In the historic town of Dinkelsbühl, in Central Franconia, on The Romantic Road, in southern Germany

 "Cause all of me loves all of you. Love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections."

-- a few lines from "All of Me," a (2013) song by John Legend
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(on The Romantic Road [Romantische Straße]), in southern Germany) A "theme route" devised by promotion-minded travel agents in the 1950s, the Romantic Road -- covering nearly 460 kilometers (~290 mi.) of surface roads from the vineyards of Würzburg to the foot of the Alps -- and draws some two million visitors every year, making it the most popular of Germany’s holiday routes. This well-trodden has been cut (with its many curves) through a cultural and historical cross-section of southern Germany as it traverses Franconia and edges Baden-Württemberg in the north before drifting into the state of Bavaria, all the way to King Ludwig II's famous, albeit imperfectly funded, castles. You should, however, expect a good bit of Gemütlichkeit* and hospitality from those who earn their living along this romantic route, especially in southern Germany, specifically in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where it links several attractive towns and castles.

+ Featured here is Dinkelsbühl, a relatively small (and often overlooked) town in southern Bavaria -- which is (in my view, after multiple visits over the years), one of the beter stops on the Romantic Road! Dinkelsbühl lies along the Wörnitz River about 20 miles (30 km) southwest of Ansbach. Mentioned in 928, it was fortified in the 10th century and became a free imperial city in 1273. It flourished in the 14th and 15th centuries and withstood eight sieges in the Thirty Years’ War (events commemorated annually in a July festival) before it fell to Gustav II Adolf of Sweden in 1632. The 10th-century walls, along with a moat and 12th-century towers, still surround the city, thus preserving its medieval character and providing one basis for a thriving tourist trade.

+ The city survived the Swedish invasion of 1632 and World War II unscathed. And in 1826, King Ludwig I issued a proclamation preserving the city’s buildings, city walls, and towers. There are more perfectly preserved half-timber structures here than anywhere else in Germany! Notable landmarks include the late Gothic Church of St. George (1448–99; one of Germany’s finest single-naved churches, with a Romanesque tower), the old castle of the Teutonic Order (rebuilt from 1761–64), the fortified town mill (ca. 1390), and the Deutsche Haus (a 14th–15th-century mansion, with a Renaissance facade). Indeed, Dinkelsbühl has a unique architectural style, including Gothic, late Roman, Rococo, and much more.

+ Every Wednesday and Saturday between 8am and 12pm, several market stands come together and offer their products for sale. This neat little farmer’s market (shown here) is found directly in front of St. George’s Church.
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*Gemütlichkeit: a German-language word commonly used to convey the idea of a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and much good cheer.