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Romantic Road
The Romans built a trading route, the Via Claudia Augusta, through Bavaria. Today the cultural riches and natural treasures of this region are connected by the Romatische Strasse, the most heavily visited tourist route in Germany. Established officially in 1950 to jumpstart tourism in Germany after the war, the route stretches 217 miles between Würzburg and Füssen. Why Romantic? Because travelers find the road serene, idyllic and transporting. The combination of quaint medieval towns, castles large and small, and landscapes of rivers, lakes and dense forests offers something for everyone. InFocus highlights a few of the stops - Würzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl, Augsburg, the Wieskirche and Schwangau. For a comprehensive guide, go to the Romantic Road website.
Würzburg
This university city is home to two impressive royal constructions, the Residence, a UNESCO-World Heritage site, and the Marienberg Fortress. Most of the city of Würzburg was destroyed by bombing on March 16, 1945, but its old town and Baroque masterpieces have been carefully rebuilt or restored. The Residence, built from 1720 to 1744, is one of Europe's most ornate palaces and served as the home of Würzburg's prince-bishops. Its highlights are numerous, but among the most significant are the frescoes, including the largest ceiling-painting in the world, by the Venetian Tiepolo. Not to be missed are the court gardens, site of summer concerts. Before construction of the Residence, the prince-bishops of Würzburg lived in the Marienberg Fortress on a hill across the Main River from the town proper and dating from the early 1200s.
Dinkelsbühl, another preserved medieval town, not only survived the Thirty Years War, it also escaped destruction in World War II and has avoided modern developments. Dinkelsbühl is still enclosed within an intact city wall and looks much the way it did 300 years ago. Like Rothenburg, Dinkelsbühl has its own legend of how it was saved from conquerors in the Thirty Years War - the daughter of the town sentry awakened the sympathy of the conquering Swedish general when she walked through the towns streets with weeping children in tow. Each July (this year from July 12-21), the Kinderzeche (Weeping Children) Festival reenacts the legendary event. The gothic St. Georg's Cathedral, built in the 15th century, is known as the most beautiful hall church in southern Germany. The Deutsches Haus on the wine market is recognized as a particularly impressive example of half-timbered architecture from the Renaissance era.
Augsburg is one of Germany's oldest cities, founded by Roman Emperor Augustus in 15 BC. It became an influential banking center in Renaissance times and the city showed off its wealth during this era. Augsburg is sometimes referred to as the northernmost Italian city for its wealth of Renaissance architecture. The restored city hall is impressive for its Golden Hall, named for the elaborate gold-coffered ceiling and ornamentation. The city's wealthy Fugger family built the world's first welfare housing project, the Fuggerei in 1516. Nearly 500 years later, this city within a city is still functioning as low-income housing and is also a popular tourist stop. Other highlights include the house where Bertolt Brecht was born in 1898 and the Mozart House, where the father of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born.
A multi-million dollar restoration from 1985 to 1991 sought to bring the church back to its 18th-century appearance. A music festival from June through August features concerts in the church. The closest village is Steingaden.
The original Hohenschwangau was built in the 1500s but fell into disrepair until Prince Maximilian II of Bavaria was taken with it and had a neo-Gothic structure built on the site beginning in 1833 for use as a summer residence. His son, Ludwig II, grew up in Hohenschwangau, not much more than a stone's throw from where he would one day build his own dream house.
The enchanting Neuschwanstein Castle, rising from the mist of the Alpine foothills, has long been a symbol of Germany and a must-see tourist attraction. Built between 1869 and 1886 to the fantastical specifications of King Ludwig II, it was never actually completed but dazzles non the less. It even served as the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Walt Disney World, though the "real" Sleeping Beauty's Castle can be seen in the town of Sababurg on the Fairy Tale Road. Travelers of Germany's Romantic Road can let the castle of Bavaria's eccentric king be the capstone of their trip. If after viewing the castle, you find that you still haven't seen enough spectacle, visit the Neuschwanstein Musical Theater for a stage show based on the life of Ludwig II.
Train - All towns on the Romantic Road are accessible via rail, except Dinkelsbühl. For information, start with the international pages of the Deutsche Bahn website. Bus - Regional and commercial bus operators keep the towns on the Romantic Road well connected. One private tour operator is Deutsche Touring. Bike - Bike paths connect the stops on the Romantic Road along
its entire length. Cycling is a popular mode of both transportation and
recreation in Germany, and you will find a wealth of bicycle rental shops
and maps at most tourist offices. Cyclists will find campgrounds conveniently
located outside of many towns. The German
Tourism Office offers the brochure Discovering Germany by Bike and
other information on its website. Here are some tour operators that offer
cycling trips: Euro-Bike
and Walking Tours, Classic
Adventures. The website
of the German Bicycle Club, in German only, offers comprehensive information
on cycling in Germany and has guides for each state, including Bavaria.
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