GERMANY'S ROMANTIC ROAD

Germany’s Romantic Road -Germany has some beautifully preserved medieval towns. Travelling along the Romantic Road and then headed back through the beautiful cities of Munich, Nuremberg and Heidelberg.

SCHLOSS NEUSCHWANSTEIN & ALPSEE

HOW TO GET THERE

We started on our journey to Germany from the ferry terminal at the Hook of Holland, because we were travelling with our caravan* (towed) from the UK. The main loop of the trip inside Bavaria could just as easily start at Munich or elsewhere within it, and you could do it in a car staying in hotels or other accommodation. If you are not heading back to the Hook of Holland ferry then you complete the loop by travelling across from Nuremberg back to Wurzburg.

* please see notes on travelling with a caravan or motorhome underneath the header 'Caravanning' next to 'Home' above.

ROUTE

KOBLENZ

A five hour drive across Holland and into Germany will take you to your campsite at Lahnstein, near to Koblenz. This campsite is in a location overlooking the Rhine river with plenty of river traffic to keep you interested. Koblenz is an interesting city at the junction of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, where you will find the large park 'Deutsches Ecke'. The area has plenty of excursions on the rivers, and enjoyable touring by car around the towns and villages along their banks. Braubach, just to the south of the campsite is a very picturesque village, and a little further on along the Rhine River you will come to Burg Pfalzgrafenstein, perched on its small island.

BURG PFALZGRAFSTEIN - River Rhine

WURZBURG

From Koblenz you’ll get to Wurzburg in just over a couple of hours. The northern end of the Romantic Road starts at Wurzburg, which has a fabulous location on the Main River. The town has several outstanding examples of Rococo/Baroque architecture including the UNESCO world heritage rated Residenz palace which has an ornate interior, and from inside you get good views of the town, river and fortress. There is nice walking within the town and down to the Alte Mainbrucke, a 15th century footbridge across the River Main.

WURZBURG - view from Residenz Palace

Your base here is the campsite at Frickenhausen, which is a 3 hour drive from your first stop at Koblenz, a 20 minute drive from Wurzburg and a 35 minute drive from Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber(see next). This campsite is on the River Main, in an area where there are vineyards.

ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER

Rothenburg ODT is the main tourist attraction on the Northern end of the Romantic Road, with beautifully preserved medieval buildings within the walls of the town.

ROTHENBURG - OB - DER - TAUBER

You can walk along a 2.5 km section of the walls, giving plenty of viewpoints over the town. For a higher vantage point you can climb the 220 steps of the town hall's Rathausturm. The Jacobskirche has beautiful 14th c. stained glass windows. The Reichstadtmuseum is housed in a former convent which has a peaceful cloistered garden. The all-year-round 'Christmas Village' is a great place to pick up a souvenir for your Xmas tree or a 'Pyramid' candle rotating nativity scene.

DINKESBUHL

Dinkesbuhl is surrounded by intact town walls and towers, and its 15th-17th century buildings are beautifully kept. It will take you about an hour to walk right round the town walls. There is understandably a flow through of tourist buses into the centre but the expanse of the town allows for quiet wandering for most part.

DINKESBUHL

DINKESBUHL - Rapunzel Tower

The oasis provided by a large lake bordering the town is a particularly nice spot overlooked by fabulous towers including one that has a 'Rapunzel' plait suspended from one of its windows.

The town was the setting for the film 'The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm'.

Your campsite base at Ellwangen is half an hour's drive from Dinkesbuhl. The campsite is situated on the bank of a river, and a short walk from the town of Ellwangen which is small, but attractive.

NORDLINGEN

Nordlingen was founded in 898, and today has a population of 20,000. It lies in the Ries Basin, a huge meteor crater of 25km diameter that was used by US astronauts in training for the first moon landing. The beautifully preserved town is encircled by its 14th c. walls, with 5 preserved gate entry points, 16 defensive towers and 2 bastions. The highest viewpoint is gained by climbing the 350 steps of the Georgskirche's Daniel Tower from which you can appreciate the town's layout within the Ries Basin.

NORDLINGEN - Town, walls & meteor-formed Ries Basin

There are some interesting museums telling the stories of the town, its walls and the meteor basin. This Romantic Road town has a unique character, with a thriving local population that does not depend as much on the tourist trade as some of the other towns. A visit here is thoroughly recommended for its uncrowded slow pace. A handy campsite , situated on a large lake on the outskirts of Augsburg is an hour's drive away from Nordingen.

