The Romans built the Via Raetia, a connecting road to Augusta Vindelicorum (Augsburg) over the Brenner Pass to Veldidena (today Innsbruck-Wilten) and continued it over the Seefeld Saddle and through the Scharnitz Pass.
Unlike the Seefeld Saddle, the Scharnitz Pass is not a mountain pass, however, but more of a gorge.
The Isar valley narrows as a result of the foothills of the Arnspitze Group near Scharnitz and gives travellers the impression of a gate (Lat.
porta) compared with the valley floors on either side that broaden out in the direction of Mittenwald and Seefeld respectively.

The protect their road the Romans built the settlement of Mansio Scarbia at the Scharnitz Pass, from which the name Scharnitz is derived.
The importance of the way of the Seefeld Saddle and through the Scharnitz Pass is evinced by the discovery of a Roman milestone near Partenkirchen; in addition the two most famous Roman road maps, the Itinerarium Antonini and Tabula Peutingeriana name this road as a primary military and trading route.
The route was heavily used and probably built as a trafficable road.
Remains of this Roman road may be seen near Klais, a section of sunken road there is still visible today with ruts worn into the surface.
The Romans built the Via Raetia, a connecting road to Augusta Vindelicorum (Augsburg) over the Brenner Pass to Veldidena (today Innsbruck-Wilten) and continued it over the Seefeld Saddle and through the Scharnitz Pass. Unlike the Seefeld Saddle, the Scharnitz Pass is not a mountain pass, however, but more of a gorge. The Isar valley narrows as a result of the foothills of the Arnspitze Group near Scharnitz and gives travellers the impression of a gate (Lat. porta) compared with the valley floors on either side that broaden out in the direction of Mittenwald and Seefeld respectively.
The protect their road the Romans built the settlement of Mansio Scarbia at the Scharnitz Pass, from which the name Scharnitz is derived. The importance of the way of the Seefeld Saddle and through the Scharnitz Pass is evinced by the discovery of a Roman milestone near Partenkirchen; in addition the two most famous Roman road maps, the Itinerarium Antonini and Tabula Peutingeriana name this road as a primary military and trading route. The route was heavily used and probably built as a trafficable road. Remains of this Roman road may be seen near Klais, a section of sunken road there is still visible today with ruts worn into the surface.
Seefeld Saddle