Page 496 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

to the Kurmainzisches
Schloss, which now hous- MUSEUM OF THE BAVARIAN
es the Tauberfränkisches KINGS
Landschaftsmuseum
(Schlossplatz; admission Palace-fatigued visitors often head straight for
€2; h2-4.30pm Tue-Sat, the bus stop, coach park or nearest beer after a
10am-noon & 2-4.30pm Sun tour of the castles, most overlooking the area’s
Easter-Oct), where you can third attraction, the worthwhile Museum der
learn more about Tauber- Bayerischen Könige (Museum of the Bavarian Kings;
bischofsheim’s past. www.museumderbayerischenkoenige.de; Alpseestrasse
27; adult/concession €9.50/8; h10am-6pm), installed
The Drive » The 34km dash in a former lakeside hotel 400m from the castle
from Tauberbischofsheim to ticket office (heading towards Alpsee Lake). The
Weikersheim passes through big-window views across the beautiful lake (a great
Lauda-Königshofen, a pretty
stop in the Tauber Valley. picnic spot) to the Alps are almost as amazing as
the Wittelsbach bling on show, including Ludwig
II’s famous blue-and-gold robe. The architecturally
3 Weikersheim stunning museum is packed with historical
Top billing in under- background on Bavaria’s first family and is well worth
the extra legwork. A detailed audioguide is included
visited Weikersheim is in the ticket price.
Schloss Weikersheim
(www.schloss-weikersheim.de;
GERMANY 35 THE ROMANTIc ROAD
Marktplatz 11; adult/conces- follows minor country roads all half-timbered house you
sion €6.50/3.30; h9am-6pm the way, with the route passing are ever likely to see.
Apr-Oct, 10am-noon & 1-5pm through a rolling patchwork of Hidden down a little al-
Nov-Mar), the finest palace fields. You could also detour via ley is the Alt-Rothenburger
on the entire Romantic Creglingen, a minor stop on the Handwerkerhaus (Alter
Road. Renaissance to the Romantic Road. Stadtgraben 26; adult/conces-
core, it’s surrounded by sion €3/2.50; h11am-5pm
beautiful formal gardens TRIP HIGHLIGHT Mon-Fri, from 10am Sat & Sun
inspired by Versailles. 4 Rothenburg ob Easter-Oct, 2-4pm daily Dec),
Highlights include the der Tauber where numerous artisans –
enormous Knights Hall including coopers, weavers,
dating from around 1600 A well-preserved histori- cobblers and potters – have
and over 40m long. The cal town, Rothenburg ob their workshops today,
rich decor here includes a der Tauber is the most and mostly have had for
huge painted ceiling, each popular stop on the Ro- the house’s 700-plus-years
panel depicting a hunting mantic Road. But when existence. It’s half museum,
scene, and the amaz- you’re finished with the half active workplace and
ingly ornate fireplace. main sights, there are you can easily spend an
The unforgettable rococo a couple of less obvious hour or so watching the
mirror cabinet, with its attractions here. craftsmen at work.
gilt-and-red decor, is also You’ll often see the
part of the guided tour, Plönlein on the covers 5 p502
after which you can wan- of brochures and tourist The Drive » The quickest
der the elegantly laid-out bumf, a gathering of and simplest way between
gardens. forks in the cobbled road Rothenburg ob der Tauber and
(Obere Schmiedgasse) Dinkelsbühl is along the A7
The Drive » The short 28km occupied by possibly the motorway (50km). For a gentler,
journey between Weikersheim quaintest, most crooked but slower and longer experience,
and Rothenburg ob der Tauber follow the official Romantic Road

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