AUGSBURG

Augsburg is one of the larger towns along the Romantic Road, and although it has a modern, thriving feel it has plenty of character and a nice Aldstadt (old town) core which is worth a brief visit. Amongst its museum offerings is the Romisches Museum which has the remnants of the town's Roman heritage.

FUSSEN

Fussen is a sophisticated resort town, overlooked by the Hohe Schloss, the imposing former summer residence of the bishops of Augsburg which contains a large collection of medieval art and sculpture. Below the Schloss is the Abbey with its impressive rooms and cloisters.

FUSSEN - view from Hohe Schloss

Your campsite is 20 minutes drive away from Fussen, located on a lake.

The main attractions in the vicinity are the 2 castles, the 12th c. Schloss Hohenschwangau and the extravagant 19th c. Schloss Neuschwanstein(Picture at head of this post). Both castles have stunning exteriors and interiors and are very heavily visited so best to book your tickets in advance.

SCHLOSS NEUSCHWANSTEIN - distant view of Schloss Hohenschwangau

A different viewpoint of the castles can be gained whilst enjoying the thermal baths in Schwangau, a very relaxing experience after your day sightseeing.

A full day trip can be taken to the former Winter Olympics village of Garmisch-Partenkirchen with prettily decorated murals on its houses, from where you can board the cog-wheel driven train and then cable car to get to the top of Germany’s highest mountain Zugspitze(9,717 ft). The views of the Alps from the top are just breathtaking!

ZUGSPITZE (9,717Ft) - view of Alps from summit

Back down from the mountain you can return to Fussen taking a stop at the passion-play festival town of Oberammergau, noted also for its wood carving craft workshops. Another stop on your way back, or a separate outing, is recommended at Wieskirche, a UNESCO world heritage site, to see the extravagant decoration of the Rococo style church. We were lucky to come across a traditional music and dance event in the village.

MUNICH

Munich is the biggest city on this trip, and a destination in its own right for a holiday or city mini break. There is lots to see and do outside the Aldstadt, but a couple of days will be needed just here to even begin to do it justice. Beginning in Marienplatz, the hub of the old town, you are spoilt for choice on beautiful buildings to see and enter as you stroll down to the Karlstor gate. A fabulous overview of the town can be gained from climbing the 297 steps to the top of the Peterskirche Tower.

MUNICH - Marienplatz from Peterskirche Tower

To the north is the massive Royal Palace - Residenz - with its cavernous ceremonial hall and Rococo theatre. Also in this area is the world famous Hofbrauhaus, a huge and splendid German version of the drinking house. Nearby is the large Hofgarten park.

Camping is available at Pilsensee Lake, which is 40 minutes drive outside Munich, and it is possible to get in on public transport from nearby. Camping closer in to Munich is fairly basic, geared to the large Octoberfest crowds.

REGENSBURG

Your next campsite is close to the River Danube, and a good base for a day out visiting Regensburg with its intact Aldstadt (old town), towers and bridges. This town's charms are on a par with the more heavily visited ones on the Romantic Road.

REGENSBURG

NUREMBERG

It is a 1.5 hour drive to your next campsite near to Nuremberg. This is also a useful base for visiting some other nearby places. Nuremberg is a very large city with an impressive castle and old town.

NUREMBERG CASTLE

A trip out to the town of Bamberg is a half hour drive from the campsite. This has a very pleasant location on the river and many beautifully kept old buildings.

BAMBURG - Riverside former fishermen's cottages

If you’re not headed back North for the ferry you will return to Wurzburg to complete the loop inside Bavaria

HEIDELBERG

Heidelberg is home to Germany’s oldest University, with a nice setting on the River Neckar, a tributary of the Rhine. The castle stands above the town, and can be easily visited by funicular to give outstanding views. The red sandstone old bridge and its medieval twin-towered bridge gate are key attractions along with the city’s distinctive churches. Boat tours operate on the river, including one on a solar powered vessel.

HEIDELBERG - Old Bridge & Twin Tower Gate: view from Castle

Camping is available at Eberbach, right on the river, and with good public transport connections to Heidelberg (including by boat!)

From here if you're heading for the ferry back to the UK you can either take a fairly long straight drive of over 6 hours back through Holland, or break the journey with a stop or two.

Have a Safe journey home!

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