Romantic Road

Let the Romantic Road enchant you

In fact, the Romans built the road, you can hear today. That too has its correctness, for the southern section, at least, and if you choose not to disturb that Via Claudia like the Romantic Road to Augsburg feet from the plate follows the paths but not identical. In the year 47 AD. Claudia was the Via Augusta on the Reschen and Fern on foot to Augsburg and further to the Danube.

For more than 50 years, the hallmark of the Romantic Road has been its wonderful combination of nature, culture and hospitality. Germany"s most famous and popular tourist route runs for 350 romantic kilometres across a rich and varied cultural landscape along the river Main and through the Franconian wine country to the Alps. This fantastic route between Würzburg and Füssen offers visitors the opportunity to see small historic towns with impressive buildings and places of historical interest that have lost nothing of their original charm. The route leads through the charming Tauber Valley, the Nördlinger Ries situated in the heart of a giant crater, the picturesque Lechfeld plain, Pfaffenwinkel (Parsons" Corner) - a land of farmers, artists and monks in the foothills of the Upper Bavarian Alps - before finally ending up at King Ludwig"s famous fairytale castles.

The very name of the Romantic Road expresses the sentiment that many visitors, both from Germany and abroad, feel when they first feast their eyes on this spectacular backdrop of riches, western history, art and culture: fascination and a sense of being taken back in time. But beautiful scenery and culinary delights are by no means all a trip along the Romantic Road has to offer. You"ll also hear a few famous names along the way: Balthasar Neumann, who built the Würzburg Residenz Palace, Tilmann Riemenschneider in the charming Tauber Valley and Carl Spitzweg, a great fan of Rothenburg and Dinkelsbühl. Geological enthusiasts will be in their element in the Nördlinger Ries, while visitors to Augsburg will encounter the legacy of the Romans and the Fuggerei, the world"s first welfare housing project, which dates from the 16th century. Pfaffenwinkel is home to the Wieskirche Pilgrimage Church, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most famous works of art from the rococo period. Schwangau, home of King Ludwig"s fairytale castles, is surrounded by four lakes and set against the backdrop of the Ammer mountains nature conservation area.

At the foot of these mountains lie Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle, two spectacular castles dating from the 19th century. These famous fairytale castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and Maximilian, the Crown Prince, mark the end of the Romantic Road in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Right on the edge of the Alps, on the border with the Tyrol, lies Füssen, Bavaria"s highest town (800-1200m above sea level). Its fully preserved late-medieval town centre is home to a wealth of art treasures and architectural monuments. High above the town, the church, the monastery of St. Mang and Hohes Schloss Castle - formerly the summer residence of the prince bishops of Augsburg - form a remarkable ensemble. While you"re here we recommend a trip up the Zugspitze: at 2,964 metres, this is Germany"s highest mountain. Once you reach the peak, you are rewarded with a panoramic view of the Alps that stretches from Germany and Austria as far as Italy and Switzerland. 

But the best way to see absolutely everything on offer is on the well-marked Romantic Road Cycling Route (cycling maps and special cycling packages are available). All the way along this route from the Main to the Alps there are inns serving delicious food and drink, where you can stop off for a while and have a bite to eat before setting out again on your way. A fascinating journey of discovery along the Romantic Road is ideal for those on a driving or coach tour, as well as cycling and camping enthusiasts, festival-goers and connoisseurs. On this tour, you"ll learn about geological history, 2,000 years of culture and, of course, the Age of Romanticism. The many castles, palaces and monasteries are not only a reminder of feudal times, they also provide the delightful setting for a variety of spectacular concerts. In fact, there are a number of lively festivals, concerts and cultural events taking place along the route all year round. So what are you waiting for!