The Arminius Trail is more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) long and ends in Kalkriese, where the infamous Varus Battle is said to have taken place in 9 AD. Where today wonderful hiking trails lead through dense forests, along rivers and through species-rich moorland, the Romans encountered impassable terrain back then – a home advantage for the Germanic tribes, who used the tricky terrain for their raids. For a long time, there were hardly any clues as to the location of the battle. Numerous subsequent finds, such as coins, a rampart, the remains of mules, human bones and weapons in and around Kalkriese in eastern Westphalia brought the region into the picture.

The Arminius Trail follows the presumed route that the Romans are said to have taken from the Porta Westfalica camp to Kalkriese thousands of years ago. Along the way, you’ll learn about Arminius, a.k.a Hermann the Cheruscan Prince, who’s an integral part of the German culture of remembrance, as well as insights into the history of the Germanic tribes. A total of 18 information panels and the famous Varus Battle Visitor Center in Kalkriese are waiting for you.

In this Collection, I’ve divided the long-distance hike into five stages and added some side trips to historically significant places. From Porta Westfalica, the Arminius Trail leads you between the North German Plain and the Wiehengebirge mountains to Kalkriese and the Varus Battle Visitor Centre. You can expect fairly gentle daily stages between 16 and 25 kilometres (10–15.5 mi), perfect if you’re just starting to hike or if you like to take your time.

The hike begins at the train station in Porta Westfalica and from Kalkriese you have a good connection by bus to the main train station in Osnabrück. From the Varus Battle Visitor Centre, bus X275 will take you to Ostercappeln/Krankenhaus, where you can change to bus X276 in the direction of Osnabrück Hbf. If you only want to walk individual stages of the trail, you’ll find bus stops at each of the stage destinations. You can find the timetables of the region here: teutoowl.de/owlv/linienfahrplaene (in German).