Valorising cultural heritage and fostering sustainable tourism by LIVING the common heritage on the DANUBE LIMES as basis for a cultural route

Living Danube Limes builds on the history and archaeology of the Roman Danube region, strengthens the structure of museums and visitor sites along the Danube and develops concepts for the conservation and protection of the Roman heritage as well as for green and sustainable tourism.
The Connecting Cruise takes place as part of the project: A fully functional reconstruction of a 4th century Roman Danube patrol vessel physically connects the modern Danube countries and the Roman heritage with the 21st century.

Based on the remains of Roman shipwrecks discovered in Mainz, the project partner Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg reconstructed a late Roman ship of the 'Lusoria' type from the 4th century CE, the 'Danuvina Alacris'.

The Danuvina Alacris is not only a reconstruction of a 4th-century Roman Danube patrol vessel, but also a symbol of the strong partnership between the Living Danube Limes partner countries, based on their common history and cultural heritage of the Roman Danube region, and the connection of all people along the Danube Limes beyond today's national borders - on the water, at side events and wherever the journey is followed online.
 

In mid-July 2022, the Danuvina Alacris begins its journey down the Danube from Germany towards the Black Sea, visiting several sites along the Roman Danube Limes, the western section of which has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021.

The process has been co-documented in a 'diary' on the project's website.

The report 'Technical Features of Roman Danube Ships' gives an overview of Roman shipbuilding. It defines the ideal Roman ship type for the project with its technical characteristics. Based on the archaeological research and materials available to the FAU, who is responsible for the construction of the Danuvina Alacris, and FAU's experience in traditional shipbuilding, the construction plan is presented.

Duration: 96 days (3 months, 4 days / 13 weeks, 5 days)
Countries: 7
Distance: ~2000 km
Rowing Stages: 8
Crews' Origin Countries: 21
Captains: 12
Participants: 188 + approx. 400 rowers taking part for one or two days at local level