Germany’s Romantic Road – A Road Well Travelled
February 23, 2010 by Helen Page
Filed under Destinations
Romantische Strasse – One of Germany’s oldest Scenic Routes:
The Residenz in Würzburg - Bavaria
Along a 350 km stretch of road from Würzburg in northern Bavaria to Füssen in the Allgäu Alps is Germany’s most famous and well travelled Romantic Road or Romantische Strasse.
The Romantic Road is one of Germany’s oldest scenic routes and it takes travellers through rich and varied cultural landscape along the river Main and through the Franconian wine country to the Alps.
The Road links a series of picturesque towns and villages along the route and visitors have the opportunity to see small historic towns and old walled-cities with palaces, fairytale castles, towers, turrets and church spires. There are also many other places of historical interest such as the town squares, monuments and taverns.
And, if you’re in town on the right day, you may get a chance to taste some of their culinary delights and feast your eyes on all the local foods and produce at a town market day or partake in one of their traditional and charming festivals.
The route leads through the charming Tauber Valley, the Nördlinger Ries situated in the heart of a giant crater, the picturesque Lechfeld Plain, Pfaffenwinkel or Parsons’ Corner -
"Romantic Road" ©Romantische Straße Touristik-Arbeitsgemeinschaft
a land of farmers, artists and monks in the foothills of the Upper Bavarian Alps – before finally ending up at Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles, King Ludwig’s famous fairytale castles.
Germany’s “number one travel route” has linked the river Main with the Bavarian Alps as far back as the beginning of the 19th century. However, it was just five years after the Second World War that travel route was recreated as the “Romantic Road” a name that aptly describes what the region has to offer.
The best way to see the sights along the Romantic Road is on a driving holiday or on a coach tour. Alternatively, those who enjoy cycling can follow the well-marked Romantic Road Cycling Route for an amazing sightseeing experience. There are inns along the route where travellers can stop for some food and drinks. More information about the Romantic Road, cycling maps and special cycling packages are available from www.romantischestrasse.de.
Tours you can do along the Romantic Road
Visit Germany through Travel Signposts Photo Gallery
Tour Routes in Germany
February 27, 2009 by Tony Page
Filed under Destinations, Featured
Suggested Tour Routes to make the best of your holiday in Germany
Touring Germany is a pleasure, whether you drive yourself, take a coach or relax on a boat; that’s because there’s a lot to see and the roads are excellent, so travel is easy.
Whether you’re looking for romantic castles, picturesque villages with twisting alleys and narrow gabled houses, mountain landscapes or vibrant nightlife in a modern metropolis, everything is within easy reach.
Try this Tour Route
You’ll notice that my suggested general tour route below misses out Duesseldorf, Stuttgart etc. because although major cities they aren’t really what people go to Germany for (unless you’re picking up a Mercedes or BMW).
This Europe tour roughly goes in a circle, so you could go either direction. No problems driving in Germany. You could do the Rhine cruise bit at the beginning if you wanted. The tour would take around 17 days to do, but it would be nice to take a bit longer.
Note: links to the towns go to photo albums on the Travel Signposts website
Frankfurt – Remagen – Cologne – Bremen – Hamburg – Lubeck – Celle (Luneburg Heath) – Hannover – Berlin – Leipzig – Dresden – Weimar – Erfurt – Wartburg – Wurzburg – Bamberg – Bayreuth – Nuremberg – Rothenburg – Romantic Road – Nordlingen – Dachau – Munich – Lake Chiemsee – Berchtesgaden – Garmisch (Bavarian Alps): Linderhof/Ettal/Oberammergau/Steingaden/Neuschwanstein – Lindau (Lake Constance) – Meersburg/Konstanz (ferry) – Freiburg – Lake Titisee (Black Forest) – Baden-Baden – Heidelberg – Rudesheim/Boppard (Rhine Cruise) – Koblenz – Cochem – Rudesheim – Marksburg Castle – Frankfurt
The Falkenhaus, a baroque masterpiece in Wurzburg
Don’t know where a place is? Try this map (opens in new window): Map of Germany
Or visit our zoomable Google Satellite Map Page
TRAVEL TO GERMANY WITH US: PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
Other Germany pages:
Travel to Germany: a Europe Tour that’s a lot more than Beer, Lederhosen and Cuckoo Clocks!
When to travel to Germany for your tour: weather and seasons
Useful facts, dates and links to help you plan your tour of Germany
Book your sightseeing tours or day-trips in Germany online
There are many fine half-timbered houses in Wertheim
Book your hotel in Germany online
Participate in the conversation by leaving your comment below.Travel to Germany
February 23, 2009 by Tony Page
Filed under Featured, Sightseeing
Germany: a country that’s a lot more than Beer, Lederhosen and Cuckoo Clocks!
Reichstag, the German Parliament in Berlin
Most people associate travel to Germany with either big modern cities and Mercedes thrashing down autobahns or quaint wood-beamed houses, men in lederhosen and buxom barmaids holding gigantic steins of beer in each hand while cuckoo clocks chime in the background.
OK, I’m exaggerating,
but sometimes Germany does seem to have a split personality (especially when tourist organisations are involved). Travelling in Germany can obviously involve visits to a major metropolis like Duesseldorf or Stuttgart, but are you really touring Germany to see them? I don’t think so.
What you’re really out to see:
A pleasant summer drink in Bamberg
- Historic cities, romantic castles, rural farming villages, picturesque lakes, renowned spa towns and awe-inspiring fortresses.
- Twisting alleys and narrow gabled houses, romantic half-timbered cottages and picturesque old town centres, lush winegrowing areas and mediaeval free cities.
- Romanesque monasteries, gothic cathedrals and village churches, the Alps, the Baltic, wineries, pubs, bistros and gourmet restaurants.
- “Little Red Riding Hood” forests and places of sagas, myths and Grimms’ fairy tales, the Romantic Road, the Black Forest (and cake), scenery, cuisine and ambience.
And if that’s not enough, you can visit the Ries Crater at Nordlingen where American astronauts trained for their moon walks, and yes, the largest cuckoo clock in the world at Schonach…
Our other Germany pages:
When to travel to Germany for your tour: weather and seasons
Useful facts, dates and links to help you plan your tour of Germany
Book your sightseeing tours or day-trips in Germany online
Your Turn: Do you have any advice you would like to share? What tips would you like to add? Please comment below.
