Germany’s wistful Romantic Road trip takes you back to medieval days and is reminiscent of the Wanderings of renowned German poet and novelist Hermann Hesse. This Germany road trip portrays a simple life, with castles and churches of yore to visit as well as hostelries to consume the elixir of life (after finishing your day’s driving, of course.)
Frankfurt
Once you have collected your hire car at Frankfurt Airport at the airport you can explore the city, with highlights including:
- Stadel Museum which focuses on the Renaissance, the Baroque, early Modern art and much more. There are some 3,100 paintings, 660 sculptures, more than 5,000 photographs and more than 100,000 drawings and prints.
- Alte Oper hosts around 490,000 guests in more than 460 events a year, in classical music and entertainment, in programmes for children, young people and families, in congresses and events.
- Deutsches Filminstitute Filmuseum includes two floors and around 800 square meters of permanent exhibitions presenting exciting exhibits, operable models of historical equipment and interactive stations. Large film projections invite you to explore the moving image and make the fascination of the medium of film tangible.
Aschaffenburg
Johannisburg Castle is situated in the centre of Aschaffenburg on the banks of the Main. The enormous four-wing complex, built between 1605 and 1614 under Electoral Archbishop Johann Schweikard von Kronberg, is one of the most premier palace buildings of the German Renaissance.
Sailauf
Kleterwald Spessart in Sailauf has a climbing forest (including a low one for those with vertigo) and outdoor games such as Arrowtag, Bubble Soccer and Outdoor Exit Games.
Wertheim
Visit one of the most beautiful castle ruins in southern Germany, enchantingly located at the confluence of the Main and Tauber rivers. Enjoy exquisite events or let yourself be spoiled with culinary delights in the cosy castle restaurant with a magnificent view.
Wurzburg
Situated in north-eastern Bavaria, Wurzburg is a picturesque town kept lively by its student population. Visit the Wurzburg Residenz, an 18th century splendid palace with the world’s largest fresco by Battista.
Tauberbischofsheim
Walking the town’s ancient walls will lead you to Tauberfrankisches Landschaftsmuseum devoted to the town’s history.
Weikersheim
Highlights here include Schloss Weikersheim, a Renaissance palace with a magnificent Knight’s Hall and beautiful baroque gardens.
Rothenberg ob der Tauber
See craftsmen at work at Alt-Rothernberger Handwerkhaus as they have for some 700 years.
Dinkelsbuhl
Another incredibly quaint and historically fascinating town with Haus Der Geschicte museum on its past.
Nordlingen
Bayerisches Reisgrater Museum contains a collection of retired locos as well as offering short steam engine trips.
Harburg
Be sure to see the Schloss Harburg castle which it is rumoured to be inundated by ancient ghosts.
Donauworth
Highlight here is Kathe-Krusepoppenmuseum, a display of dolls created by Kathe Kruse which will take you back down memory lane.
Augsburg
The Fuggerei in Augsburg was founded in 1516 by Jakob Fuggee the Rich for citizens in need, and is run now just as it was 500 years ago.
And for culture vultures you will want to see Bertolt-Brecht-Haus, the birthplace of radical poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht, creator of the Threepenny Opera.
Landsberg am Lech
Here you will find the Johannis-kirche built by baroque architect Dominikus Zimmermann as well as the Neues Stadtmuseum.
Schongau
See the Gothic Ballenhaus in this hidden gem of a town.
Wieskirche
Wieskirche houses a legendary Christ portrait that in 1730 it was claimed had shed tears and is now a shrine.
Fussen
At the foot of the Alps, Fussen offers some great opportunities for local hikes and has its own castle Hohes Schloss.
Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau Castles
Nearby are the magnificent Schloss Neuschwanstein and Schloss Hohenschwangau, created for the eccentric King Ludwig II and intended to invoke Wagnerian mythology.
From Fussen, it is 58km to Memmingen airport, bringing to an end this highly romantic and awe-inspiring car trip back that will have taken you to a time that you may have thought lost.
Get more out of your road trip to Germany by checking out our guide to driving in Germany and check out our full list of locations where you can hire a car with a debit card in Germany for more inspiration.