Romantic Road

Through beautiful landscapes, walled mideval towns and villages with castles made famous in fairy tales like Grimms, the romantic road flows across the Bavaria countryside. From Wurtzburg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber through Dinkelsbuhl and eventually arriving in Fussen, the Romantic Road, a mideval trade route, winds through countryside connecting walled towns and picturesque villages. Adding to the romance, Medieval Festivals, Shepards Dances, and Fairytale Castles are prevalent in this part of Germany. As you move toward Fussen at the end of this journey, the Bavarian Alps and one of the most romantic castles in the world add to the magic of this beautiful land.

Wurzburg

We start our romantic journey in the town of Wurzburg home of the 15th century master wood carver Tilman Riemenschneider and famous 17th century architect Balthasar Neumann who designed the Residenz Palace. The major attractions in Wurzburg are the Residenz Palace, the beautiful carved wood alters in the churches, and the Marienberg Fortress.

Rothenburg

Driving through the pastoral countryside approaching Rothenburg, you'll imagine the reaction of medieval travelers approaching this town. From the town's tower, you'll have an incomparable view of the beauty surrounding the town. Whether you're walking the town's walls or taking the night watch walk, Rothenburg, the best preserved medieval town in Germany has a romance all its own.

Shopping in the town, you'll definitely want to visit Kathe Wolfhart's Christkindle Market to see traditional crafts from this part of Germany. You'll also want to see the "Shepard's Dance" show in the town square. There's also the Rothenburg Crime Museum where you can see a display of medieval torture and execution instruments.

Fussen, Neuschwanstein Castle

The most romantic of all castles in the hearts of Americans is the Cinderella's castle in the Disney Theme parks. Cinderella's castle was modeled after a number of European castles but mostly for Neuschwanstein Castle in Fussen, Germany. Sitting high above the Alpsee, this castle is by far the most loved and well known castle in Bavaria. Built by King Ludwig, this castle is perfect for both summer and winter photography. The castle is easily reachable via motor car (about an hour's drive from Garmisch).

Oberammergau Area

Oberammergau

This Bavarian town is famous for it's production of a passion play which began when the village was spared from the bubonic plague. Oberammergau also has a long tradition for its woodcarving. Dozens of woodcarver shops line its streets.

"Luftlmalerei" (frescoed) houses of fairy tales, religious stories and folklore line the streets throughout the city with depictions of "Hansel and Gretel", "Peter and the Wolf" and many other stories.

The passion play is conducted every 10 years and is known worldwide as an event to see. The play is performed in the town's 5000 seat Passion Play Theater with an open air stage.

Linderhof Castle

Located in the quiet hills surrounded by beautiful gardens is Linderhof Castle. Originally built as a private hunting lodge and later expanded to include the grounds it occupies today it quickly became quite elegant. The inspiration for Linderhof came after King Ludwig visited Versailles in France. The French inspiration is evident in the courtyards and fountains on the grounds.

The castle was built over a period of 4 years and was completed in 1878. The grounds have terraced gardens, fountains with water feature statuary, and pathways through the gardens. Statuary in the fountain includes a golden statue of Flora. In the back of the castle is the Neptune fountain with a statue of Neptune riding three horses. Also on the grounds is a Moorish Kiosk with a peacock's throne.

Inside, the castle is very beautiful with the royal bedroom having golden candelabras, a beautiful chandelier and beautiful drapes. The dining room is complete with a table that lowers through the floor so the King would not have to be on the same level with his servents. Another striking event is the Hall of Mirrors which invokes the illusion of a never ending avenue. This room was used as a livingroom where the king read because the mirrors reflected the candle light. There is also an audience chamber which was used as a study where the king worked on his other building projects.

You'll want to see Linderhof Castle.

Ettal Abbey

Down the mountain from Oberammergau is the small town of Ettal, the location of the Etal Abbey. You'll want to see the glorious frescos in this beautiful church which are some of the most beautiful in Europe. As you drive into the little town of Ettal, you'll see little that appears to be of interest except for a few souvenir stands and restaurants. You'll see a yellow wall and should immediately search for a place to park. As you walk through a small arch, you'll see the domed structure of the abbey, and a simple courtyard or grass lawns and evergreens.

Look to the heavens when you enter the domed church. You'll see some of the most glorious frescos in all of Europe painted on the ceilings. The history of this Benedictine Abbey dates back to 1330.

Through the years, the abbey brewed a number of traditional Bavarian beers. The best known is the "Ettaler" brand. You can purchase a number of the beers in the souvenir stands. Also in the stands, you'll find mostly religious items including hand carved crucifixes, nativities, and other religious items. You'll also find beer steins of all types and shapes including beautiful ones in Pewter.

Mittenwald

Nestled on the Austrian border near the Isar River, Mittenwald is one of my favorites in all Bavaria. A colorful village full of "Luftlmalerei" (frescoed) houses, Mittenwald is remembered as a town where violins are made. The statue of Mathias Klotz in the center of town and the violin factory on a nearby street are reminders of this artistic heritage.

The town straddles the old commercial route from Germany via Seefeld plateau southward into Italy. Only fifteen minutes away is the Austrian ski resort of Seefeld.

The beautiful natural setting at the base of the Wetterstein and Karwendel mountain ranges is a key attraction for those wanting to hike along the lakes and foothills of the breathtaking mountains. In the winter, skiing is only 15 minutes away at Seefeld. For most of the year, you can also take a breathtaking cable car ride to the top of the Zubsptiz.

A horse drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered winter woods is available to those who are inclined. The scenery around Mittenwald is among the most beautiful in the world.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

When vacationing to Bavaria, you may want to center yourself in regards to a place to stay and launch trips to many of the attractions. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is well situated for this purpose. Garmisch is a great place to stay in both the winter and summer. It's a great location for launching via train to skiing in the winter and provides great access to locations for hiking in the summer. Garmisch has a number of hotels and guesthouses for lodging and numerous restaurants.

From Garmisch, its a very short excursion to Oberammergau, Etal Abbey, Linderhof Castle, Mittenwald and many or the other attractions described on this page.