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Romantic road in germany - description, cities, map, route by car. Cat Travel Stories

- the most popular tourist route in Germany, which attracts tourists from all over the world not only with an intriguing name, but also with an unusually beautiful and diverse nature throughout the entire journey. Here you will find such a variety of landscapes and historical eras that impressions will last for "the rest of my life." The route is 366 km long. starts in the city of Würzburg and ends in the city of Füssen.

Geographically located in Bavaria, passes through 26 cities located between the Main and the Alps. The Alps themselves are an unsurpassed masterpiece of nature. These mountains are incredibly beautiful and romantic.

Our route compiled on the basis of the German guide for motorists. Road route map. But you can get acquainted with its main attractions using public transport. This is how I traveled romantic road, because I can't drive a car.

Pay attention! Journey through romantic road You can start and end anywhere. There is no single route connecting all the points here. But there is a special bus "Romantische-Straße-Bus" - (German: Romantische-Straße-Bus). Bus passengers can interrupt the trip any number of times, you can go to right place and then get back on the bus and continue the route. Bus stops have special logos romantic road and tied to train stations or citywide bus stops, and tickets can be bought at any tourist office, information desk or from the driver.

bike lanes lie away from the main road, so for cyclists, this is about 450 km, and when choosing the traditional direction, on a certain part of the path, you will have to overcome climbs and put up with a constant climb. The journey can start and end anywhere, and many points along the route offer bicycles for rent.

Journey through romantic road starts in Würzburg and runs through ancient castles, fortresses, medieval cities unseen beauty. And the castle of the "fairytale king" Ludwig II is as beautiful and romantic as the legends about its creator.

Crosses the picturesque valley of the Tauber River, the Nördlinger Ries region, located in a meteorite crater, the picturesque Lechfeld valley, the Upper Bavaria Prealpine region, and finally reaches the famous fairytale castles kings of Bavaria.

Already at the first point of our trip, Würzburg, you will see a lot of sights: the Marienberg fortress, the Old Bridge over the Main with its famous sculptures, Residence of the Archbishops - a World Heritage Site, admire the magnificent panorama of the city.

The route ends in Füssen in the Bavarian Alps, distant from the Austrian border by the flight of a stone. Here, nature with meadows and forests, lakes and a chain of mountains serves as a unique decoration for ancient buildings.

In the Guide we will tell you about all the sights of this popular route, about all the cities, towns and villages that meet on the way. The special charm of these ancient cities and towns is given by holidays and carnivals, which are held everywhere throughout the season. And if you plan to travel on your own, try to get to some local celebration: wine, beer, cheese, harvest, historical dances, musical nights and concerts - there are countless of them and we will point out the most interesting ones.

However, it is not necessary to go all the way from start to finish. The journey can start and end anywhere. We give a description of the entire route so that you have a choice and information.

The main thing in trips that are organized on your own, there is no strict schedule, hectic group, where someone is always late, there is always not enough time to photograph something. The solo traveler is not tied to a group, a seat on a bus, or an unpleasant fellow traveler. And you can manage your time however you want. Even while on the road, you can change the route, make a stop and admire the unprecedented beauty of the surroundings, turn somewhere to the side, where you noticed something amazingly beautiful and freeze with delight ... You can relax in the park, climb up to the romantic ruins of the castle .. .

Take advantage of our information Guide to the Romantic Road and travel on your own!

This route starts in Würzburg, which is a hundred kilometers from Frankfurt am Main, passes through two dozen picturesque towns Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria and ends in Füssen. Of course, the harsh German landscapes lack the sun, but there is enough romantic flair here. Fields give way to the wooded foothills of the Alps, along the way you come across Bavarian baroque churches, medieval castles, fashion outlets, spa resorts - what else do you need for a pleasant weekend in each other's company?

Foothills of the Bavarian Alps

www.depositphoto.com | pandionhiatus3

In addition, in December, almost every city on this route hosts Christmas markets: with Christmas trees, illuminations, gingerbread and mulled wine, a couple of sips of which can evoke warm feelings even in the most dank weather. Ideally, the journey from Würzburg to Füssen is worth doing in its entirety, but only endurance champions can master the 360 km in two days, even the most important sights. Therefore, it is easier to relax and pay attention to one section of the road.

