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The idea of the Romantische Straße was first conceived in 1950 to guide the tourist through many romantic little villages and towns of historical interest in the south of Germany. The road links the Bavarian Alps with the River Main, visiting places which were important in medieval times. (A wealth of castles and churches, mainly in the baroque style, can be seen along the way.)
The Romantische Straße begins at Füssen in the northern foothills of the Alps. The area was first inhabited by the Celts; they were followed by the Romans, who built an important road across the Alps to link Rome with the frontier of their empire on the Danube Today the stretch between Füssen and Augsburg follows the basic direction of the Via Claudia, the original Roman Road.
The two main attractions near Füssen are the castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. Standing right above the village of Schwangau, and reached by a steep walkway, Hohenschwangau was built in the 12th century and remodelled by Crown Prince Maximilian of Bavaria. There are fine view from the castle terraces, especially of the much photographed castle of Neuschwanstein. King Ludwig II. had the magnificent castle of Neuschwanstein built towards the end of the last century. A designer was worked on for over 17 years but was still not completed when Ludwig died!
The route now leads northwards, bypassing the small Bannwald See. A pleasant drive through attractive woodland leads towards Steingaden and then to Wies. There is a church situated it's called "Wieskirche"
From Wies is a short journey back to Kohlofen, where you turn right . Paaing several reservoirs of the Lech River, after 20 miles (32km) you reach the historically important town of Landsberg am Lech. A beautifully decorated gate, the "Bayerntor", forms the entry into the town. The tower gate was once part of the defence system of Landsberg. From the top you have an extensive view over the whole town. The main square, which is also the market place, is adorned by the graceful Marian Brunnen Fountain.
Leaving Landsberg for Augsburg, the road is flanked on one side by a plain, called the Lechfeld, and on the other side by the River Lech itself.
AUGSBURG
Its one of the oldest and most distinguished towns in Bavarian Swabia. Augsburg was founded by the Roman Emperor Augustus as a military camp about 15BC.
Augsburg has some remarkable buildings, starting with the Stadtpalast (town palace); although destroyed during the last war, it was rebuilt after the war. Donauwörth is the next town on the road. Soon after Donauwörth the route turns left to Hamburg, and you will soon see its castle standing on a crag high above the road. The splendid setting of the castle attracts many painters, photographers and historians, and the lovely Wörnitz River winding around the town completes an idyllic scene. The road now takes you further along the romantic trail to the town of Nördlingen, where the original medieval town walls are still complete. You can walk all he way along the ramparts in a circle around the town, past five gates and 11 towers. The complete walk is about 2 miles (3km) long. Nordlingen is also the centre of a natural phenomenon, the Ries crater, Scientists set the rime of its formations at about 15 million years ago, when a meteorite struck the area.
the next point of call is the town of Dinkels Bühl, where you are joined again by the Wörnitz River. The Old town starts at the market place, which is dominated by the Deutsche Haus, one of the most impressive examples of half-timbered buildings. It now hosts a hotel and restaurant and is flanked by other old buildings, all characterised by the typical high gabled roof.
You will most likely leave the town through the Rothenburger Gate and continue through Feuchtwangen, a small attractive market town with large medieval burgher's houses on either side of its main square. few towns in Germany have been able to preserve their history and appearance so well as Rothenburg ob der Tauber. There are the famous Ratstrinkstube, which houses the clock and reminds citizens and visitors. The Rathaus stands next door to the famous tavern and shows a combination of the original Gothic and later Renaissance styles. The view from the top of the tower is especially fine, taking in the attractive buildings of the town centre and also the gentle valley of the Tauber River beyond.
Driving further along the Tauber trail brings you to the small town of Weikersheim, with the Schloß Weikersheim, originally a moated castle first mentioned in 1152. Continuing with the journey, after a few bends the road reaches Bad Mergentheim, having left the state of Bavaria for a brief incursion into neighbouring Baden-Würtemberg. On the main square in Bad Mergentheim, known as the Deutschordensplatz, stands the castle of the Order of the German Knights.
The next stop is Tauberbischofsheim, with its attractive castle situated on a hill. Beautiful half-timbered houses stands at different angles to each other, not in line as is usual with other castle buildings. The mighty keep, the Türmersturm, is a massive round tower on one side of the castle yard, and its foundations date back to the 13th century.
From Tauberbischofsheim you return to the part of Bavaria known as Franconia, and its main centre, the town of Würzburg. Würzburg invites a longer stay, especially for those interested in history and architecture. In 1156 Friedrich I. Barbarossa married Beatrice of Burgundy in Würzburg and later increasing wealth brought famous artists to the town. Bombing raids at the end of World War II destroyed most of the town, but much of it has been painstakingly rebuilt.
The Marienkirche stands on a hill on the other side of the River Main. Its Würzburg's main landmark. Near the church stands the Rathaus, which has functioned since 1316. There is also a former Carmelite convent; a delightful end to your journey along the Romantische Straße.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The central office for the Romantische Straße is at Dinkelsbühl, Marktplatz. This office also supplies a useful list of hotels, pensions and local inns at places en route, with prices in local currency (DM)
The Romantische Straße is about 220 miles (352km) long. The whole journey by private car should take about one week, depending on how many stopping places are selected. The best time to travel is in early spring or late September . Weekends and the summer season are busy and should be avoided whenever possible.
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