THIS IS A CLASSIC GERMAN ROAD TRIP filled with churches, castles and half-timbered houses, a drive that takes you ROMANTIC ROUTE– through mountains, pristine farmland and bustling cities. The itinerary begins in Munich and continues to one of the MUNICH TO FRANKFURTfinest of Mad King Ludwig II’s castles. From there, it’s on to the “Romantische Strasse,” or “Romantic Road.” Linking Füssen in the Allgaü Alps with the Baroque splendors of Würzburg in the wine country of , this was a

WÜRZBURG route favored by Romans, crusaders and pilgrims. The 350-mile-long Romantic Road passes through some of the most important historic towns in , such as WERTHEIM FRANKFURT- AM-MAIN Dinkelsbühl, Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber and Nördlingen, towns that evoke a true medieval ambiance, or “Gemütlichkeit.” These are towns where a centuries-old Rathaus, or town hall, is but one of many preserved buildings. Then it’s ROTHENBURG- on to Baden-Baden, Germany’s most sophisticated OB-DER-TAUBER and historic spa town. From there, head to the

FUCHTWANGEN well-preserved university town of Heidelberg DINKELSBÜHL before ending in Frankfurt, the financial crossroads of Germany. HEIDELBERG

NÖRDLINGEN

AUGSBURG MUNICH

BADEN-BADEN LANDSBERG

FÜSSEN ©MICHELIN from Map No. 984 Germany. NEUSCHWANSTEIN Permission No. 02-US-002 ROMANT IC ROUT E–MUNICH T O FRANKFURT

