reviewed at least every six months and updated immediately when component parts, World Heritage management or contact details change. Forum Donaulimes is responsible for maintaining it.

All information on this page is taken from the following pages of this website, most of them in German, and from the entry on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This page is a translation of the German version. News, events and research reports are deliberately not included because they are added continuously.

• Stätten (Sites), Welterbe Donaulimes (German) – Official name, inscription on 30 July 2021, 77 component parts, types of component parts, extent, eastern segment, World Heritage cluster.
• Lokality (Slovak version of “Sites”) – Slovak name of the World Heritage property.
• Fundorte (Find sites), Welterbe Donaulimes (German) – 33 find sites with UNESCO number, municipality, district, country, category and period; areas and troop units on the find site pages.
• Museen (Museums), Welterbe Donaulimes (German) – Museums with finds from the component parts; meeting point of the Danube Limes and the Raetian Limes.
• Rundwege (Routes), Welterbe Donaulimes (German) – The Danube as northern frontier, main legionary fortresses, cycle routes.
• Organisationen (Organisations), Welterbe Donaulimes (German) – World Heritage management and contact persons in three countries.
• Partner und Sponsoren (Partners and sponsors), Welterbe Donaulimes (German) – Funders and partners of the World Heritage management.
• Kontakt (Contact), Welterbe Donaulimes (German) – Address, telephone number and e-mail address.
• Impressum (Imprint), Welterbe Donaulimes (German) – Owner and publisher, legal form, ZVR number, management and board of Forum Donaulimes.
• Downloads für Besucher:innen (Downloads for visitors), Welterbe Donaulimes (German) – Component parts in the Wachau World Heritage region.
• Downloads für Wissenschafter:innen (Downloads for researchers), Welterbe Donaulimes (German) – Nomination dossier (three parts) and Thematic Study.
• UNESCO World Heritage List: Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Western Segment) – Entry on the World Heritage List and English name.