Discover Rainau: Limes, lake and Roman traces

In Rainau, Roman history, waterside paths and outdoor activities come together. This shapes the choices for your trip: you can focus on the Limes and its monuments, plan a hike or explore Buch Reservoir as a destination in its own right.

Experience the Limes and local history

The Upper German-Raetian Limes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005, runs through the municipality of Rainau for about six kilometres. It passes through the districts of Buch, Schwabsberg and Dalkingen. Dalkingen is home to the Limes Gate, so far the only stone-built gate complex on the Upper German-Raetian Limes confirmed by structural remains. A glass cube measuring 23 metres wide and 16 metres high permanently protects the original Roman structure.

Sections of the Limes and significant individual monuments are preserved in particularly high concentration in Limes Park Rainau. Those interested in the Roman past can also climb a reconstructed watchtower and enjoy views across the Ostalb from above. Guided tours of historic sites are offered by certified Limes Cicerones; if you are planning a tour, it is best to check the dates in advance. Remains of the Roman bathhouse and civilian settlement can be seen directly on the shore of Buch Reservoir.

The church in Schwabsberg also adds to the picture of local history. Dedicated to Saint Martin, the church was first mentioned as a chapel in 1387 and became a parish church in 1749. The present building dates from 1733 and includes, among other things, Late Gothic sculptures of Saint Nicholas and Saint Sebastian.

Hiking and discovering Buch Reservoir

For a hike, a circular trail of about six kilometres in Rainau introduces visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage Limes and the Roman past of the area. The paths and historic remains offer different points of focus: the circular route provides one way to explore the subject, while individual monuments make specific sites and remains destinations in their own right.

At Buch Reservoir, the approximately 1.2-kilometre adventure trail offers movement, sound and acoustic experiences and is also suitable for wheelchair users. The bathing area also has a 150-metre-long pebble beach. A specially designed observation platform is located on the dam of the forebay; the bird species found there are presented in text and pictures. These different attractions make the lake an alternative to a day devoted mainly to Roman sites. If you have specific plans for the bathing area, it is advisable to check the latest visitor information in advance.

There is also a special attraction for children in Limes Park Rainau: a Roman-themed water playground. When planning your stay, you can therefore balance historic exploration, activity and time by the water, rather than focusing on just one activity.

Choosing accommodation to suit your travel plans

When looking for accommodation in Rainau, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your trip. Would you mainly like to explore the Limes and local history, plan longer walks, or focus on the adventure trail and Buch Reservoir? Your answer determines which topics are most important to your travel plans. Rainau brings these options together within one municipality, without prescribing a fixed daily itinerary.

More cultural attractions in the Ostalb district

If you would like to broaden your focus to the wider destination of the Ostalb district, you will find other historical attractions there. Lorch Abbey was founded in 1102 by Frederick I, the first Hohenstaufen ruler, and his wife Agnes of Waiblingen as a burial place. The permanent exhibition presents 900 years of monastic history, including through the decorated Lorch choir books. The Tiefer Stollen visitor mine offers a different perspective on the history of the Ostalb district: the mine train passes through mineral deposits and small stalactites into sandstone chambers covering 2,500 square metres, 100 metres underground. There, a multimedia show introduces the history of ore mining in the Aalen area. These regional examples complement Rainau’s own focus on the Limes and Roman history without replacing it.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Heubach, Adelmannsfelden, Schechingen, Essingen, Stödtlen, Bartholomä, Waldstetten and Hüttlingen.

Return to the regional travel overview: Ostalb district.