The Most Scenic Spots on Germany's Romantic Road

The Würzburg Residence is a magnificent palace displaying a unique combination of French château architecture, Viennese baroque style, and secular architecture of northern Italy. The palace and court church are open for public tours, and visitors get a chance to gape at historic furniture, paintings, artifacts, artworks, and tapestries. The palace sits in an immaculately maintained lush green garden designed with admirable symmetry.

The beautifully preserved medieval walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber rightfully belongs in glossy picture books. This amazingly quaint town, perched on the banks of the River Tauber, effortlessly makes travelers fall in love with its cute cobbled streets, flower-box windows and half-timbered houses. It is also one of the best places in Germany to shop for Christmas ornaments.

The hilltop Harburg Castle is a gem located in the shy, unassuming town of Harburg. This beautiful medieval castle has been amazingly well preserved for the last 900 years. The castle offers guided tours and walks visitors down the sentry points, dungeons, prison tower, ballroom, balconies, and a huge courtyard with a well.

The 19th-century romanesque revival castle Neuschwanstein is pretty much unanimously agreed to be the most spectacular castle in the world. Inspiration for the fairytale Sleeping Beauty, this stunning ornate palace set against the imposing Alps draws millions of tourists every year. Visitors are welcome to take part in a guided tour of the rich interior beyond its limestone facade.

Dinkelsbühl as it exists today is 400 years old, but its history can be traced back over 800 years. It is a place where time seems to have stood still. The skyline of the town is made up of tightly packed, steep-roofed semi-timbered houses, lush greenery, and the Gothic Minster of St George, one of the most beautiful churches in the country.

Forggensee is one of several lakes near Neuschwanstein Castle that up the beauty quotient of the region. The sparkling blue, crystal-clear lake surrounded by rolling green meadows and majestic cliffs takes visitors’ breath away with its pristine beauty. It is also extremely popular among adventure-sports and water-sports enthusiasts.

Over a million people flock to the Wieskirche every year, and with good reason. This rococo church from the 1700s rose to fame as a pilgrimage center when tears were found on a wooden figure of Jesus a few years after the church was built. However, it doesn’t take a believer to be amazed by the artistry of this church, the rich decorations, and the serene music. The Wieskirche is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Linderhof Palace is one of three castles commissioned by the eccentric King Ludwig II, another being the famed Neuschwanstein. Though smaller, Linderhof Palace boasts a jaw-dropping interior; the Hall of Mirrors is perhaps its most loved section. The palace sits in a stylish, geometric garden with manicured bushes and ornate fountains.

Ulm Münster is the largest Protestant church in the country and the tallest church tower in the world (not counting the unfinished Sagrada Familia, Barcelona). The church attracts devotees from all over the country, while its gorgeous architecture, beautiful artwork, and uninterrupted views from the tower are magnets for sightseers.

Fancy another road trip? Childhood bedtime stories come alive for travelers on Germany’s iconic Fairy Tale Route, stretching for 600 km (373 miles) from the town of Hanau in Central Germany to Bremen by the North Sea. The route connects the spots where legendary story-tellers Brothers Grimm were born, lived, studied, and were inspired. Trace the steps of the Pied Piper (Hamelin), visit Snow White’s hometown Bad Wildungen and Red Riding’s House in Alsfeld, and take a selfie with the Four Musicians in Bremen. The route is dotted with picture-postcard towns and as many as 20 castles and palaces, many of which have found their way into the stories we all grew up on.