For example, take a regular flight departing at eight in the morning Aeroflot and fly to Munich in three hours, from where Augsburg, the central point on the Romantic Road, is within easy reach. From Augsburg, you can go north or south - everywhere there is something to see. Traveling along this route is best, of course, by car: for example, on some kind of pickup bmw 2 series or solid bmw3 Gran Turismos. Or rent a frivolous-looking, but at the same time reliable and maneuverable MiniCooper. This Briton with German citizenship (in 1994 the brand Mini I bought bmw), wide wheelbase and small dimensions, making it easy to fit into all the winding mountain turns - this will be especially valuable if you decide to turn into some Bavarian village near Füssen. In addition, salon Mini, at first glance small, in fact it turns out to be quite spacious: even a tall man will be comfortable in the front seat, not to mention his fragile companion.

This car also has low fuel consumption - only 5.7 liters per 100 km, that is, to overcome all 366 km of the Romantic Road, you will need to fill a little more than half of the 44-liter tank. Given that fuel prices in Germany are not the most democratic, as well as the euro against the ruble, such efficiency will be in the hands of any driver. And finally in the salon Mini very pleasant background lighting - it is cozy in it, even if you are driving in pitch darkness (this happens even in Germany).

Route Augsburg-Würzburg

Having reached Augsburg, head straight to the city hall - it would be a crime to leave this city without admiring the Golden Hall with its tapestries, stucco and paintings on the ceilings. If this visit inflames your passion for gold, you can quench it in the numerous jewelry stores that are scattered throughout the center - back in the 15th century, Augsburg gained fame as a city of jewelry masters.

Golden Hall of the City Hall in Augsburg

Passing Harburg, turn into the well-preserved medieval fortress of the princes of Oettingen-Wallerstein - in its entire history it has never been destroyed. Many legends are associated with this place, including the fact that Michael Jackson called it "the castle of his dreams" and tried to buy it out - however, unsuccessfully. A walk through all the premises of the fortress will take only an hour, and impressions will remain for at least a month. In Rothenburg ob der Tauber, it is worth walking through the old town with its fabulously beautiful half-timbered buildings, taking pictures against the background of two ancient towers Plönlein square and buy Christmas tree decorations at the Christmas market located on central square and considered one of the oldest in Germany.

Square in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

gettyimages.com | Westend61

Here you can also try the "Rothenburg snowball" - a dessert made from shortcrust pastry stuffed with nuts or chocolate and sprinkled with powdered sugar. You need to stop by in Weikersheim to see the summer residence of the Hohenlohe dynasty, built in the Renaissance style and surrounded by a large park with numerous sculptures and a greenhouse building. The entrance ticket costs €6.50 and private tour will cost €100. The main cultural point in Bad Mergentheim is considered medieval castle, in which the knights of the Teutonic Order once sat. If you love spas more than history, then you should definitely stay in this city for the night. Four mineral springs glorified Bad Mergentheim as one of the main spa resorts in central Germany. Therefore part romantic weekend it is worth dedicating the thermal complex famous throughout the city and its environs Solymar with five swimming pools, sauna and hammam. Bathing in warm water and hydromassage will be the best reward for travelers tired of a long journey.

If you are equally indifferent to the Teutonic Order and water pleasures, but do not think of a weekend without shopping, stop for an overnight stay in nearby Wertheim to start the next day with a stroll through the outlet center Wertheim Village, where fashion, jewelry and watch brands are sold with discounts of up to 60%. "For sweets" you can go to glass museum(admission costs €4.50), where an exhibition of Christmas decorations takes place throughout December, and you can buy a couple of products from local glassblowers right there. After that, with peace of mind, go to Würzburg and complete the trip with a tour of the magnificent Würzburg residence, included in the list UNESCO World Heritage Site, a walk along the Alte Mainbrücke bridge, decorated with figures of saints, and buying autochthonous wines.

Würzburg residence

The region of Franconia, in which this city is located, is considered one of the main wine-producing regions of Germany, so as a gift it is worth grabbing a sylvaner from here in a traditional flat box-bottle bottle.

Route Augsburg-Füssen

Departing from Augsburg "Romantic Road" to the south, make a stop at Landsberg an der Lech – the views of the Lech River with its rapids are worth taking out your iPhone and taking a couple of shots. Without taking it back, head to the main attraction of the city - the Greasy Tower. In the passage of this stone structure with a tiled roof in the Middle Ages there was a market, and the shadow did not allow the fat sold by merchants to melt - this is how the tower got its name. Another must-see attraction is the fabulous Mother Tower with many balconies and a wooden walkway.

