Romantic Road

When the Romantic Road between Würzburg and Füssen was officially launched in 1950 by the mayor of Augsburg at the time, it was intended to showcase a friendly Germany, a Germany far from the terror of Hitler and the mountains of rubble, in an attempt to revitalize tourism in the region and erase the bad image of Germany due to the recent Second World War.

A route rich in culture and history, where medieval towns, half-timbered houses, palaces, castles, hills and vineyards intertwine like a great chain.

A journey through an open, welcoming country intimately linked to European history.

It was a bold undertaking in many respects, but it worked: American soldiers based in Germany were the first to vacation on the "Romantic Road". They wanted to show their families where they were working and were impressed by the medieval settings in Rothenburg and Dinkelsbühl, the enchanting Tauber River Valley, the Teutonic Order Castle in Bad Mergentheim, and the picturesque landscape of the Pfaffenwinkel region.

None of Germany's approximately 200 scenic routes is as famous as the 460-kilometer stretch from the Main River to the Alps.

Today, millions of people visit the Romantic Road every year, which is also famous as a long-distance cycling and hiking trail.

Some visit only a few towns, others stop in each of the 29 towns.

But no matter how long you stay, everyone who embarks on this journey is richly rewarded. With culture, fun, and, of course, romance in its purest form.