Harburg Castle on the Romantische Strasse

Harburg Castle on the Romantische Strasse (Romantic Road)

Saturday, October 3, 2015

After seeing Schlosses Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein, as well as the Wieskirche (White Church) in Bavaria on Friday, Oct 2nd, we needed to deliver Bishop Woodward to his hotel in Munich (so he could catch his plane for home). 

As we left Munich early Saturday morning, we found what is called the Romantic Road and followed part of it for several hours. This picturesque road connects Bavaria in Southern Germany to the Main River in Wurzburg (not too far from Frankfurt). 

We had to keep a sharp lookout for the signs to stay on the right road. It took us winding up and down and around through the small villages and countryside, all of which we would have missed by traveling on the Autobahn.

We came upon another castle in Harburg, so naturally we stopped to visit. They weren't doing any tours in English (only on Wed & Sun mornings), so we paid the lesser fee to walk around the grounds. 

Harburg Castle is one of the largest, oldest and best preserved castles in southern Germany. It originated in the first half of the 11th century. Every castle was built with a tall protective wall around it, was built to be a self-contained village, has its own chapel, and has very tall, round towers (probably to be used as lookouts). 

Then

Now

A view of the entrance.  Behind the rock wall on the left is the cafe where we ate. 

It was one of the best meals I've had, roasted vegetables with a homemade stuffed pasta (yea, not a potato in sight).

Ken enjoyed his bratwurst and kraut.

After four hours on the Romantic Road and visiting the Harburg Castle, it was getting dark so we decided to get back on the Autobahn in order to get home more quickly. It was a fun and profitable weekend, combining business and pleasure.