You need more than just a weekend to experience one of the most beautiful journeys in southern Germany properly. The route goes from Würzburg, over Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Augsburg all the way to Füssen with its castles. It gives an insight into a history of centuries which has remained lively.
It may make sense to choose single legs or the most interesting sights. By car it is most comfortable to get on the road, starting in Augsburg or further south in Füssen. Bavaria's highest town with a history of 2000 years hosts the Hohe Schloss (castle) and the monastery St. Mang in its late-medieval centre. Close to it you will find Neuschwanstein und Hohenschwangau, which are described separately in the Frederics Guide Munich.
Passing the Wieskirche, more precisely: "toward the castigated redeemer on the Wies", a Rokoko church, at the intersection of the German Alpenstraße the road continues to Landsberg am Lech. Founded by Heinrich the Lion the city possesses an ample market square, surrounded by noble middle class houses and the city hall with its beautiful stucco facade.
Augsburg, as well situated at the Lech river, has a separate article. In Donauwörth, the former free city at the estuary of the Wörnitz into Donau, forms the Reichsstraße with its imposing Patrician houses being one of Southern Germany's nicest streets of houses. A very well-conserved and fully accessible city wall, the only one of its kind, is found in Nördlingen im Ries. The historic townscape is marked by its landmark, the late-gothic church St. Georg with its 90 m high bell tower "Daniel", which can be an climbed all year round.
The Romantic Road passes the lovely medieval towns Feuchtwangen and Dinkelsbühl toward a highlight of the journey: Rothenburg ob der Tauber with its framework houses is the symbol of medieval construction art and therefore pretty busy. Historic festivals like „Der Meistertrunk“ and „Schäfertanz“ emphasize the changeful history of the former free city with its silhouette beyond comparison.
Creglingen lures with two interesting museums, the Jewish Museum and the thimble museum as well as an altar in the Herrgottskirche. Röttingen was named the first European city in 1953 and is surrounded by a historic city wall with well-conserved towers. Weikersheim is the home of one of the most beautiful residences of the Renaissance, with a pompous garden in the Versailles style.
Bad Mergentheim has gained international reputation as a spa and impresses with wonderful frame work houses and a baroque palais. Via Lauda-Königshofen and Tauberbischofsheim, the national Olympic base for fencing, the road ends in Würzburg. Read the Frederics article about this university and convention town by the Main river.
by Dietmar Stanka
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