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The Southern Romantic Road
The southern section of Germany’s most famous tourist route begins
at splendid Augsburg. The city’s creative and architectural splendor was
funded by its bankers, making it one of Europe’s richest and most
important cities at the height of the German Renaissance. Further
south, a dream-like artistic vision prevails in the heavenly creations of
Baroque and Rococo church builders and in the Wagnerian fantasies
of “Mad” King Ludwig at Schloss Neuschwanstein, Germany’s best-loved
castle. Overshadowing everything is the majestic grandeur of the Alps,
visible on a clear day even from Augsburg. Swabian cuisine hints at
Italy’s proxi mity, with ravioli-like Maultaschen and gnocchi-like Spätzle or
Kasspätzen featuring on menus, although beer remains the drink of choice.BACK ROADS GERMANY
ACTIVITIES
Go on a mountain hike or opt for a ramble in the
lovely walking country of Pfaffenwinkel in SchongauSlide downhill on the popular 2,493-ft (760-m)
summer toboggan run at SchwangauTake off on a hang-gliding or paragliding course
on the Tegelberg at SchwangauExperience high-altitude scenic thrills on the
Buchenberg or Tegelberg cable carsEnjoy classical music in an Alpine setting at
Schloss Neuschwanstein’s Schlosskonzerte, held
every SeptemberKEY
Drive routeAbove Lush, grassy slopes beside the road between Wildsteig and Rottenbuch, see p206ForggenseeHopfenseeSchmutterseeBrietenberg
6,227 ftLechfeldHOHENSCHWANGAUFÜSSENVilsPflachSeeg RosshauptenHopfenBernbeurenHopferauRettenbach
am AuerbergSchwangauVordersulzbergEnzenstetten
Rieden am
Forggensee
WeissbachLangerringenHiltenfingenScherstettenLamerdingenEttringenOberiglingOsterzellUstersbachWaalAystettenMickhausen GrossaitingenFischachGessertshausenHorgauWehringenSiebnachTürkheimDöpshofenLangenneufnachBlonhofenLengenfeldKetterschwangGermaringenRiedenNeugablonzBertoldshofenRiederWald
LengenwangLeuterschach
StöttenBernbachBiessenhofenPfrontenDiedorfSchwabmünchenBuchloeBad
WörishofenKaufbeurenMarktoberdorfAUSTRIA
BAYERN