View of the river Lech in Landsberg an der Lech

gettyimages.com | JGPhoto76

It was built by the famous British-German artist, director and car enthusiast Hubert von Herkomer in honor of his mother, who moved from England to Germany in her declining years. Passing by Steingaden, take some time to visit the town of Wies, where the Wieskirche pilgrimage church is located. The splendor of its decoration would have impressed even the inhabitants of the Palace of Versailles.

Pilgrimage Church in Vis

Externally, the creamy white building looks modest, but inside, gilded stucco decorates the painted ceilings, marble columns prop up the vaults of the church, and plaster angels look at visitors from the walls - such a beauty that the question is why this church was included in the list. UNESCO World Heritage Site disappears at first glance. The next and perhaps most important point is the Bavarian castles located in the vicinity of the village of Hoeschwangau. The main one is, of course, the famous Neuschwanstein, built by Ludwig II of Bavaria on a hilltop.

The Romantic Road is perhaps the most famous tourist route in Germany. The road passes through the old German cities from Würzburg to, along the entire road there is a cycle path with a length of about 440 km. I propose to ride a bike with me along the most picturesque southern part of the Romantic Road from to Paiting.

The first time I sat on a bike last year in the Netherlands. I decided to rent a bike and ride from to the museum village and back. It turned out as much as 10 km, it’s ridiculous, of course, but after the trip I was completely delighted, and considering that I can’t stand any sport and physical education, it was also a great achievement for me.

After such a successful experience, I began to go on bike rides on rental bikes and around Moscow on the weekends. I gained a little experience and on my next trip to Normandy I already had two whole cycling days: on and. Upon arrival in Moscow, I decided that it was enough to feed the rental and bought Osya. It is significant that the bike did not begin to gather dust in the closet, like previously purchased roller skates, skates and skis. I drove it quite actively almost until December, I especially liked to ride the Wasp to work. Fortunately, in the office of a well-known German office, with which I then had a contract, there were several showers. On the metro, the journey took 50 minutes, and on the bike, an hour and fifteen, the difference, as you can see, is minimal, but how much fun.

In general, as I dive into the topic, I had a dream. This summer I was going to arrange a bike tour of Europe for two weeks that way. Alas, greed won this time, I got a lot of work, so it was unrealistic to allocate two weeks. But still, I could afford a weekend trip. As you remember, I wrote that the choice fell on Bavaria because of cheap tickets to Munich and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. In fact, this is not entirely true, my choice in the end was determined by the fact that I stumbled upon the Romantic Road. Here are two inspirational links on Vinsky about a bike ride on the Romantic Road:
http://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?f=519&t=194814
http://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?f=519&t=200328
As usual, Vinsky rules, so I won't post it here practical information by tracks, distance, infrastructure and other boring tops, you can find all this at the links above.

After reading these reports, I was fired up to drive the entire 440 km of the Romantic Road in four days. But then I decided to slow down. As I prepared, it turned out that Bavaria is full of beautiful cities, and with my physical fitness, after driving 100 km a day, I would hardly be able to fully walk around the sights. So my route gradually narrowed and eventually shrank to a 50 km segment from to Paiting.

In the last part, I wrote that this plan of mine at least almost failed. After seven hours on my feet and climbing the mountains in the vicinity, I was so exhausted that the upcoming 50 km strained me a little. I already wanted cowardly to take the train, but then I decided to take a ride anyway, and then we'll see. And as soon as I sat on Joseph, the fatigue passed, and considering what landscapes opened up before my eyes, I really didn’t feel like retreating.

So let's go.

The very beginning of the path along the Romantic Road is still visible.

Bavaria fully confirmed the stereotype that "the Germans have order."

First locality on my way to Schwangau.

The modest town hall of Schwangau. But even here there is a small tourist office.

Oh, that's German kitsch.

Drinker for cows.

Pilgrimage Church of St. Colman (1673). What is a pilgrimage church? A little copy-paste, I think it will be true for later German churches.

By the 11th century in Europe (mainly in the south of France and in Spain), pilgrimage centers took shape - they arose at the location of some valuable relic associated with the name of a particularly revered saint. Such churches were designed for a very large number of worshipers.

In this architecture, one feature appears that is characteristic of pilgrimage churches - the choir ( East End basilica from the crossroads) is surrounded by a bypass gallery, which made it possible for the continuous movement of pilgrims. The bypass gallery was covered with cross vaults, as well as the side aisles of the cathedral. A characteristic feature of the pilgrimage churches was the crown of chapels - a series of chapels surrounding the apse, these chapels were intended to display holy relics. Such a system - bypass galleries and a crown of chapels - is becoming widespread in the Romanesque architecture of the mature period and, in a slightly modified, improved form, is also found later, in the architecture of Gothic cathedrals.

