Germany: The Country of Panzer and "NAZI"

Idyllic Route

The well-signposted Idyllic Route runs for 130 kilometres through an outstandingly beautiful holiday and recreation area, past forests, meadows, old mills and original remains or reconstructions of the limes, the boundary of the Roman empire. It leads through the Swabian-Franconian Forest Nature Reserve, one of southern Germany's most delightful areas for walking. Steep, tree-clad slopes, wide-open plateaus, long valleys and dense mixed forests full of mysterious sounds all add to the charms of the nature reserve. There are also fields, pastureland, meadows and forests woven together like patchwork dotted with hamlets and farms. Other features to look out for are the orchid-filled meadows in the valleys, hillside orchards and pastures and dramatic rock formations in the forests of the steep Keuper escarpments.

The Idyllic Route is perfect for walking, cycling and discovering an area with thundering waterfalls and tranquil lakes suitable for swimming. Visitors can admire impressive waterwheels and historical mills on burbling streams, or follow in the footsteps of the Romans. There are fascinating museums, neatly kept villages and romantic little towns all along the route - perfect for whiling away the hours. Priceless collections at a string of castles and palaces reflect the artistic passions of their owners, past and present. This circular route is also suitable for a cycle tour of the Swabian Forest, though touring or mountain bikes are recommended.

Nymphenburg Palace & Park, Munich

The Bavarian elector Ferdinand was so delighted at the birth of a much longed-for heir to his throne that he gave his wife a piece of land. That was in 1663, and the Wittelsbach Electress Henriette Adelaide von Savoyen built herself a “borgo de la ninfe”, a small summer villa with a garden. This was the predecessor of Nymphenburg Palace. At the start of the 18th century the building was extended on both sides, with residential pavilions connected by galleries being added. The exterior was remodelled in the French style and the modest palace transformed into a large, elegant summer residence. Nymphenburg is regarded as a European masterpiece, combining architecture and landscape design in seldom-seen harmony. At the beginning of the 19th century the leading landscape gardener Friedrich Ludwig Sckell transformed the margins of the park into an English landscaped garden with meandering paths and picturesque effects.

Schönbusch Park, Aschaffenburg

Schönbusch Park in Aschaffenburg, Lower Franconia, is one of Germany's oldest classical landscaped gardens. Starting in 1775, under Friedrich Carl von Erthal, Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell transformed what was then a hunting ground into an English landscaped garden. The park boasts an abundance of plants, a temple to friendship, a philosopher's house, an orangery, the Nilkheim chapel, Nilkheim model farm, shepherds' houses and a little village. The neo-classical Schönbusch garden palace gives visitors an insight into 18th century royal living in ten rooms furnished in Louis XVI style.

Cologne Cathedral

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, Cologne Cathedral is one of the finest church buildings in the Christian world. Gargantuan proportions and craftsmanship of unparalled quality have made the cathedral a defining example of the Gothic style.

The pinnacle of Gothic architecture
Cologne's mighty cathedral towers just a stone's throw from the banks of the Rhine. Modelled on a French design and built entirely in a high-Gothic style, it is Cologne's most famous landmark and one of the largest cathedrals in Germany. Its steep, vaulted ceilings are supported by more than one hundred pillars and light streams in through a multitude of stained-glass windows. The cathedral's most sacred treasure and the most important reliquary in the western world is the Shrine of the Three Magi, a magnificent gilded sarcophagus thought to hold the remains of the Three Wise Men. More than 500 steps lead up the south tower, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

Bamberg - UNESCO World Heritage Site

One thousand years of history have shaped the Franconian imperial and episcopal town of Bamberg, leaving behind many valuable architectural monuments such as medieval churches and baroque town houses. The magic of the past hangs like a veil over the town.

Magnificent architecture steeped in a thousand years of history
Bamberg's fascinating historical townscape has developed over more than a 1,000 years. At the centre of this world heritage town is the largest preserved old quarter in Europe. Around 2,400 listed buildings and the centuries-old garden quarter make up the town's unique cultural heritage. The façades of its buildings are richly decorated in fascinating detail with spectacular ornamentation.