top of page

Germany: The Romantic Road

Updated: Oct 19, 2019


The historic Romantic Road from Würzburg, Germany to Füssen, Germany includes over 30 medieval towns along a travel route of 385 km (240 miles). Travel routes are possible by car, cycling and hiking. I have highlighted the route that includes most of the major sites, including historic castles and churches along the way. Click the map to go to an interactive version with more detail about each town along the route.


Starting in Würzburg at The Residenz, the route travels south towards the final destination of Füssen. Many are familiar with one of the highlights along they way: c. One of the most well preserved medieval towns in all of Germany.


Wieskirche (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Just off the Romantic Road lies one of the most spactacular churches you will visit. Wieskirche is a World Heritage Site known for the baroque architecture and ornate interior paintings and workmanship.

Pilgrimage Church of Wies
"Miraculously preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, the Church of Wies (1745–54), the work of architect Dominikus Zimmermann, is a masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo – exuberant, colourful and joyful." UNESCO

Views from inside the Wieskirche


Always a friendly look as you pass by along the amazing Romantic Road


Schwangau

As you drive south from Halblech towards the village of Hohenschwangau, there is a beautiful church (St Coloman), framed within a spectacular background.

St Coloman

Neuschwanstein Castle from St Coloman

Castle Tours

You will need tickets to tour Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. There is a large car park just as you get to the village of Hohenschwangau. The ticket office is just a short walk up the main road, Alpseestrasse. It is highly recommend that you get your tickets prior to arriving, as lines can be long and earlier tours will likely sold out. A new service in 2020 allows visitors to buy tickets online and print at home or saved to a smartphone.


Brief History

King Ludwig II was born at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich (see photo below). Hohenschwangau Castle was the summer residence of King Maximilian and Queen Marie and their two boys Ludwig and Otto. After the King's death in 1864, Ludwig became King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Five years later King Ludwig II started construction on what would be known as Neuschwanstein Castle and which was built on the original site of the old Schwangau fortress. King Ludwig II died in 1886 and never saw the completion of Neuschwanstein.  Today, much of the castle remains unfinished.  King Ludwig II also built two additional Palaces, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee.


Nymphenburg Palace, Munich

Swan at Nymphenburg Palace

Hohenschwangau Castle

Hohenschwangau Castle sits atop a small mountain overlooking the Alpsee.

Hohenschwangau Castle, the main village and the Alpsee

Hohenschwangau Castle



Village of Hohenschwangau

Jägerhaus

Museum of the Bavarian Kings

The beautiful Alpsee

Public bath and swimming area: Alpseebad

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle can be accessed on foot, however, it is a long steep hike. Just across the street from the Jägerhaus is a bus parking area where you can purchase tickets for a short bus ride up to the Castle. It drops you off at a convenient spot, but there is still a small hike over to Neuschwanstein.



Queen Mary's Bridge (Marienbrücke)

There is a short hike over to Queen Mary's Bridge, which will reward you with a great view of the Castle and beautiful valley below.



"Love Locks" on the Marienbrücke


Selfies on the Marienbrücke



Alpstuben Buching Restaurant

Hotel Alpenstuben

AMERON Neuschwanstein Alpsee Resort & Spa

Jägerhaus

Neuschwanstein Castle -

Hohenschwangau Castle -


THE ROMANTIC ROAD

TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS

Hotels

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Herrnschlösschen Hotel, Burg Hotel, Romantik Hotel Markusturm, Hotel Reichsküchenmeister

Augsburg: Steigenberger Hotel Drei Mohren

Landsberg am Lech: Landhotel Endhart

Bad Mergentheim: Hotel Alexa

Schwangau: Landhotel Guglhupf, Hotel König Ludwig Spa & Resort, Hotel Helmerhof, Hotel Helmer

Füssen: Hotel Christine, Hotel Alpenglühn, Hotel Sonne, Hotel Fantasia


Restaurants

Würzburg: Vinothek Tiepolo, Ararat, Trattoria Lugana, Restaurant & Weinhaus Stachel

Augsburg: SteakManufaktur, Perlach Acht

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Profumo Di Pasta Da Giuseppe, Hotel Restaurant Herrnschlosschen, Restaurant Michelangelo

Landsberg am Lech: Nonnenbrau

Steingaden: Pizzeria Trattoria Casa-Nova

Schwangau: Ristorante Pizzeria Da Pietro

Füssen: Ristorante Pizzeria Michelangelo, Il Pescatore, Chapeau! Restaurant Cafe Bar

Must See Places:

Würzburg: Würzburg Residenz (UNESCO), Fürstengarten Marienberg

Augsburg: Augsburg Town Hall, Perlach Tower

Nördlingen: Kirchturm Daniel

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Altstadt (old city) tour, Rotenburg Town Hall

Steingaden: Pilgramage Church of Wies (Wieskirche)

Schwangau: St Coloman Church

Hohenschwangau: Neuschwanstein Castle, Hohenschwangau Castle, Museum of the Bavarian Kings

Füssen: Basilika St Mang

Extended Day-Trips:

There is so much to see and do along the Romantic Road that you just have to decide what are the things you want to experience and focus on those. There is the Linderhof Palace, which is 42 km (26 miles) from Füssen. The Herrenchiemsee Palace is 150 km (93 miles) from Füssen and is closer to Salzburg, Austria or Berchtesgaden.


Refer to the Travel Map for more to see and experience in this area of Germany.

88 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page