There is an excellent cycle path along the route. In fact, a large part of the Romantic Road can be cycled without having to go to the main roads at all.

I promised to lay out my bows. Here we are with Joseph in the background. I remind you that Joseph or Osya, this is my Tern Joe D24 folding bike. After I almost got out of the car a couple of hours before the flight, I did not take off my helmet-basket for the whole trip.

In theory, it was possible to swim, it was hot, and along the road several times came across clear lakes and rivers.

I was expecting more traffic on the Romantic Road. In fact, cyclists came across very rarely. Most of the time I drove all alone on deserted paths.

Progress was greatly slowed down by gorgeous landscapes. I tried at such moments to slow down and enjoy the views. Still, simple twisting was not an end in itself, for me a bike ride was more like a means to finally look at nature, which I usually neglect in Europe in favor of cities.

The bulbs near the churches are almost Russian.

The mountains gradually receded.

A typical house of a Bavarian collective farmer. I actually took the first one I came across in the village, but they are all in that spirit.

Here's another example.

The owner of the farm hung out all the awards of his cows at the entrance.

You should not expect that along the Romantic Road there will be cafes and shops at every step. At the very least, you need to stock up on water. I drove through several sleepy villages until I stumbled upon the only open gas station for twenty kilometers.

To be honest, by this point I was a little exhausted, and I was terribly thirsty. So the store really saved me. I tossed carbs in the form of ice cream and took a couple of liters of water. There was just a fork here. It could be shortcut to go to Paiting, or you could make a detour about twenty kilometers to see the main attraction of this part of the Romantic Road - the pilgrimage church in the village of Vis. After ice cream and a halt, I decided that it’s not good to freebie and decided to definitely get to Wieskirche.

But then a nasty surprise awaited me. A good asphalt bike path ended and a dirt road began. Moreover, the places around have become quite wild. I drove a few kilometers through a real forest. The forest and the country road are nonsense, even interesting, but a long, protracted ascent began.

After each conquered mountain, I began to make halts.

Here on the rise to this village was the most tin. I already cursed the ice cream I ate that got me hooked and my craving for sightseeing a hundred times.

But the rise did not end.

I climbed higher and higher.

Until I met, sorry, a pooping horse. She became a good herald that the most difficult part of the journey is over.

The entire Romantic Road is studded with signs, in principle, you can go without a navigator.

And here, finally, looks out the main goal of my trip.

How far away the Alps already seem.

The pilgrimage church in the village of Wies (German Wieskirche) is one of the main masterpieces of the Bavarian Rococo.

The oval church stands at the foot of the Alps, in Bavaria. The influx of pilgrims to the village of Vis in 1738 was due to the fact that tears appeared on the statue of the grieving Savior. In the house where this miracle happened, a chapel was built two years later, but it could not accommodate everyone who wanted to bow to the relic and be healed of their ailments. Then the nearby Steingaden Abbey decided to build a separate pilgrimage temple in Wies.

The construction of the church lasted from 1745 to 1754. As is the case with other monuments of the Bavarian Rococo, appearance The temple is unpretentious, almost monochrome, which contrasts sharply with the literally gushing stucco interior, which is dominated by light cream tones and elongated, ellipsoidal shapes. The interior of the temple stuns the unprepared traveler, hardly expecting to find such a wasteful, spectacular decoration in a remote shepherd's village - with all this, the architect sought to convey a sense of the spontaneity of religious ecstasy.

I, like a fool, walked around the church with my jaw dropped, so she led me into ecstasy.

I was also lucky, because. I got to the wedding.

Great place.

And outwardly, indeed, a relatively modest structure.

From the Wieskirche a long descent began. I literally flew the next five kilometers to the nearest town of Steingaden. So I didn't even film anything.

Since I saved so much time on the descent, I decided to ride around the city. First of all, I was surprised to stumble upon a monument to the dead fascists. Looking closer, I realized that this is a monument in honor of the Germans who died in the First World War, it was just that the shape of the helmet confused me.

The main attraction of Steingaden is the monastery of the same name. The church at the Welfenmünster monastery was built in the strict Romanesque style in 1170. But the interior, like the church in the village of Vis, is chic rococo.

