Back Roads Germany (Dk Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

198

Right Patchwork of fields and forested hills

near Harburg Below Schloss Harburg, on a rocky

hill overlooking the Wörnitz Valley, Harburg

Above Colorful gabled houses in the old town

center in Dinkelsbühl

9 Dinkelsbühl

Bavaria; 91550

Though its peaceful setting on the

Wörnitz river lacks the scenic splen-

dor of Rothenburg ob der Tauber,

Dinkelsbühl is one of the best-

preserved medieval urban com-

plexes in Germany, with lofty walls

and towers encircling the Altstadt.

At its heart is the soaring Münster

St. Georg, the town’s 14th-century

Gothic parish church. Its tower has a

fine view of the town. Opposite, on

Weinmarkt, is a parade of tall, gabled

houses as grand as any in Germany.

WHERE TO STAY

FEUCHTWANGEN

Greifen-Post moderate

This lovely hotel occupies a pair of

14th- and 15th-century buildings on

Feuchtwangen’s marketplace. Facilities

include a library, indoor pool, sauna,

and steam bath.

Marktplatz 8, 91555; 09852 68 00;

http://www.hotel-greifen.de

DINKELSBÜHL

Deutsches Haus moderate

This 15th-century inn exudes character,

from its lively, deco rated wooden ceil-

ings to the individually styled rooms

with modern comforts, including

wireless Internet.

Weinmarkt 3, 91550; 09851 60 58;

http://www.deutsches-haus.dkb.de

NÖRDLINGEN

Kaiserhof Hotel Sonne

inexpensive–moderate

With a central location, this traditional

hotel has peasant-style furniture in

some rooms, all of which have bath or

shower, TV, and Internet. Past guests

include four Holy Roman emperors

and the writer J W von Goethe.

Marktplatz 3, 86720; 09081 50 67;

http://www.kaiserhof-hotel-sonne.de

HARBURG

Fürstliche Burgschenke

inexpensive–moderate

A hotel-restaurant with a rustic feel,

loca ted within the precincts of Harburg’s

castle, this has seven simple but pretty

double rooms with en suite shower.

Burgstrasse 1, 86655; 09080 15 04;

http://www.burgschenkeharburg.de

DONAUWÖRTH

Goldener Hirsch inexpensive

The Goldener Hirsch offers comfortable

en suite rooms. The restaurant serves

Swabian specialities.

Reichsstrasse 44, 86609; 0906 31 24;

http://www.goldener-hirsch-donauwoerth.de

0 Nördlingen

Bavaria; 86720

This town stands at the center of the

Geopark Ries (www.geopark-ries.de), in

the Ries Basin, a huge crater over

110 yards (100 m) deep, formed mil-

lions of years ago by a meteor strike.

With intact medieval walls encircling

a well-preserved Altstadt, Nördlingen

has its share of grandiose architecture.

The late-Gothic St. Georgskirche or

Church of St. George is a triple-nave

hall church with round pillars and

net work vaults. It is possible to climb

the 295-ft (90-m) high church tower,

known as the Daniel (open daily), for

a bird’s-eye view of the distant rim of

the Ries Crater. Visit the Rieskrater

BACK ROADS GERMANY

8 Feuchtwangen

Bavaria; 91555

This city originated in the 9th century

as a Benedictine abbey, which was

dissolved during the Reformation.

Feuchtwangen’s attractive old town,

the Altstadt, is dominated by its two

churches stand ing side-by-side; the

larger of the two, the Stiftskirche, is

the former abbey church. Nestling

alongside is a 12th-century cloister,

the setting for the Kreuzgangspiele

Theater Festival, held each summer.

Feuchtwangen’s Fränkisches Museum

(closed Mon & Tue) is one of southern

Germany’s best folk art museums.

ª Leave Feuchtwangen on the B25/

Dinkelsbühler Strasse to Dinkelsbühl.

ª Continue south along the B25.

Pass Wallerstein and continue on

the B25, which becomes the B29 to

Nördlingen. Obtain a Parkscheibe

(parking pass) from the tourist office

parking lot for 1–5 hours for free. Park

for free on parking lots outside

Altstadt near the gates.

Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €70; moderate, €70–€150; expensive, over €150