(Mileage is estimated from each preceding the aid of a stage designer. It is architectural 7 miles city or site. Before you begin your trip, madness, a mish-mash of Byzantine, – This town has Romanesque and Gothic styles. Ludwig, Romanesque cloisters that become an open-air please note: For space reasons, we could who was later certified insane, died before not provide the most detailed map with theater in summer. In December, it has one the castle was finished. But the completed of ’s most colorful Christmas markets, this brochure. We recommend the use of rooms are marvels of craftsmanship and known as a Weihnachtsmarkt. Michelin Map #984 Germany in detail, decorated with references to Wagner’s operas. The best viewing spot of the castle’s boasts gold-leaf pillars and a marble floor, conjunction with this guide.) To order is a reminder of when the Fugger banking Michelin maps, call 1-800-223-0987. exterior is from the nearby Marienbrücke, or 44 miles 19 miles Mary’s Bridge, which spans a gorge. dynasty made one of the finan- NÖRDLINGENcial centers– Nördlingenof Europe. Byprospered all means climROTHENBURG-OB-DER-TAUBERb – betweenup the the 14th Perlachtur and 16thm, centuries,a tower that rewardsRothenburg-ob-der-Tauber may well be MUNICH– Begin by flying to Franz-Josef when it youheld with a Whitsun fine views Fair. fro Tmhe thegood top. Germany’s best-preserved medieval town, a Strauss airport and then consider staying 2 miles times disappeared, but you can thank place of turreted fortifications, 24 towers in Munich for a few days. The city of BMWs that turn of events for preserving the and winding cobblestone streets. Tour the and beer, Munich is a “millionendorf,” literally FÜSSEN– Sitting high above the town’s medieval heart. Consequently, city’s 14th-century ramparts to get a real a village of a million or so people. You can Lech River, Füssen is a health resort and Nördlingen is one of the most popular sense of the town, and its half-timbered see masterpieces by Albrecht Dürer and the first stop on the Romantic Road. Walk stops along the Romantic Road. You buildings with gabled roofs, turrets and Leonardo da Vinci at the Alte Pinakothek, down the town’s cobbled main street, the can walk the entire circuit of the town spires. Visit the Puppen & Spielzeug check out the high-fashion emporiums Reichenstrasse. Pause at the Benedictine walls, passing its towers and gates. Museum, which boasts the largest along the Maximilian-strasse or stroll in abbey of St. Mang, whose Baroque rooms The Marktplatz has a Rathaus that doll and toy collection in Germany. the English garden, Munich’s famous city now serve as a museum. Or attend a show dates from Nördlingen’s heyday. The St. Jakobskirche is the town’s park. Even if you’re not here during at the König-Ludwig-Musical-Festspielhaus, If you’re feeling fit, climb the splendid Gothic church. Inside you can Oktoberfest, there are beer gardens which hosts year-round performances of a stairs of the Daniel Tower of the see the “Heiligblut” or Holy Blood where lederhosen and feathered hats are musical based upon the life of the mad king. St. Georgskirche, the town’s late- altar, carved by sculptor still worn, Bavarian-style brews reign Gothic church. If you’re spend- Tilman Riemenschneider to supreme and the weisswurst is tasty. ing the night, throw open your hold what was alleged to be hotel window around ten so 38 miles drops of Christ’s blood. Not sur- you can hear the town crier prisingly, it attracted legions of LANDSBERG-AM-LECH– Landsberg shout “So g’sell” or “All’s well.” medieval pilgrims. The sloping became a regional center in the middle ages Marktplatz is dominated by 64 miles and was an important trading town. Be sure the arcaded front of the NEUSCHWANSTEIN– Born in Bavaria and walk the Stradtrundgang, a signposted Renaissance Rathaus, which is in 1845, King Ludwig II ascended to the circular town walk, which takes in the best one of Germany’s great Renaissance throne at age 18. With a grandiosity crooked alleys and the town ramparts. You’ll buildings. Don’t miss the town’s oddest inspired by the excesses of the French King get a bird’s-eye view of a veritable sea of 21 miles attraction, the Mittelalteriches Kriminal- Louis XIV, Ludwig II is best remembered red roofs alongside the River Lech. It was in DINKELSBÜHL– Less touristed museum, a medieval crime museum. Here for building three extravagant castles– Landsberg that Adolf Hitler was imprisoned than its neighbors, Dinkelsbühl is are thousands of macabre devices including Linderhof, Herrenchiemsee and following his unsuccessful beer hall “putsch” another well-preserved medieval town on masks of shame, which are bizarre indeed. Neuschwanstein–at enormous expense. of 1923. While incarcerated there, he wrote the Romantic Road, with a fine city wall Neuschwanstein is the most the- Mein Kampf. and 17 watch towers. The most dramatic atrical of the three, and it’s approach to the town, located on the River little surprise to dis- Wörnitz, is via the causeway known as the cover that it was Rothenburger Tor. Follow the Martin created 23 miles Luther Strasse to the central market square, with AUGSBURG– While Augsburg’s the Weinmarkt, lined with early Renaissance 11 miles medieval appearance has been care- town houses. The most spectacular of all is the 16th-century Deutsches Haus, a gem of CREGLINGEN– Legend has it that in fully restored, it’s not museum-quiet. 1384, a peasant plowing a field here found The cobbled Ludwigsplatz is a half-timbered architecture. Pause at the Schranne, a 17th-century granary that’s now a Host, the consecrated bread of the lively gathering place in this Eucharist. That led the townspeople to university town, and it’s trans- the venue for festivals like the Kinderzeche. This is the town’s most important celebra- build a church on the spot that’s called the formed into an open-air café Herrgottkirche. At the end of the 15th cen- during the summer and a tion, held the third week of July. It marks an episode from 1632 when invading tury, Tilman Riemenschneider, arguably the Christmas market in greatest sculptor of the late Gothic period, December. Bordering Swedish troops spared the town. Take time to wander into the Münster St. Georg was commissioned to carve a new altar for it is a Renaissance the church. The result was the Altar of the Rathaus from 1620, church, with its spectacular vaulted ceiling. Then plan to walk the romantic ramparts of Virgin Mary, which historians consider to which is arguably be