In the year 1730, the following happened in the Bavarian monastery of Steingaden: a fifteen-year-old student at the monastery, clearly suffering from a lack of respect for holy things, fearlessly climbed onto the roof, onto the crucifix, and began to pull the figure of Christ by the beard. As soon as those present began to recover from the astonishment caused by unprecedented blasphemy, when, to their horror, the figure of Jesus Christ began to move, the chains attached to His arms and legs rattled, causing such a roar that the criminal fell to the ground from fright. He was shaking all over, and his lips were foaming. It was a great miracle that had an educational value for young people, because for this there are miracles and visions, in order to teach a person something. And to give him strength in the face of the dangers that await him, for in such incidents he feels the close presence of God.

To the right is the roof of a 12th-century Romanesque chapel.

Wonderful town, did not regret spending twenty minutes on it.

From Steingaden to Peiting, the section of the Romantic Road seemed to me a little less interesting than at the beginning of the journey. There was no separate bike path here, the route passed along local roads. Along the road stretched already fed up with the ideal rural landscapes of Bavaria.

What's wrong with this cow?

The Alps have almost disappeared over the horizon.

After four hours of screwing, I was very happy to see the Paiting sign.

I arrived in Paiting an hour and a half before the scheduled time, so I decided to drive around the city for a bit.

Physically, I felt better than in the middle of the day after going to, but my brain no longer perceived anything, so the tour of Paiting did not work out.

Instead of spiritual food, I chose material food. I was already so lazy to choose a cafe that I stopped by the first open establishment that came across. The establishment turned out to be a Greek restaurant, but I no longer wanted to leave, especially after a trip to Greek cuisine I had pleasant memories. Yes, and besides, the owner, the Greek, was very courteous, and when he found out that I was Russian, I was in, and I also know five words in Greek, his courtesy turned directly into some kind of gushing friendliness.

In addition to me, a typical burgher of about sixty was sitting in the cafe. He, too, was drawn into the conversation and turned out to be even more amiable than the Greek. I said that I was going to Augsburg, the German, by coincidence, also turned out to be from there. We talked with him about the history of this still Roman city, then we discussed football, Putin, and for some reason Norway. The Greek was apparently offended that I had found a new friend and they began to argue with the German for me, the Greek offered to stay with him in Peiting, the German invited guests to Augsburg.

At the same time, I sat and quietly went nuts from the Bavarian hospitality. Before that, I already had symptoms that the Germans in Bavaria were somehow fantastically polite, hospitable and very sociable. On the bike path they constantly greeted me, on the train they helped me to drag the bike, suggested how to tie it, etc., waiters, shop assistants, just fellow travelers in transport always tried to chat with me. As an introvert and sociophobe, of course, it’s much more pleasant for me to just sit quietly, take pictures, read Facebook. Therefore, such constant communication throughout this trip bothered me a little. On the other hand, to be honest, such attention to my person was partly pleasant.

My gatherings ended with the fact that the Greek invited me this autumn almost for free to his sister's hotel in Corfu, and the German ran after me and shouted that he would pray for my good trip and claimed that he saw an angel (!) on my steering wheel, whom he called there by the power of his prayer.

My journey along the Romantic Road ended at the Peiting-Nord station, it was time to take the train to Augsburg. I checked the tracker, and found out that I had covered about 70 km in a day. The first day in Bavaria came out very eventful: Munich, castle, Romantic road. It was not yet the end of the day, because in Augsburg, I went to watch football at night in some provincial and slightly lumpen biergarten on the outskirts. But about Augsburg will be in the next part, see you.

Velobaveriya 2014:
1.

The Romantic Road is considered one of the oldest tourist routes in Germany. It has been in existence for over 60 years. The route got its name during World War II. The importance of the Romantic Road is evidenced by the fact that every year hundreds of thousands of tourists travel along it. The secret of such popularity is simple: educational tourism blends well with beautiful landscapes. In addition, during the trip you can visit festivals that are held several times a year. Beer, culinary, wine, theatrical and knightly holidays begin in April and go until late autumn.

The company "Europabus" organizes along the Romantic Road bus travel. These tours start from the train stations in Frankfurt and Munich and last 13 hours. Tourists travel along the route on comfortable buses, accompanied by professional guides.

During the bus tour, stops along the way are very short, so most of travelers prefer to explore the beauty of the Romantic Road on their own, moving by car, bicycle or on foot. The pedestrian sections of the route are marked with blue markers, the sections for cyclists are green, and those for motorists are marked in brown.

Saturated educational program in demand among tourists of all ages. IN bike tours Youth companies prefer to go along the Romantic Road, bus tours older tourists like it more, and car trips are chosen by family groups and friendly companies. In addition, the German route is suitable for romantic trips, and many newlyweds and experienced couples pass along it.

