Neckarsteinach Valley

Fortified castles, alpine peaks, lakes, half-timbered houses, vineyards, forests … From the Black Forest to Bavaria via the Rhine valley, Germany has fabulous routes where the beauty of the countryside rivals the richness of the heritage. Here are 5 road trips to live just across the Rhine, just to get away from it all without going far…

Created in the 1950s, the Romantic Road crosses Bavaria from north to south, between the cities of Würtzburg (Lower Franconia) and Füssen in the Alps. Today it is one of the routes most used by tourists across the Rhine. By car, it is impossible to lose sight of it, its 350 km are dotted with brown “Romantische Straße” signs. To make the most of Bavaria’s landscapes, by making a few detours, you can also discover it by bicycle (a 440 km journey) or on foot (approximately 500 km).

The superb Residence in Würtzburg, in Lower Franconia, sets the tone straight away. Here is a baroque palace of the 18th century, surrounded by extensive gardens and UNESCO World Heritage Site. In short, something to inspire romantic souls …

A hundred kilometers south, you enter the valley Tauber, dotted with forests, meadows and vineyards. The opportunity to taste the wines of the region: Silvaner, Muller-Thurgau, Dornfelder, Riesling noir … Overlooking the river, Rothenburg ob der Tauber seems out of a fairy tale. This city, which passes for one of the prettiest in Germany, has hardly changed since the Renaissance. Very touristic.

Nördlingen

A stop at Dinkelsb ü hl shows that, in this medieval city with imposing ramparts, time also seems to have stopped. The charming Nördlingen, with its half-timbered houses, is also worth a visit, as is Augsburg where the birthplaces of Leopold Mozart (father of the musician prodigy) and the playwright Bertolt Brecht are to be found.

Further south, Steingaden is home to one of the most beautiful Rococo churches in the country: at the foot of the Alps, the oval church of Wies is crisscrossed with frescoes and stucco ornaments. Nearby, on a high rock 200 m, stands the extravagant castle of Neuschwanstein, built in the 19th century by the mad king Ludwig II. One of the icons of Germany, which attracts crowds from all over the world, a few km from Füssen , the last stop on the route.

German Alpine Route: from Lake Constance to Berchtesgaden

To gain height in Germany, head for the Alpine road, which leaves from Lindau on the shores of Lake Constance, to the Berchtesgaden National Park, near Salzburg, Austria. This route covers Bavaria from west to east for around 450 km at an average height of 1,000 m.

Three majestic lakes line the German route to the Alps: on one side, Lake Constance (or Bodensee), the third largest in Europe, located on the border with Switzerland and Austria. It immediately seduces with its mild climate, its small villages, its vineyards and its orchards. At the other end of the route, surrounded by steep mountains and located 600 m above sea level, the Königssee is reminiscent of the fjords of Norway. Its waters are renowned for their cleanliness and clarity, but also their echo … Halfway, the Chiemsee, the largest lake in Germany nicknamed the ”  Bavarian Sea ” , is known for its islands, one of which shelters the one of the castles built by Louis II: the Herrenchiemsee.

Little Red Riding Hood’s house in Oberammergau

Mentioned for the first time in 1879, the German Alpine Route passes through high places of Bavarian tourism: the famous castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof, built by Louis II of Bavaria, or the quaint town of Oberammergau , with its houses painted in the “Lüftelmalerei” style.

At the foot of the summit of the Zugspitze, the “roof of Germany” at 2,962 m, unfolds the famous Alpine resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen which hosted the Olympic Games of 1936 in sad memory. Then, the road crosses Bavaria to Berchtesgaden and its magnificent national park, a hot spot for hiking.

Black Forest Scenic Route

The Black Forest mountain range in south-west Germany is traversed by a 70 km scenic route from Waldkirch to Feldberg. It takes several passes and largely follows the route of the national road B 500 in the middle of the greenery.

It begins with numerous bends which lead to Kandel (1,243 m) with a vertical drop of 1,000 m. Between the mountains and the ridges nestle, over the valleys, postcard landscapes, with mountains, forests, villages and dapper houses.

