Romantic Road travel guide

Stretching for 350km from the vineyards of Würzburg to the foothills of the Alps at Füssen, the Romantic Road (Romantische Strasse) is Germany’s most popular tourist route.

You could spend a month exploring this string of perfectly preserved medieval walled towns, hilltop castles, mighty cathedrals and pretty churches, and all but the most remote of the sights are just a short train ride (or two) from Munich Hauptbahnhof. The stopping-off points along the route form some of the most enchanting outings from the Bavarian capital.

Places to visit along the Romantic Road

Würzburg

Würzburg marks the start of the Romantic Road’s journey south. This city on the River Main was once the seat of the Prince-Bishops, one of whom, Schönborn, enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in the magnificent, Unesco-listed Residenz. This is one of the largest and most flamboyant baroque palaces in Germany, boasting a succession of opulent interiors and, crowning the huge staircase, the largest ceiling painting in the world, the work of the Venetian artist Tiepolo. At the centre of the Franconian vineyards, Würzburg has a relaxed atmosphere. There’s a winery in the late-medieval hospice known as the Juliusspital, and a tour of the wine-producing villages along the Main is highly recommended, as is a visit to the Prince-Bishops’ baroque summer palace at Veitshöchheim, 7km (4 miles) from Würzburg. This is the country’s most famous rococo garden, decorated with more than 200 statues.

Würzburg is 280km from Munich along the A3 and A9 motorways. The train journey takes just two hours.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is an essential stop along the way, its quaint name matching the little medieval city’s perfect state of preservation. By blanking out the crowds of visitors wandering the streets, relaxing in the main square, or filing along the sentry-walk running the whole length of the 2.5km (1.5 mile) fortifications, it’s easy to imagine oneself transported magically back into an idealised Bavaria of the Middle Ages. A stroll around the streets reveals an almost endless succession of delightful townscapes, none more photographed than the Plönlein, a cobbled space of changing levels framed by towers and half-timbered houses. 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a feasible day trip from Munich by car, but the train journey requires two changes (at Treuchtlingen and Steinach) and takes over three hours.

Dinkelsbühl

Dinkelsbühl is another picturesque town, with intact defences, pastel-hued townhouses, a fine parish church and slightly fewer visitors. It also escaped obliteration during the Thirty Years’ War when its children appealed en masse to a besieging general. The event is recreated at the annual Kinderzeche festival.

A day trip to Dinkelsbühl is only possible if you have your own car.  

Nördlingen

Nördlingen, is also a well preserved medieval town sporting intact ramparts interspersed with 16 towers and five gateways, but has a slightly more workaday feel and far fewer visitors than Rothenburg. The top sight here is the unique Rieskrater Museum devoted to explaining the story of the 25km (16 mile) diameter crater, formed by a giant meteorite 15 million years ago, at the centre of which the town lies. A treat for steam train buffs is the Bayerisches Eisenbahnmuseum (Bavarian Railway Museum) displaying various German locos from down the ages. Summer steam specials run north to Dombühl (via Dinkelsbühl) and Gunzenhausen.

Nördlingen can be reached by train in 2.5 hours from Munich’s Hauptbahnhof with a change in Donauwörth.

Burg Harburg and Donauwörth 

Burg Harburg is arguably the Romantic Road’s most dramatic castle, rising from a wooded hilltop with views of the tranquil countryside for miles around. The 11th-century stronghold was remodelled in the 18th century and the interior holds collections of tapestry, gold and silver.

Harburg is two hours by train from Munich with a change in Donauwörth ten minutes away. A visit is best combined with half a day in Donauwörth. Donauwörth may not be the most popular stop-off on the Romantic Road, but this attractive town at the confluence of the Danube and Wörnitz river is definitely worth half a day’s perusal. Donauwörth is simple to reach by rail with trains making the journey direct from Munich in 90 minutes. 

Augsburg

Founded in 15BC and named after Emperor Augustus, Augsburg, 50km (31 miles) from Munich, had its heyday in the late Middle Ages, when the Fugger family made it Central Europe’s banking centre. With streets and squares beautified by Renaissance fountains and lined with fine townhouses, Augsburg is a stately city, its pride and wealth on ostentatious display in the Golden Hall of the Rathaus and in the sumptuous furnishings and fittings of the cathedral.

 Augsburg is 42 minutes by rail from Munich’s main station.

 

The Romantic Road comes to a fitting climax at the gates of Neuschwanstein Castle.

 

Discover more...

 

For more glorious scenery, try beautiful Berchtesgaden

Try Munich as a base for exploring the Romantic Road

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