Celtic Ring Wall of Otzenhausen
The Ring Wall of Otzenhausen, popularly known as the "Hunnenring", is a Celtic stronghold fortification on the slopes of Mount Dollberg near Otzenhausen.
It was built as early as in the 1st century B.C. as a protection against the Romans and is still today considered one of the most impressive fortifications in Europe. The Ringwall is the fortified settlement of a Treverian prince. Julius Caesar himself described the oppidum, which was fortified with dry stone walls, as a "murus gallicus".
The stone walls consist of an inner and an outer shell, which are set in wooden frames. Nails were used to attach the wooden frames to the dry walls, which is demonstrably the first use of metal in prehistoric fortress construction.
The baseline of the structure is formed by the north wall that runs along the ridge of Mount Dollberg, which, with a 40 m base, still reaches a height of 12 m today. The entire wall of the 20-hectare main fortress complex is 1.5 km long, with ramparts even up to 2.5 km. The north-western end of the wall contained the gated entrance, which has been verified because of the holes for the gate posts.
Address
66620 Nonnweiler-Otzenhausen
Internet: www.keltenpark-otzenhausen.de
Further information
Tourist Info Nonnweiler
Trierer Straße 5
66620 Nonnweiler
Phone: +49 6873 660-0
www.nonnweiler.de
Opening hours
All year round
Guided tours
May - October: Every 1st Saturday of the month and by appointment
