The Cities of the Holy Roman Empire Walk 2012A Perfect Blend of Historic Towns and Beautiful Countryside | |
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We offer two versions of this walking tour: the basic six nights where you walk
straight through as on most of our other walking tours; and the extended nine
nights version where you spend a full extra day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber,
Dinkelsbühl and Nördlingen, so that you can really explore these
beautiful and fascinating towns.
If you prefer, you can just add one or two extra nights
rather than all three - please ask for prices.
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Day 1. Arrive in the romantic city of Rothenburg
ob der Tauber.
Spend an extra full day here on the 9 night tour, allowing you to explore the town walls, the St. Jakobs's church, the Plönlein and the Town Hall. |
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Day 2. After exploring Rothenburg, walk up the Tauber
valley, past a number of water mills to Gebsattel, where there is an interesting church.
Continue through forest and past Mary Magdalen's Spring to Schillingsfürst,
where there is an impressive palace (about 10 miles).
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Day 3. Walk to the former monastery at Sulz. While most of
the monastic buildings were destroyed during the Peasant's revolt, the church is
still in use. The way continues through forest, up to the ridge and
on to a mill, then to Feuchtwangen, which has a fine marketplace and well preserved
cloisters (about 12 miles).
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Day 4. Today you have an easy walk through forests. The route
passes through tiny villages in forest clearings, but otherwise there is little sign
of human habitation. By contrast, there is normally plenty of wildlife to be seen
in these woods. The walk brings you to the beautiful town of Dinkelsbühl, where
most buidings date from 15th and 16 centuries. St. George's church is the largest hall
church in southern Germany. The back streets away from the very centre of the town
are amazingly peaceful, and have often been used as a filmset. (about 10 miles).
Spend an extra full day here on the 9 night tour. |
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Day 5. Today's walk is again a forest walk. On the way you pass
as series of trout ponds before reaching the village of Wilburgstetten, where there are
both a fine pilgrimage church and the remains of the border of the Roman Empire, the Limes,
known locally as the "Devil's Rampart". Shortly after you leave Franconia and enter
Swabia. The walk ends at Raustetten (about 14 miles).
Day 6. This a day of contrasts. First you walk through forest
to Maihingen, where there is a fine baroque monastery church and then to Wallerstein
which has a famous plague monument. The final stretch crosses the flat and open Ries plateau,
a meteorite crater 15 million years old. Your final destination is the town of
Nördlingen, almost in the centre of the plateau and almost perfectly circular. The city walls,
with dramatic gate towers, are still complete today (about 12 miles).
Spend an extra full day here on the 9 night tour. |
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