Rothenburg is the most famous medieval town in Germany. The fortified city walls, the castle, pubs and restaurants have been in existence for the past 500 years. There is a saga called the “Meistertrunk”, which explains why this town was not destroyed in the 30 Year War like many others.

Heidelberg is home to the oldest university in Germany. Founded in 1386 it is still going strong. Currently there are more than 30.000 registered students. The famous Heidelberg castle sits high over the city and has inspired many poets and artists. It offers a beautiful view of Heidelberg and the Neckar valley. In the castle cellars you will find the huge Heidelberg vat, which was built to hold 57,860 gallons of wine.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria lived from 1845–1886. He is one of the tragic figures of Bavarian history. After his father died in 1864, Ludwig became king. His interest in art and the love of his country inspired the idea of a new and spectacular castle that would replace the ruins in front of the mountain called Schwanstein. In 1868 the plans were completed, in 1869 the construction started. The castle was finished in 1886. Its architecture perfectly matches the surreal dream world that King Ludwig had escaped to. He only lived here for 120 days. He then moved to Lake Starnberg where he mysteriously died (castle tour needs approx. 3 hours).

The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of around 4,920 ft. The name Schwarzwald, i.e. Black Forest, goes back to the Romans who referred to the thickly forested mountains there as Silva Nigra , i.e. "Black Forest," because the dense growth of conifers in the forest blocked out most of the light inside the forest.

The "Nibelungenlied," an epic poem, was written here, in the dense, dark forests of the Odenwald, around the year 1200. Historic highlights from many centuries are also scattered around the region, and they are all connected by scenic, curvy roads, waiting to be discovered.

The valley of the Altmühl is incised into the limestone of the Fränkische Alb. Impressive limestone cliffs line the winding road that follows the river closely. Take your time to inhale both – the road and the views.