Attractions of the Romantic Road

The Romantic Road begins in Würzburg, a city nestled among extensive Franconian vineyards in the Main Valley. In Würzburg, a castle on a hill has been preserved - the ancient fortress of Marienberg, as well as the Würzburg residence, which is recognized as one of the best European baroque monuments. In addition, in this city you can see several beautiful baroque temples.

The ancient city in the Tauber Valley - Tauberbischofsheim - is distinguished big amount half-timbered houses and narrow streets that have preserved the mysterious atmosphere of the Middle Ages. His business cards are watch tower Hungerturm and the Palace of the Elector-Archbishop of Kurmainz. Now in ancient palace housed the rich collections of the local history museum.

Lauda-Königshofen is considered one of the wine-producing centers of Germany. On its streets there are several majestic temples built at a time when the Franconian baroque shone.

The next town on the Romantic Road is Bad Mergentheim. It remained in German history as the residence of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. The powerful Hochmeister (Grand Master) lived here from 1527 to 1809. Almost two centuries ago, the city turned into a health center, thanks to the bitter-salty springs, which are used to treat various diseases. In Bad Mergentheim, the Palace-residence of the Grand Master and the Renaissance Town Hall on the Market Square have been preserved.

Weikersheim has several attractions. Travelers on the Romantic Road can see the baroque castle and park that belonged to the powerful Hohenlohe family, the medieval Market Square, the museum of village life and the church of St. George, built at the beginning of the 15th century.

Röttingen is 35 km away from Würzburg. The small town is located in the south of Lower Franconia and is surrounded by ancient fortifications (Stadtmauer). central part Röttingen is adorned with half-timbered houses, a beautiful baroque town hall, Brattenstein Castle and the late Romanesque church of St. Kilian. An interesting tourist route "The Road of the Sundial" is laid along the city streets. For 2 km, travelers can see a sundial of different designs and designs. Story small town Kreglingen is 1000 years old. In the local temple of the Lord God, you can see a wooden altar created by the famous German sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider, who worked in the late Gothic era (early 16th century). The filigree carved altar depicts the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

cozy and beautiful city Rothenburg ob der Tauber introduces travelers along the Romantic Road to the tall Town Hall Tower, the Gothic St. James Basilica, the Imperial City Museum, the German Christmas Museum and the Museum of Medieval Forensic Science. Here you can also see a picturesque half-timbered building - the forge of Gerlach.

Schillingsfürst has the status of the residence city of the most influential people of its time Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst. From the huge Baroque palace, built in the middle of the XVIII century, there is an excellent view of the Franconian Highlands and the winding city streets. In addition, the city is famous for the Bavarian Falcon Court, where they demonstrate training flights and performances of birds of prey.

IN historical center the ancient city of Feuchtwangen, you can see the perfectly preserved medieval buildings. Its architectural dominants are Market Square with the Town Hall and the picturesque Rorenbrunnen fountain. This part of Feuchtwangen is so beautiful that it is often referred to as the "front gate of Franconia".

Dinkelsbühl was built in the Wernitz river valley. The old part of the city is dominated by the cathedral, consecrated in honor of St. George. Tower gothic cathedral was built in the second half of the 15th century and has a height of 62 m.

Next, the Romantic Road of Germany passes through the city of Wallerstein. It stands at the foot of a high hill, from which opens beautiful view to the valley of the river Fig. People come here to see the Plague or Trinity Column, the Church of St. Alban, the castle park and the majestic "New Castle".

In Nördlingen, medieval buildings have been almost completely preserved. The city is interesting because along the wall ancient fortifications you can walk around all the streets and quarters. The circular fortress wall in Nördlingen is the only one in the country, and a separate museum is dedicated to it.

Medieval Harburg lies between the valley of the river Wernitz and the hill on which the fortified castle stands. Behind long history it was never destroyed and today is one of the best preserved German fortresses.

The city of Rhine on the Lech River was first mentioned in 1257. In those days, it served as a fortress that protected the northwestern borders of Bavaria. Parts of the fortress walls and the Swabian Gate have been preserved from the old fortifications. In addition, here you can see picturesque burgher houses of the 17th-18th centuries and the Church of St. John the Baptist (1480).

Augsburg lies 50 km from the Rhein. More than two thousand years ago, the city was founded by decree of the Roman Emperor Augustus. Inside Augsburg stands the Fuggerei - a kind of "city within a city", consisting of a temple and 67 houses, which are surrounded by fortress walls. Augsburg keeps the memory of the father of Wolfgang Mozart - Leopold Mozart, as well as the famous German playwright Bertolt Brecht.

