Famous Routes in Germany

click to enlarge

Goethe Route

a culturally rich area in the heart of Germany! On your journey from Frankfurt/ Main via Fulda, Eisenach, Gotha, Ilmenau, Erfurt, Weimar, Jena and Leipzig you will not only come across stations in the life of the name patron but also many more famous personalities such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Martin Luther or Boniface.
Romantic castles and palaces, historical town centres, renowned museums and UNESCO World Heritage sites along the 400 kilometers long route will fascinate you.
Outside towns and cities it is well worth to explore wonderful and varied landscapes, picturesque villages, ancient traditions and a proverbial hospitality that will make every stay an unforgettable experience.

click to enlarge

Castle Route

The Castle Road, one of Germany's longest-established scenic routes, celebrated its 50th anniversary in March 2004. Fully signposted and running for around 1,000 km from Mannheim to Prague, it offers plenty of diversity, historical sites and delightful scenery peppered with romantic castles and fairytale palaces. The glorious past, still very much in evidence today, has left its imprint on many towns and villages along the route. The scenery along the route is as fascinating and awe-inspiring as the region's history. As the river Neckar meanders through the legendary Odenwald region, the Neckar valley reveals itself in all its grandeur. The Hohenlohe plain seems almost endless, but then come the rolling Franconian Heights, then the northern part of Franconian Switzerland. In Mannheim and Heidelberg visitors can still admire the legacy of the former Palatine electors, who adored the arts.

The Castle Road leads visitors from one amazing castle, palace or town to the next. Sights include gems of medieval architecture and romantic towns galore There are even relics of the Roman era, such as watchtowers and other Limes remnants. Mosbach, Bad Wimpfen, Schwäbisch Hall and Rothenburg are quaint old towns with picturesque half-timbered buildings. All are well worth a visit and will leave a lasting impression. Near Heilbronn the Castle Road passes through large areas of winegrowing country. There are impressive fortifications and baroque architecture to see in the rococo town of Auerbach, the medieval imperial city of Nuremberg and the ancient towns of Bamberg, Coburg, Kronach, Kulmbach and Bayreuth. The Castle Road then continues into the Czech Republic, passing the famous spa towns of Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne, before ending in style at Prague.

German Fairytale Route

Travel to fairyland on the German Fairytale Route, one of the oldest scenic routes in Germany. It takes you on a magical journey from Bremen to Hanau, linking more than 70 towns and villages associated with the Brothers Grimm and the realm of fairytales, sagas, myths and legends. Fabulous footpaths and cycle trails whisk you away to the wonderful world of fairytales where childhood dreams spring into life... to the land of daring princes, the seven dwarfs and their seven mountains, enchanting fairies, the Pied Piper and Little Red Riding Hood. Between Heiligenstadt and Göttingen you can walk the Frau Holle trail - Frau Holle could still be shaking out her featherbeds to "make it snow" and you will feel like Hans in Luck.

On the German Fairytale Route your daily routine will seem like an eternity away. Covering more than 600 magical kilometres from the River Main to the sea, it runs through a region full of literary invention all the way to Bremen's market square and the statue of the Bremen town musicians. It takes in Sleeping Beauty's palace and Cinderella's castle, the quaint little town where the pranksters Max and Moritz got up to their tricks, as well as the enchanted castle where Rapunzel let down her hair. This route boasts a wealth of art and culture, eight nature reserves, charming highlands and river scenery. Quaint old villages and romantic towns associated with the Brothers Grimm follow hot on one another's heels, like turning the pages of a story book. Enjoy the lush, green countryside and the shady forests, feel the energy in the vibrant towns and enjoy the hospitality along this route, one of the oldest and most popular in Europe.