Sunshine dreaming – southern islands - Toubiz

Tour H:
FAIRYTALE CASTLES, ROMANTIC PALACES
Germany has long been known world-wide for
its fairytale castles and palaces. And the magic
still works! Visitors expect to see Rapunzel
peering from every tower! Following part of
the Castle Road, this tour links the best of the
best. Heidelberg’s ruined castle inspired the
Romantic Movement 200 years ago. Schwetzingen
and its gardens are glamorous. Stuttgart
boasts both a New and an Old Palace, while
Ludwigsburg has the largest baroque palace in
Germany. Straight out of a fairytale is Hohenzollern,
high on a hill. Overlooking idyllic Lake
Constance, Meersburg has two castles. On
the way to Mannheim, the tour takes in the
famous Black Forest and the impressive palace
in Karlsruhe.
DAY 1: HEIDELBERG (P. 62; 70) –
SCHWETZINGEN (P. 72)
Arrive at Frankfurt Airport. Transfer to Heidelberg
by road or by train from Frankfurt Airport
train station. Check in to hotel.
Explore Heidelberg’s picturesque Old Town on a
guided sightseeing tour.
Highlights include:
_ The romantic ruined castle.
_ The fine gardens.
_ The world’s biggest wine barrel.
_ The 14th-century pharmacy.
_ Germany’s oldest university and
its unique 500-year-old Student Jail.
Take an excursion to nearby Schwetzingen (20
min), nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage
site. Highlights include:
_ The palace, unique baroque gardens, English
landscape gardens.
Return to Heidelberg for dinner and overnight.
TIP For great views of the castle and city, walk
onto the ancient bridge over the Neckar River.
DAY 2: CASTLE ROAD (P. 71) – STUTTGART
(P. 77) – LUDWIGSBURG (P. 76; 81)
After breakfast, continue to Stuttgart. Traveling
by car or bus, follow the Castle Road. Well signposted,
it links menacing fortresses, mysterious
castle ruins, magnificent palaces, and half-timbered
houses. Check in to your Stuttgart hotel.
Explore historic Stuttgart on a walk through the
car-free city center.
Highlights include:
_ The New Palace and Old Palace.
_ The two fine art museums.
_ Germany’s longest pedestrian shopping street
5 DAYS
MANNHEIM
KARLSRUHE
BADEN-BADEN
FREIBURG
FRANKFURT
BLACK FOREST
HEIDELBERG
STUTTGART
MEERSBURG
Take an excursion by local train to Ludwigsburg.
Highlights include:
_ Ludwigsburg Palace: nicknamed the Swabian
Versailles, Germany’s largest baroque palace is
300 years old.
_ Schloss Favorite and Schloss Monrepos: two
more extravagant mini-palaces.
Return to Stuttgart for dinner and overnight.
TIP By Ludwigsburg Palace, visit the Porcelain
Factory; each hand-painted piece is unique.
DAY 3: HOHENZOLLERN CASTLE/
HECHINGEN (P. 94) – MEERSBURG
(LAKE CONSTANCE) (P. 53)
After breakfast, continue to Hohenzollern
Castle, south of Stuttgart, in the Swabian
Mountains.
Take a guided tour. Highlights include:
_ The lavishly-decorated rooms.
_ The dazzling 1888 Crown of German Emperor
William II, King of Prussia.
Take a break in the castle’s restaurant.
Continue to Lake Constance and Meersburg,
with the oldest inhabited castle in Germany.
Highlights include:
_ The Fortress Museum, Knights Hall, armory.
_ Views of the surrounding vineyard and
the neighboring New Palace from the terrace.
_ The pink and white Baroque New Palace
(18th century) with its elaborate decor.
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