The aptly named Romantic Road, or Romantische Strasse, is one of Germany's most popular tourist routes. The road stretches for 290km (180 miles) between Würzburg in the north and Füssen in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. On the way is a series of medieval villages and 2,000-year-old towns. Frankfurt and Munich are convenient gateways for exploring the road by car, coach, or rail.
Another way to tour the route is by bicycle. Cyclists can begin at Würzburg and follow the bike path along the Main River. Tourist offices along the road provide cycling maps and other helpful information. Campgrounds are generally 10 to 20km (6-12 miles) apart. Bikes can be rented at any train station along the Romantic Road for 5€ to 10€ ($6.50-$13) per day with a valid train ticket.
The Romantic Road is more than just a scenic route -- it's also a powerful marketing organization composed of 26 municipalities, each of which would love to welcome you for a visit. The Romantic Road Association will provide information on sights and attractions and mail information packs in English. Contact the Touristik Arbeitsgemeinschaft Romantische Strasse, Waaggässlein 1, 91550 Dinkelsbühl (tel. 9851/551387; www.romantischestrasse.de).
The Towns of the Romantic Road -- Every town on the road has its special charms and attractions -- and its drawbacks. Rothenburg, for example, is a perfect museum town but is overwhelmed with tourists. Dinkelsbühl is less perfect -- it doesn't do as good a job of transporting you into the past -- but at least it has a life of its own, independent of tourists. Nördlingen is less romantic even than Dinkelsbühl but is more real. Augsburg is Bavaria's third-largest city (after Munich and Nürnberg) but still has a rich medieval past. Würzburg, traditionally the first town on the route, is the bustling center of the Franconian wine region and home to one of Germany's greatest palaces.
Bus Tours of the Romantic Road -- April to October, a deluxe motorcoach, with toilets and reclining seats, departs from Frankfurt daily at 8am, stopping on the main squares of 30 towns en route, pulling into Füssen at 7pm. One-way transit between Frankfurt and Füssen costs 79€ ($103), but you can get off the bus and reboard it later at any town en route. Buses also run the other way, from Füssen to Frankfurt, following more or less the same schedule. Make advance reservations with Deutsche Touring Frankfurt (tel. 069/7903230; www.deutsche-touring.com), Am Römerhof 17, D-60329 Frankfurt.
