Roman Castle Alae

The cavalry fort of Alae was constructed around 150/155 AD in stone during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius. It served as a central military stronghold of the southern Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes. Archaeological finds, including sixteen epigraphic testimonies, are of high historical value. Research suggests that the modern city name Aalen might be derived from the Latin word "Ala". The fort site was already settled in prehistoric times, as evidenced by a settlement horizon from the late Bronze to early Iron Age. In the 19th century, initial systematic excavations began, leading to the fort's discovery in 1890. Comprehensive investigations by the Imperial Limes Commission in 1894 and 1895 shaped the understanding of Roman Aalen. Later excavations, particularly from 1977 under Dieter Planck, uncovered the headquarters building (Principia). The fort wall, 1.7 meters wide at the foundation, featured four rounded corner towers and four double-lane gates, each with two flanking gate towers. The Porta Praetoria, the main gate, faced northeast. The roads within the fort, such as the Via Principalis and Via Sagularis, were carefully constructed, partly with a wooden grate underneath to stabilize the soft subsoil.

The Roman fort of Alae is located in Aalen in the Ostalb district, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It stands at an elevation of approximately 436 m above sea level, strategically positioned on a slope towards the Kocher river, which allowed for a good overview of the Kocher valley and the confluences of the Rems and Hirschbach rivers.

Today, visitors can explore the remains of the Roman fort. The Limesmuseum Aalen, which is partly built over the ancient ground, offers further insights into the fort's history and significance.

• Wasseralfingen Castle (Schloss), approx. 3.4 km away
• Kocherburg Ruin (Ruine), approx. 5.2 km away
• Essingen Castle (Schloss), approx. 5.2 km away
• Dorotheenhof Castle (Schloss), approx. 5.2 km away