On August 3rd, 2017; I had the change to explore Germany’s Romantic Road.

Since I had one day to explore, I focused on three locations, (Neuschwanstein, Nordlingen and Rothenburg).

     Neuschwanstein is a fantasy made real —a fairytale castle festooned with balconies and turrets, rising high above the trees in the Bavarian Alps, (pictured above).

     Vast and substantial, it is the work of a leading set-painter called Christian Jank, and was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-86) as a backdrop against which he might act out the stuff of German romantic legend. Ludwig had grown up in the nearby castle of Hohenschwangau, a medieval fortress restored by his father, Maximilian II, and decorated with wall paintings depicting, amoung other subjects, the legend of Lohengrin.

     Next I headed north into Central Germany along the romantic highway. There I came across two ancient walled cities: Rothenburg, and Nordlingen.

     Nordlingen, has a population of approximately 19,190. It was built in an impact crater, and was first mentioned in recorded history in 898 AD.

     Another attraction, (pictured below), in Nordlingen is the Saint George’s Church’s 270 ft. steeple, called “Daniel”, which is made of a suevite impact-breccia that contains shock quartz from the meteorite that formed the impact crater.

     Rothenburg is well known for its well-preserved medeival old town, a destination for tourists from around the world.