The circular hike “In the Footsteps of the Ancient Romans” combines nature, culture and history in a particularly enjoyable way. Starting in the centre of Kiens/Chienes, the route leads through the cultural landscape between Kiens/Chienes and Ehrenburg/Casteldarne, offering fascinating insights into the Roman past of the Puster Valley.
More than 2,000 years ago, the Puster Valley formed part of the Roman province of Noricum. Along the trail, several information and rest areas explain travel in Roman times, the importance of ancient transport routes and the role of roadside stations along the historic trade route through the valley.
One of the highlights of the hike is the Roman milestone in Ehrenburg/Casteldarne. This approximately two-metre-high column of quartz phyllite is one of the best-preserved Roman milestones in South Tyrol. It was erected during the reign of Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus and indicates the distance to the Roman town of Aguntum near present-day Lienz in East Tyrol.
Also worth seeing are Ehrenburg Castle, built around 1250 and visible from the outside, and the nearby Baroque Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary. Traditional wooden fences and historic dry-stone walls add further charm to the village and its surroundings.
The route follows pleasant paths across the valley floor and combines natural scenery with local history and cultural heritage. Refreshment opportunities can be found in the villages of Kiens and Ehrenburg.
This varied circular hike is ideal for anyone wishing to discover the history of the Puster Valley in an engaging and accessible way.
