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.