The Must-See Sights on Germany’s Romantic Road
Germany’s Romantic Road runs for 220 miles from Würzburg to the Alps, stringing together several beautifully preserved medieval towns—Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Nördlingen, and Dinkelsbühl, to name just three—as well as impressive castles and soaring cathedrals. Along with dazzling architecture and fairy-tale scenery, visitors can expect endless cultural attractions, including the UNESCO-listed Würzburg Residence and Augsburg’s historic Fugger social housing complex.
Residenzplatz 2, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
The former residence of Würzburg’s prince-bishops, this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the most important Baroque palaces in Europe. It was—remarkably, given its scale and level of detail both inside and out—built...
97980 Bad Mergentheim, Germany
The spa town of Bad Mergentheim is a wonderful getaway for health and history fans alike. Set in the heart of the Tauber Valley, directly on the Romantic Road, it features a world-renowned medical infrastructure, making it one of the most...
97990 Weikersheim, Germany
Widely considered the most beautiful palace in the Hohenlohe area, Weikersheim enjoys a scenic setting in the heart of the Tauber Valley. Inside the three-winged structure, visitors will find the Rittersaal (Knight’s Hall)—dating from...
Altstadt, 91550 Dinkelsbühl, Germany
While most villages in this region have a particular medieval flair, Dinkelsbühl’s Altstadt, which is more than 800 years old, goes a bit further than charming lanes lined with semi-timbered houses (though it has those, too). Here, the...
Jakoberstraße 26, 86152 Augsburg, Germany
Set inside a walled enclave in the city of Augsburg, Fuggerei is the world’s oldest social housing complex still in use. Named for its founder, Jakob Fugger, it was set up in 1521 for the city’s poorer inhabitants, eventually growing...
Wies 12, 86989 Steingaden, Germany
One of the major religious landmarks along the Romantic Road, the Pilgrimage Church of Wies is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Situated between Steingaden and Wildsteig, it draws around a million people a year from all over the globe, who come...
Neuschwansteinstraße 20, 87645 Schwangau, Germany
The most famous castle in Germany—and one of the best known in Europe—Neuschwanstein is renowned not just for its fairy-tale architecture (which directly inspired the Disney Castle) but also for its creator, “mad” King...