In Friedberg, in addition to the remains of the old fortress, you can see the Marienplatz square decorated with a fountain. On it are the column of the Virgin Mary and the building of the Town Hall (Friedberger Rathaus), erected in the Renaissance.

The Bavarian city of Landsberg stands on the Lech River. Its history goes back about 700 years, so Landsberg has the status of the most young city on the Romantic Road. In addition to medieval buildings, the building of the prison in which Adolf Hitler served his sentence has been preserved here.

The municipality of Hohenfurch looks very cozy. This is a village in alpine foothills began its history in 1280. Among the white facades of private houses and bright roofs, the Church of the Assumption of St. Mary stands out.

The ancient town of Schongau in the Middle Ages was surrounded by a fortress wall, from which only a fragment 1.5 km long has survived to this day. The city has a small castle and the popular Drei Hasen brewery, where travelers are offered to taste freshly brewed beer.

Paiting is often referred to as an "open air museum". This city on the Romantic Road has several picturesque churches, narrow streets and old buildings. The local museum, which tells about the evolution of skiing, is very popular among tourists.

Rottenbuch is an old village with beautiful natural landscapes side by side with amazing beauty architectural monuments. special attention deserve the interiors of the Church of the Nativity Holy Mother of God built at the Augustinian monastery. From the village open great views to the tops of the Alps.

The municipality of Wildsteig is a mining community and consists of a village and adjoining small farms. It is inhabited by only 1300 people, so this place does not have the status of a city. Wildsteig is known as a spa destination and the start of routes to mountain lake Schweigsee and the picturesque waterfalls that are located on the Ammer River.

The city of Steingaden has sights of a European scale. About 1 million pilgrims annually visit the local church of the Flagellation of Christ Wieskirche. Its name translates as "temple in the meadow", and the design of the church is considered a model of the Bavarian rococo.

The commune of Halblech is often referred to as the "village of royal castles". It is surrounded by four lakes and the territory of the Ammer Mountains nature reserve, and the surroundings of the village abound hiking trails. From here close to the world famous castle Neuschwanstein, standing on the lands of the commune of Schwangau. The name of the castle in German means "new swan cliff". Today, the former residence of the Bavarian ruler Ludwig II has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the southern part of the country.

Another, no less famous castle Hohenschwangau ("high swan land") is located near the village of Schwangau, north of the border with Austria. Castle buildings, which can be seen today, appeared in the 30s of the XIX century.

The romantic road ends in the city of Füssen, located right at the foot of the Alps, at an altitude of 800 to 1200 m above sea level. The history of the city began in the 3rd century, and in the 16th century, local violin makers created the first guild of violin and lute makers in Europe in Fussen. In the city you can see the medieval abbey of St. Magnus and the Bishops' Castle.

Holidays and festivals

planning independent travel along the German Romantic Road, many tourists try to take into account the dates of the annual celebrations and festivals that take place in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. It is always interesting to visit a local holiday: it is an opportunity to have fun, get to know cultural traditions Germans, as well as taste dishes and drinks of Bavarian cuisine. In addition, many festivals bring together participants not only from different parts of Germany, but also from other countries.

In the northernmost city of the Romantic Road - Würzburg - every year, from April to November, several wine festivals take place, where you can taste vintage wines made by local winemakers. The town of Lauda-Königshofen offers the Königshöfer Messe and the annual Keep It True heavy metal festival.

At the end of May in the center small town Feuchtwangen hosts the Altstadtfest. During it, tourists can taste local cuisine and products of breweries. In the same Bavarian city, an open-air theater festival is held.

In early autumn, classical music concerts are organized at Neuschwanstein Castle. Fussen, in turn, becomes the center of several holidays at once. Here is the Imperial holiday - Kaiserfest, jazz festival and the String Instrument Festival.

How to get there

Closest to the beginning of the route (the city of Würzburg) is Frankfurt Airport, and to the end of the journey (city of Füssen) is Munich Airport. From these cities begin Bus tours along the Romantic Road.

Many tourists prefer to drive along the popular tourist route on their own - by car or bicycle. In addition, most of the cities along the Romantic Road can be reached by train.