The first stage, Waldkirch, is renowned for its barrel organ manufacturers. The ruins of its castle can be visited. This is an opportunity to have a beautiful view of the city. Further on, in St Peter, a pretty village nestled in the hollow of the greenery, we will not fail to visit the Benedictine abbey.

Lake Titisee

On a mountain plateau between the summits of Kandel and Feldberg, here is a small village of 2,000 inhabitants: St Märgen, a good base for great hikes in the region. The route then continues through the village of Breitnau and Hinterzarten, a winter sports resort. Popular discipline of the place: ski jumping.

Before reaching the Feldberg (highest point in the Black Forest, 1493 m), the panoramic Black Forest route takes a detour via Titisee-Neustadt. This typical village is located on the north coast of Lake Titisee , suitable for swimming in summer and ice skating in winter. Also, in winter, the snow-covered slopes become the playground for skiers and snowboarders. Another popular activity in Titisee-Neustadt: hunting cuckoo clocks in souvenir shops …

German fortress route: from Mannheim to the Czech border

Fancy a foray into a medieval universe filled with history, tales and legends? You have to follow the German fortress route, which is more than 1,000 km long. Over 70 hp â cakes, red residences and fortresses punctuate the route that crosses Germany from west to east. We can even extend the road trip to Prague.

Top start in the Baden-Württemberg region, in Mannheim. This large city of 300,000 inhabitants is the seat of one of the largest baroque castles ever built. Mannheim Castle had the ambition to compete with the Palace of Versailles. It was completely rebuilt after the Second World War.

After admiring the elegance of the palace in Schwetzingen, head to the Neckar valley and Heidelberg, a city with incredible charm. On the Königstuhl hill, the red sandstone castle contrasts with the green landscape. Curiosity of places: the largest barrel in the world. In Neckarsteinach, still in the Neckar valley, no less than four fortresses dominate the city!

Bamberg

In Bavaria, after the picturesque village of Rothenburg obder Tauber the castle route crosses the picturesque region of Franconia. Mandatory stop in Nuremberg, a city marked by history, where a castle is located which was one of the imperial residences under the Holy Roman Empire.

60 km north of Nuremberg, we are seduced by Bamberg, one of the most beautiful Bavarian cities with its old town listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. Last German leg of the route: Bayreuth, the capital of Upper Franconia, well known to Richard Wagner’s fans. In addition to its modest appearance palace of the 18th century, one should definitely visit the famous Opera Margrave, one of the most beautiful halls in Europe.

Romantic Rhine Valley Route: Bingen to Koblenz

The valley é e Upper Middle Rhine, called the “Romantic Rhine” has fascinated artists, Friedrich Schlegel William Turner forgetting Lord Byron and Richard Wagner. It was on its shores was born the the e legend of the Lorelei, a mermaid perched on a rock 130 meters high, where the Rhine is the narrowest and where several shipwrecks occurred. The character of Lorelei inspired Heinrich Heine one of the most famous poems in German literature.

The 65 km of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley has been listed as World Heritage by Unesco as the scenery is spectacular, between Koblenz and Bingen. It must be said that it is one of the most beautiful regions in Germany. The Rhine winds between steep hills covered with vines, on its banks there are picturesque villages, forests, rocky peaks sometimes crowned with castle ruins.

Among the essential stops, the magnificent ruins of the Burg Rheinfels with their panorama over the meanders of the Rhine, just above the dapper village of St Goar (beautiful view of the Lorelei rock ); the medieval city of Braubach , surrounded by vineyards and dominated by the medieval castle of Marksburg, or the fortress of Pfalzgrafenstein , built on the small island of Falkenau, in the middle of the Rhine. And, just before the valley, do not miss the delicious villages of R ü desheim and Bingen and their renowned white wines. One of them is also the home of the Mouse Tower, a tower where mice have eaten the Archbishop Hatton.

At the end of the route, the city of Koblenz is worth a stop for the headland Deutsches Eck with the equestrian statue of Emperor William, which marks the spot where the Moselle joins the Rhine.

Note that the Upper Middle Rhine Valley can also be explored by boat. In summer, during the Rhein in Flammen event, the romantic Rhine is illuminated by Bengal lights and fireworks. The river, bordered by fortresses and castles, glows red. Superb!

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