Roccia dei Tedeschi (German Rock)

The Roccia dei Tedeschi (German Rock) is a fascinating tourist attraction located in the Lazio region of the Abruzzo National Park, along an ancient connecting and trading route between the upper Sangro basin and the Melfa basin. This road, known as the Via Marsicana, was historically travelled by flocks, herds, caravans of mules carrying timber and coal, pilgrims, friars of the mendicant orders, troops in transit and armed garrison corps.

During the Second World War, the Comino Valley lay exactly behind the Gustav Line, a bundle of resilient defences that stretched from Monte Cassino to Mount Cairo and the Mainarde mountains. The German army needed secure rear lines for troop movements and for supplies to the front line. The Comino Valley was therefore home to German rear-guard observatories and defences, including the German Rock, an observatory in the valley of Forca d’Acero.

The Valle di Comino is a vast basin surrounded by the Park’s mountains, the Mainarde and the Monte Cairo and Monte Obachelle group. Forca d’Acero is the pass that opens between Serra Traversa and Monte Panìco and dominates the centuries-old forests and pastures of the valley. The Tedeschi rock is located right in this area, and is a fascinating place that offers spectacular views of the valley and surrounding mountains.

This historical and scenic attraction is a unique opportunity for lovers of history, hiking and tourism. The Tedeschi rock is a place of historical significance that deserves to be visited and discovered, to learn about the history of the Comino Valley and the Abruzzo National Park.