Vladimir Dergachev

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Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Medieval streets in the hospital district. In the distance (on the left) the Ziberskaya Tower is visible.

romantic road (Romantische Strasse) is the most famous tourist route in Germany. The "Romantic Road" stretches from the Main River through Franconia, Bavarian Swabia and Upper Bavaria to the Alpine peaks. This road, 366 km long from Würzburg am Main to the Neuschwanstein swan castle, united ancient castles, ancient monasteries, emerald meadows and vineyards. It is better to travel along this route in pairs, or in threes if you are lovers of German beer or wine.
The tourist route starts in Würzburg, but you can start from anywhere on the Romantic Road. So we did, visiting, first of all, swan castle in the Alps.

Würzburg(134 thousand inhabitants), founded approximately at the beginning of the 8th century, is the center of the Roman Catholic diocese of the same name. Since the Middle Ages free city Würzburg was one of the largest in Thrace. In 1945, British air raids almost destroyed old City, but the hardworking Germans restored it.

Würzburg has much to be proud of. In 1127, the first German lands jousting tournament, and almost eight centuries later, the great physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, when he was rector of the local university, discovered special (X-ray) rays here. But the Franconian city is especially proud of its vineyards and medieval winemaking traditions. The annual Wurzburger Weinfest in May is dedicated to this.

Road of Romantics

Fortress Marienberg- the main attraction of the city. From 1253 to 1719 the fortress was the residence of the prince-bishops of Würzburg. The fortress houses the Museums of Maine Franconia.

Local Julius Maxemilian University, founded in 1402, is one of the classic university towns in Germany with a budget of about 300 million euros. The pride of the university is 8 Nobel laureates for discoveries made here in the field of physics, chemistry and medicine, and 5 laureates whose discoveries are associated with the university.
The university, at the dawn of its youth, fell into decline due to unworthy funding and the dissolute lifestyle of students (the same thing happens). The university was reopened in 1582.

In the 2013 academic year, 25,000 students studied here, including 12,000 future school teachers and 3,000 future doctors. The teaching staff includes about 400 professors and over 2 thousand scientists.

The university is a member Coimbra group, uniting since 1985 38 oldest and most distinguished European universities. The organization is headquartered in Brussels. This group includes Göttingen, Heidelberg, Jena and other German universities.

Traveling along the Romantic Road, it is necessary to stay in Augsburg for at least two days.

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Here you should visit the family houses of Mozart, Brecht and Diesel, watch performances puppet theaters and try the local Datschiburger Torte.
Leopold Mozart, the father of the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was born and lived in the Mozart House Museum until the family moved to Salzburg.

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Traveling along the Romantic Road, you can hear many legends about happy or tragic love.

Perhaps the most famous and legendary Agnes Bernauer(~ 1410-1435) was born in the family of an Augsburg bath attendant. The future Duke Albrecht in February 1428 at a tournament (evil tongues say that in a bathhouse) in Augsburg fell in love with a golden-haired beauty and could not part with her. Agnes became the legal wife and played an important role at the court of the heir. His father, Duke Ernst, could not bear that his only heir cohabited with a woman of low birth. Therefore, when in 1435 Albrecht went hunting, his father ordered Agnes to be captured. A hasty court accused Agnes of having bewitched, bewitched Albrecht. Accusation of witchcraft in the 15th century was a serious matter.

"Witches" were burned at the stake or drowned in the river. From " mercy" Agnes was sentenced to a less painful execution through a "trial by water". right hand the convict was tied to her left leg, and her left to her right leg, and thrown into the river. If a woman drowned, then she was recognized as innocent (the water did not accept the "unclean person"). With a large gathering of people, Agnes was thrown from the bridge into the waters of the Danube. Since the executioner tied his hands badly, the victim managed to free himself and tried to swim out. Then she was drowned a second time. In the future, German witches and sorceresses were burned, fastened with iron chains to a pole, it was more reliable and spectacular.

After the execution of Albrecht's beloved, a thirst for revenge took possession, but after a few months he changed his mind and married in 1436 Anna von Brunswick, daughter of Duke Erich I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen-Einbeck. The marriage produced ten children.

In 1436, Duke Ernst ordered the construction of a chapel in honor of his first unfortunate lover, which received the name Agnes.

The tragic fate of Agnes has always attracted the attention of artists and poets. The sentimental story is embodied in numerous poems and prose, staged on the stage, in the French feature film "The Judgment of God". In 1961, the Franco-Italian film "Famous Love Stories" was filmed from three short stories. In the short story "Agnes Bernauer" the main character was played by Brigitte Bardot, and the Duke of Albrecht was played by Alain Delon.
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In the next cycle of posts, we will visit only one city, located in the middle of the route on the Romantic Road - Rothenburg ob der Tauber.