A view from Dürnstein to Krems
The rocky slopes here are so steep that the Ferdinandwarte can only be reached "from above" from the Dunkelsteinerwald forest. The short detour is well worth it. The view from the rock is so impressive that the Austrian Tourist Club created a "Platzerl" here back in 1890. From Dürnstein to Krems and Mautern, the entire eastern section of the Wachau opens up to the eye at a depth of around 200 meters.
Today, we see the Danube as a river that connects many parts of Europe. Once, however, it was above all a mighty border: the "Limes" between the Roman Empire, one of the most powerful dominions in world history, and the peoples of the north.
Would you have guessed it?
The narrow and rugged landscape of the Wachau posed a real problem for the Romans when it came to securing the "Limes" and building roads was difficult. Watchtowers, the remains of which have survived to this day, lined the Danube. It was only in Mautern that the Roman administration found sufficient space to build a fort there.
