Bavarian Forest

Why did the Romans build a fortress on the edge of the Bavarian Forest? Let’s journey back to 179 AD, to the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Here, on the banks of the Danube, Regen, and Naab rivers, they constructed Castra Regina, “fortress by the river Regen”. This marked the northernmost point of the Danube and a strategic location for the Roman Legio III Italica. This fortress, in essence, became the heart of what we know today as Regensburg’s Old City, a gateway to the vast Bavarian Forest. The Bavarian Forest isn’t just a collection of trees. It’s a living testament to history, stretching 100 kilometers along the Czech border. The Czech side is known as the Bohemian Forest. The Bavarian Forest spans across Lower Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate, reaching the border of Upper Austria. Imagine the Hercynian Forest that covered Southern Germania in Roman times. The Bavarian Forest is a direct descendant, a sprawling woodland that, along with the Upper Palatine Forest, Neuburg Forest, Bohemian Forest, and Sauwald, forms one of Europe’s largest contiguous forests. The Regen River carves its path through the forest, formed by the White and Black Regen, eventually flowing towards Regensburg. The Bavarian Forest boasts majestic peaks. The Großer Arber stands tall at 1,456 meters, while the Great Rachel reaches 1,453 meters. Within this natural wonder lies Germany’s first national park, Bavarian Forest National Park, established in 1970 and expanded in 1997. Together with the Bohemian Forest National Park, they form one of Europe’s largest protected areas. The Bavarian Forest pulses with life. Walkers traverse its trails. The forestry industry sustains communities. Ski resorts dot the landscape, offering winter adventures. The area is also renowned for its glassblowing tradition around Zwiesel and the scientific importance of the Wettzell fundamental station at Bad Kötzting. The Bavarian Forest is more than just a beautiful landscape. It is a place where history whispers through the leaves, where ancient forests meet modern life, and where the echoes of Roman legions mingle with the songs of the Domspatzen choir in nearby Regensburg.