Altenburg: Celts, the Schanz and Historic Bridges

Explore Altenburg through its archaeological landscape and architectural history. The Schanz takes you back to the Late Celtic settlement, while the bridges tell stories of their construction, preservation and former use. The Altenburg Cultural Trail links important buildings and squares in a series of stops. These themes offer different ways to shape your stay: you may be interested in a longer hike or in exploring the village’s history at several specific sites.

The Schanz and the Late Celtic Oppidum

The Schanz, a defensive rampart about 800 metres long, lies at the southeastern edge of Altenburg. As the main rampart, it separates the Late Celtic Oppidum of Altenburg-Rheinau from the hinterland. The oppidum stood on the 233-hectare Schwaben Peninsula, which is surrounded by the Rhine. In the 1st century BC, it was one of the most important Late Celtic large settlements north of the Alps.

Archaeological finds point to trade, metalworking and coin minting in the settlement. The rampart and finds therefore tell us not only about a fortification, but also about activities within the oppidum. The Schanz can be understood as part of a larger settlement landscape: its function was to separate the oppidum on the peninsula from the hinterland.

Two trails, different ways to explore

The Altenburg Cultural Trail is a walking route through important buildings and squares in Altenburg. Its 18 listed stops include the Schanz, St. James’s Church, the Rheinau Bridge and the Roman Bridge. The stops give the trail a focus on local history: archaeology, the church and bridge construction feature as individual themes along the route.

The Celtic circular trail offers a different way to plan your visit: it is 8.8 kilometres long and takes about two and a half hours to walk. It starts at the village square in Altenburg, crosses the state border at the weir of the Rheinau power station and returns to Altenburg via the Rheinau Customs Bridge. This gives you both the approximate walking time and the route across the border.

In the wider destination of Jestetten, the Celtic circular trail was inaugurated on 27 September 2025. Ten information panels along the route cover individual aspects of the oppidum and life within it; two of the panels are in Rheinau. This regional context complements a visit to the Schanz and Altenburg’s settlement history.

Bridge history between Altenburg and Rheinau

The Rheinau Bridge is a covered wooden bridge between Altenburg and Rheinau. After several months of renovation work, it was ceremonially reopened in 1988. As one of the listed stops on the Cultural Trail, it stands alongside structures with a very different history.

The Volkenbach Bridge, known as the Roman Bridge, was built in 1696. Its use was prohibited in 1770 after its foundations were found to be defective. Preservation repairs in 1892, 1937/38 and 1966 substantially changed the ruin. Its history therefore encompasses both its construction and later conservation work. The hiking trail by the Roman Bridge remains an important walking route.

St. James’s Church and planning your stay

St. James’s Church can also be placed in its historical context: Abbot Gerold II of Zurlauben laid the foundation stone of the present-day church in 1711. It was renovated again in 1961, taking on its present appearance. As a stop on the Cultural Trail, it stands alongside the Schanz and the bridges, broadening the picture of Altenburg’s history to include a religious building.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Altenburg, your planned daily routine can be a good starting point for choosing one. The distance and approximate walking time for the Celtic circular trail are provided, while the Cultural Trail passes 18 listed stops. This lets you consider whether a longer loop or several local-history stops would better suit your stay. For families planning together, the specific themes and route information offer points for discussion, without implying any particular suitability or a fixed itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Weilheim, Bernau im Schwarzwald, Wutach, Jestetten, Dachsberg, Waldshut-Tiengen, Grafenhausen, Rickenbach.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Waldshut.