his masterpiece. It depicts the life of the Germany’s finest secu- Dinkelsbühl at night, preferably in the company of the town’s night watchman. Virgin in a series of reliefs, with the main lar Renaissance building. panel depicting Mary’s ascent to heaven. Inside, the Goldener Saal, which 7 miles WEIKERSHEIM– In this town you’ll find Schloss Weikersheim or Weikersheim Castle, a Renaissance castle with suggestive statues of dwarfs and nymphs cavorting 27 miles in the garden. The star attraction is the WERTHEIM– Located at the meeting “Rittersaal,” or Knights Hall, with a ceiling Afterwards, move on to the Marktplatz. adorned with hunting scenes. In the point of the Main and Tauber Rivers, WertheiIt’sm islittle a stage surprise set of that half-ti in thismbered gastronomic lively university town, whose flair summer-time, the Jeunesses Musicales center, there’s a lively daily food market. brings an international festival for young houses and narrow streets surrounded by 58 milesimmortalized in Sigmund Romberg’s musicians to Weikersheim. forested hills. The Altes Schloss, a 12th- FRANKFURT-AM-MAINoperetta, “The Student– The Prince.” financial Walk century structure erected by the counts of capital ofacross Germ theany, Alte Frankfurt Brücke, is orthe Old Bridge, Wertheim, towers over the town. Visit the crossroadswhich of Ger spansmany the and, Neckar. arguably, And then tour glass museum on Mühlenstrasse as well as of Europe.the Go Schloss, to the the Zellgalerie, castle that where housed the Romantik Hotel Markusturm. Since 7 miles the museum housed in the 15th-century the rooftopprinces observation of Pfalz fordeck m orewill thangive 500 years. 1264, this hotel has welcomed guests to Kilianskapelle, or St. Kilian’s Chapel. BAD MERGENTHEIM– In the mid-16th you an overview of the city. Take time to Rothenburg. century, this town became the headquar- explore Römerberg, Frankfurt’s oldest cen- The Berger family runs this ters of the Knights of the Teutonic Order, tral square, which is ringed with 14th- and antique-filled hotel in the town center. Rödergasse 1, Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber. a religious and military society. These knights 114 miles 15th-century buildings. Pop into Goethe’s constructed a Baroque castle, known as the house, now a museum and library dedicated Tel: 49 0 9861 94280 Deutschordensschloss, an edifice of gables, BADEN-BADEN– One of Germany’s most to Germany’s most beloved writer. And Fax: 49 0 9861 9428 113 turrets and towers. One of its most interest- stylish resorts, Baden-Baden draws visitors enjoy an evening out in the city that some ing features is the Berwart-Treppe, a vertigo- to its world-famous spa and casino. Set in German wags have dubbed “Mainhattan.” Romantik Hotel Insel Mühle. Located in inducing spiral staircase. The town, which the green valley of the Oos River, at the Untermenzing, on the western outskirts of has a wonderful old town square and Rathaus, northern edge of the Black Forest, Baden- HOTELS Munich, most rooms have a balcony with also has three mineral springs that were Baden is a town of 19th-century hotels, Brenner’s Park Hotel & Spa. There are views of the river or the garden. The hotel discovered by a shepherd in 1826. That palatial villas, tree-lined avenues and well- just 100 antique-laden rooms at Brenner’s, is known locally for its idyllic riverside beer led to Bad Mergentheim’s emergence as a groomed visitors. Queen Victoria, Bismarck fit for royalty and celebrities who come for garden. Von-Kahr-Strasse 87, Munich. health resort. Its waters are allegedly good and Brahms are among the distinguished rest, pampering and dining at the hotel’s Tel: 49 0 89 81010 for digestive complaints. visitors who came for the waters. The town Park-Restaurant. Schillerstrass 4-6, 76530 Fax: 49 0 89 8120571 still exudes a rare pre-war grandeur. A great Baden-Baden. example of “Jugendstijl,” or Art Nouveau, Tel: 49 0 72 21 9000 Hotel Hessischer Hof. Located in the architecture is the Trinkhalle, or “drink hall,” Fax: 49 0 72 21 3 8772 center of Frankfurt, the hotel is appointed where you can sample the decidedly salty with period furniture and antiques but has 11 miles local waters. The neoclassical Kurhaus is Romantik Hotel Augsburger Hof. been completely modernized. Friedrich- TAUBERBISCHOFSHEIM– the town’s cultural center. Inside is the lav- Located opposite the Mozart house, this Ebert Anlage 40, Frankfurt-am-Main. Surrounded by rolling hills, forests and ish casino, which inspired Dostoevski to hotel is located in a historic building, but Tel: 49 69 7540-0 vineyards, Tauberbischofsheim is a write The Gambler. Take the waters yourself the rooms have been nicely updated. Fax: 49 69 7540-2924 at the splendid 19th-century remarkably well-kept medieval town of Auf dem Kreuz 2, Augsburg. RESTAURANT timber-framed buildings. The old palace Friedrichsbad, a riot Tel: 49 0 821 34 30 50 has a fine local history museum. of ornamentation, Fax: 49 0 821 34 30 555 Gasthof “Zur Stadt Mainz.” This is a or at the newer Würzburg classic in a setting festooned Caracalla- Villa Hammerschmiede. The with antlers, grandfather clocks and Therme, where 21 miles Schwalbe family runs this 30- farmhouse furnishings. The typical pools, whirl- menu includes game pancakes and WÜRZBURG– Wine made this city room hotel located between pools, grottos Heidelberg and Baden-Baden. oxtail ragout with red wine. the terminus of the Romantic Road. and saunas await. Semmelstrasse 39, Würzburg. The wine produced around Würzburg The decor runs to Italian Art Deco style, there’s an extraor- Tel: 49 0 931 53155 was consumed by German emperors and Fax: 49 0 931 58510 the rulers of Nürnberg and Rothenburg- dinary indoor swimming pool ob-der-Tauber. Nowadays the wine is still carved out of the rock and delectable, and you can sample it you can dine in the hotel’s throughout the city. Würzburg is also English winter garden. home of the Residenz of the Prince- 56 miles Hauptstrasse 162, Pfinztal- Bishops, a palace that was intended to HEIDELBERG– Söllingen. show that the Würzburg bishops could Heidelberg, with its Tel: 49 0 7240 601 0 hold their own among such great ancient towers, Fax: 49 0 7240 601 60 European courts as Versailles. They did bridges and sand- rather well, and the 18th-century splen- stone castle, may well dor reaches its peak in the enormous ceil- be the most romantic ing fresco by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. city in Germany. Situated alongside the River Neckar, it’s still a