Christmas magic on the Romantic Road

From the end of November to Christmas Eve, the tempting fragrance of mulled wine, gingerbread and spicy biscuits permeates the Christmas markets in all the towns and villages along the way, from the Prince Bishop’s Residence in Würzburg to the romantic castles of the Königswinkel (once the favourite place of the Kings of Bavaria). During this period, the Romantic Road is transformed into a 460-km-long trail of atmospheric Christmas markets of all sizes, shapes and kinds. Some are semi-permanent fixtures and last right through to the Christmas holiday, as in Augsburg, Würzburg, Dinkelsbühl, Nördlingen and Rothenburg ob der Tauber, with their magical ‘Reiterlesmarkt’ in front of the historic town hall; some are two or three weeks long; and some are held just at weekends during Advent or for a single day. Whichever it is, each market has its own particular character. Here are a few hot tips on some of the things that there are to enjoy. There are Christmas markets in Wertheim, in Bad Mergentheim, famous as one of the ancient centres for the Teutonic Knights, in Creglingen, in front of the town’s romantic castle, in Weikersheim and in Schillingsfürst. There is the Advent market in Friedberg around the parish church and the ‘Christkindlmarkt’ markets, as they are sometimes called, held in the old town centre of Landsberg am Lech, in the market place in Schongau and in the main square in Peiting. Last but not least, there is the Christmas market in Halblech, with its emphasis on the work of local craftsmen, preceded, by advent carols from the Alps, sung in the parish church in Schwangau.