4-Nights The Castle Road: Heidelberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Rabenstein Castle — CALL

Avanti Destinations

OFFER ID 1355301

The Castle Road
The Castle Road runs 620 miles from Mannheim, Germany, to Prague, Czech Republic, past delightful scenery from one amazing castle, palace or town to the next. Sights include gems of medieval architecture, romantic towns and even relics of 2,000-year-old Roman watchtowers. Avanti has put together this independent travel package that gives you the highlights of the road between Heidelberg and Nuremberg.

Includes:

  • 1 Night Heidelberg
  • 1 Night Rothenburg ob der Tauber
  • 1 Night Nuremberg
  • 1 Night Rabenstein Castle
  • 1-Week Compact Manual Car Rental
  • Castle Road Map and Suggested Driving Itinerary
  • Daily Breakfast


4 nights | Call for pricing

Itinerary

Avanti Destinations: The Castle Road

Day 1 Heidelberg

Pick up your car and drive to Heidelberg, located in a river valley at the foot of the verdant Odenwald (Forest of Odes). Not only home to the oldest university in Germany, Heidelberg was largely spared from the destruction of WWII and retains its baroque charms with its famed castle and beautiful bridge. “Heidelberg was every bit as captivating as I had imagined it would be,” wrote Mark Twain in his 1878 book, A Tramp Abroad, about his three-month stay in Heidelberg.

The ruins of Heidelberger Schloss are among the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps. Only partially rebuilt since its demolition in the 18th-century, it dominates the view of old town, and is served by a station on the Heidelberger Bergbahn funicular railway.



Centrally Located Hotel In Heidelberg, ()

Day 2 Heidelberg, Rothenburg

You depart this morning after breakfast, headed to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Located on the Romantic Road about half way between Frankfurt and Munich, the city and its historic Market Square are surrounded by a 14th-century town wall and an exceptionally well-preserved medieval Aldstadt (Oldtown), as seen in the 1940 Walt Disney movie Pinocchio, and in the 2010 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Best of all, you'll be there for the night so after the tourists leave, you can experience the real Rothenburg.

En route to Rothenburg, some of the castles you will pass include the Dilsberg Fortress in Neckargemuend, the castles of Neckarsteinach, the ruins of Schloss Schadeck (or Swallow's Nest Castle), the knight's castle at Hirschhorn, the castle of Goetz von Berlichingen, the Horneck castle of the Teutonic Order of Knights, Schloss Guttenberg, Schloss Steinsberg in Sinsheim, Waldenburg, and Schwäbisch (shwibish) Hall. (Total driving distance: 184 miles. Estimated drive time: 3 hours.)



Centrally Located Hotel In Rothenburg, (B)

Day 3 Rothenburg, Nuremberg

During the Medieval period, Nuremberg was one of the great trade centers on the route from Italy to Northern Europe, and used the wealth generated to become the center of the German Renaissance in the 15th- and 16th-centuries, which explains the richness of its Aldstadt. The thick walls and 80 towers around Nuremberg's Aldstadt encompass the medieval Kaiserburg and museum, the traditional crafts shown in the Handwerkerhof, the Königstor tower gate, many medieval timber-frame buildings, the Gothic Church of St. Lawrence and the Church of St. Sebaldus, are all well worth a visit. The Spielzeugmuseum, or Toy Museum, displays antique and modern wooden and metal toys, dolls and doll houses, model railways and more.

En route to Nuremberg some of the castles you will pass include Colmberg, Lictenau and Wolframs-Eschenbach in Romantic-Franconia, the former Royal Palace of Brandenburg-Ansbach, the 1,000- year-old Abenberg and Ratibor Palace in Roth.

Kaiserburg was built between 1140 and 1400, and is the castle in which Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was held captive during the crusades. One of the most important fortresses in Europe, it is actually three complexes in one: the imperial castle (Kaiserburg), buildings of the Burgraves of Nuremberg (or Burggrafenburg), and municipal buildings of the Imperial City (or the Reichsstädtische Bauten).



Centrally Located Hotel In Nuremberg, (B)

Day 4 Nuremberg, Ahortnal

The amazing 4+ Star Rabenstein Castle in Bavaria between Bayreuth and Nuremberg lies on a rock high above the Aisbach Valley and houses a restaurant and falconry center where you can see handlers working with the birds in this ancient art. With a history that stretches back to the 12th-century, the castle was abandoned until the 1860s when it was purchased by the Count of Schönborn, who restored the castle and gave it new life. Today, each of the castle's 22 guest rooms is individually decorated and fit for a king.

Nearby in the Sophienhöhle Cave, one of the most beautiful dripstone caves in Germany, and a celtic village with a true-to-life Celtic house plus a campfire barbecue.

En route to Ahorntal just some of the castles you will pass include the Imperial palace at Forchheim, the ruins at Ebermannstadt, the ruins of Neideck and Streitburg at Markt Wiesenttal, and Schloss Gössweinstein, Schloss Pottenstein, Schloss Egloffstein and Schloss Waischenfeld.



Centrally Located Hotel In Ahortnal, (B)

Day 5 Ahortnal
After breakfast at one of the most historic and romantic castles in Europe, you're ready for your next Avanti destination!

Centrally Located Hotel In Ahortnal, (B)

Featured Destinations
Heidelberg
Rothenburg
Nuremberg
Ahorntal

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges
08/01/2023 - 12/31/2025
from $999,999,999 per person


* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Prices Start At
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Length
4 Nights
Air City
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Vacation Rating
Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
Remarks

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID
1355301

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Journeys By Barbara

85606 Molvena Drive
Indio, CA 92203
USA

(707) 621-4717