The Romantic Road
OK - it was an invention of the German Tourist Board in the 1950's, but the Romantic Road is still something rather special. Its a route running north-south that connects some of Germany's most picturesque medieval walled towns. There are brown signs way marking the roads to follow.
My self planned route only took in a small section of the Romantic Road but it was probably a 'highlights package'.
We joined the Romantic Road south of Nördlingen, first visiting a picturesque village, Harburg, situated by a river with a castle overlooking the town from a steep rocky outcrop. Our hotel in Nördlingen overlooked the old medieval town walls.This was an excellent base from which to explore. The town walls at Nördlingen are complete and encircle the town. After a very brief exploration of the town the previous evening we spent a few hours the day after our arrival and walked the walls. It was a delightful introduction to the towns and villages on the Romantic Road, full of half timbered buildings, colourful houses and interesting carvings in wood and stone.
From Nördlingen we made our way north, firstly stopping in a very sleepy village called Wallerstein before continuing to Dinkelsbühl. We parked just outside the centre and walked through one of the old city gates. Dinkelsbühl was also a walled city, and, like Nördlingen, full of very old buildings. If not for the occasional gift shop we could have travelled back 500 years in time.
After a pleasant hour or two spent wandering up and down cobbled streets and walking parts of the old wall we started to return to the car and walked outside the city walls by the river with lily pads floating on the surface.
An over sized red bench provided Mrs B with a brief chance to rest her legs before we carried on our travels - even though it was a long way to the ground!
As we were leaving we spotted a stork on a nest right on top of the tower of the gate through which we had entered. On an adjoining tower another stork perched precariously on the top. Eventually the nesting stork took flight gliding gracefully away. It was one of those unexpected moments that will remain in the memory.
Our base for a couple of nights was the jewel in the crown of the Romantic Road: Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Set on a hilltop overlooking the river Tauber, Rothenburg was a much more touristy place. People are understandably drawn to its surfeit of medieval buildings, cobbled streets and colourful houses. Once again our hotel was right by the old town walls and a perfect base for exploration.
Our full day in Rothenburg started rather grey and cloudy. We set off to walk around the town but somehow ended up on a detour, walking out into the countryside along a riverside path to a village called Detwang - unremarkable apart from a church dating back 1000 years. By now a heavy shower had arrived and Detwang appeared deserted. Walking back across the bridge passing a post with a hat perched on top,I spotted a brief flash of blue by the riverbank - a kingfisher.
By the time we crossed a covered bridge and started the stiff climb back to Rothenburg the rain had cleared and the sun was breaking through the clouds. We spent hours exploring all the nooks and crannies of Rothenburg, visiting two churches and walking some of the preserved walls.
We spent a few minutes in the Christmas shop - an incongruous place on a warm July day - but clearly popular and very expensive. I declined the chance to visit the Christmas museum.
More exploring followed , walking walls to admire the red tiled roofs stretching over the town and the jumble of buildings.
No wonder Mrs B. was complaining of tired legs by the end of the day!
Our few days seeing just a small part of the Romantic Road had been something of a revelation. Southern Germany had so many beautiful little towns and village and it felt as though we had only really scratched the surface. Our next stop was going to be a visit to a city - Heidelberg, one of the great university cities of Europe.
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| Te Romantic Road route marker - our Rothenburg hotel in the background |
My self planned route only took in a small section of the Romantic Road but it was probably a 'highlights package'.
We joined the Romantic Road south of Nördlingen, first visiting a picturesque village, Harburg, situated by a river with a castle overlooking the town from a steep rocky outcrop. Our hotel in Nördlingen overlooked the old medieval town walls.This was an excellent base from which to explore. The town walls at Nördlingen are complete and encircle the town. After a very brief exploration of the town the previous evening we spent a few hours the day after our arrival and walked the walls. It was a delightful introduction to the towns and villages on the Romantic Road, full of half timbered buildings, colourful houses and interesting carvings in wood and stone.
 |
| On the town wall at Nördlingen. |
From Nördlingen we made our way north, firstly stopping in a very sleepy village called Wallerstein before continuing to Dinkelsbühl. We parked just outside the centre and walked through one of the old city gates. Dinkelsbühl was also a walled city, and, like Nördlingen, full of very old buildings. If not for the occasional gift shop we could have travelled back 500 years in time.
 |
| Dinkelsbühl |
After a pleasant hour or two spent wandering up and down cobbled streets and walking parts of the old wall we started to return to the car and walked outside the city walls by the river with lily pads floating on the surface.
An over sized red bench provided Mrs B with a brief chance to rest her legs before we carried on our travels - even though it was a long way to the ground!
As we were leaving we spotted a stork on a nest right on top of the tower of the gate through which we had entered. On an adjoining tower another stork perched precariously on the top. Eventually the nesting stork took flight gliding gracefully away. It was one of those unexpected moments that will remain in the memory.
 |
| The storks nest jut visible at thee top of the entrance gate to Dinkelsbühl |
Our base for a couple of nights was the jewel in the crown of the Romantic Road: Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Set on a hilltop overlooking the river Tauber, Rothenburg was a much more touristy place. People are understandably drawn to its surfeit of medieval buildings, cobbled streets and colourful houses. Once again our hotel was right by the old town walls and a perfect base for exploration.
Our full day in Rothenburg started rather grey and cloudy. We set off to walk around the town but somehow ended up on a detour, walking out into the countryside along a riverside path to a village called Detwang - unremarkable apart from a church dating back 1000 years. By now a heavy shower had arrived and Detwang appeared deserted. Walking back across the bridge passing a post with a hat perched on top,I spotted a brief flash of blue by the riverbank - a kingfisher.
By the time we crossed a covered bridge and started the stiff climb back to Rothenburg the rain had cleared and the sun was breaking through the clouds. We spent hours exploring all the nooks and crannies of Rothenburg, visiting two churches and walking some of the preserved walls.
 |
| Rothenburg |
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| Christmas comes but one a year...unless you are in Rothenburg |
More exploring followed , walking walls to admire the red tiled roofs stretching over the town and the jumble of buildings.
 |
| Rothenburg |
No wonder Mrs B. was complaining of tired legs by the end of the day!
Our few days seeing just a small part of the Romantic Road had been something of a revelation. Southern Germany had so many beautiful little towns and village and it felt as though we had only really scratched the surface. Our next stop was going to be a visit to a city - Heidelberg, one of the great university cities of Europe.
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