Ffestiniog Travel

Wednesday 4 September to Wednesday 18 September 2013

The ‘Romantic Road’ runs from Würzburg in the north to Füssen in the south of Bavaria. From Füssen our tour continues into Austria where we enjoy more memorable railway experiences as well as visiting the best known castles and palaces of King Ludwig. Our travels also take in Germany’s highest mountain, Zugspitz.

Day 1   Cologne

We start our tour by taking a lunchtime Eurostar from London St. Pancras International to Brussels where we connect to a high speed train to Cologne for one night. The hotel Ibis Am Dom is found in the station building under the shadow of the medieval cathedral.

Day 2   Onwards to Nuremburg

From Cologne we cross the country to Nuremburg arriving mid-afternoon, allowing enough time to explore the city or visit the German National Railway Museum. We stay in Nuremburg for 4 nights.

Day 3   Romantic Road

We take a day trip to Würzburg, the starting point of the “Romantische Strasse”. Würzburg sits astride the river Main, a tributary of the Rhine. Its most notable sites are the Residenz and the fortress of Marienberg on the banks of the River Main.

Day 4   Rothenburg ob der Tauber

A day trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber on the Romantic Road. Rothenburg is a well preserved example of a medieval town surrounded by a town wall. It has many classic preserved buildings especially the Rathaus.

Day 5   Bavarian Railway Museum

Today we take a day trip to Nordlingen with a visit to the Bavarian Railway Museum, where we hope to have a steam train ride on the museum’s 40km railway.

Day 6   Füssen

This morning we move on to Füssen via Augsburg and Buchloe. Füssen marks the end of the Romantic Road where it meets the foothills of the Alps. We have 2 nights here.

Day 7   "Mad" King Ludwig's Castle

A full day exploring Füssen with two castles to visit, Hohenschwangau close to the town centre and Neuschwanstein castle on a lofty peak overlooking the town. Neuschwanstein was commissioned by “mad” King Ludwig, but he never actually saw it completed.

Day 8   Woergl

After breakfast we make our way via Munich into Austria for a 4-night stay in Woergl.

Day 9   Zell am See

This morning we ride by regular train to Krimml via Zell am See, the section from Zell am See being narrow gauge. On arrival in Krimml we have the option of taking the bus to the famous waterfalls before catching the narrow gauge steam train back to Zell am See and standard gauge back to Woergl.

Day 10   Brenner Pass

We take a round trip tour today, departing Woergl after breakfast and heading towards Innsbruck. From here we take the train south into Italy via the Brenner pass. On arrival in Fortezza we turn east and head back into Austria crossing the border at San Candido. At Lienz we change trains again and head to Spittal Millstättersee where we head north up the main line to Schwarzach St Veit and finally back west to Woergl.

Day 11   Zillertalbahn

Today we take a full day’s excursion to Jenbach where we make a return journey on the 760mm narrow gauge steam railway, the “Zillertalbahn”. We enjoy a long lunch at Mayrhofen. On our return to Jenbach we take a return ride on Emperor Franz Josef’s 1,000mm narrow gauge steam rack railway to Lake Achensee and arrive back in Woergl mid-evening.

Day 12   Garmisch Parktenkirchen

After breakfast we leave Austria and head to Garmisch Partenkirchen, arriving at lunch time. This afternoon we take a trip by electric rack railway and cable car to the summit of the Zugspitz, Germany’s highest mountain. We stay in Garmisch for 2 nights.

Day 13   Oberammergau

Day trip to Oberammergau by train, changing at Murnau where we have time to explore the village - host to Passion Plays once every 10 years. After lunch we move on by coach to Linderhof Palace in the foothills. Linderhof was another of King Ludwig’s palaces and castles. We return to Garmisch by coach.

Day 14   St Goar

Today we head out of Bavaria and start our journey home. We make our last overnight stop at St Goar, idyllically set on the Rhine across the river from St Goarhausen and its two castles “Katz” and “Maus” (Cat and Mouse).

Day 15   Homeward bound

We take a regional train up to Cologne where we transfer on to a high speed train back to Brussels and onwards to London.