URL:
https://hakuna.matata.blog/wurzburg-eibelstadt-romantic-road-germany/

This post is Part 2 of my *Driving Castles and Cities* series about our family trip through Germany and Paris. 

Here we explore Würzburg, visit the Kiliani Volksfest, join a wine fest in Eibelstadt, and begin our drive along the Romantic Road. 

> **Start from the beginning:** 

> • [Part 1 – Landing in Germany: From Los Angeles Freeways to Stuttgart Streets](https://hakuna.matata.blog/los-angeles-to-stuttgart-german-road-trip/)

If Part 1 was about getting our feet on the ground, Part 2 is where the trip turned magical: baroque palaces, a riverside city, a lively fair, and a tiny wine-fest town that felt straight out of a movie.

Day Trip to Würzburg

From Stuttgart, we drove to Würzburg, a gorgeous city on the Main River and the official northern gateway to Germany’s Romantic Road. It has just the right mix of history, river views, and good food.

Würzburg Residence

Our first stop was the Würzburg Residence, an 18th-century baroque palace so impressive it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside, sweeping staircases, elaborate frescoes, and crystal chandeliers set the tone. It’s the kind of place where every ceiling seems more ornate than the last.

Highlight: The grand staircase and the massive ceiling fresco by Tiepolo are worth taking your time with—don’t rush this stop.

Old Main Bridge (Alte Mainbrücke)

Next, we walked to the Old Main Bridge, lined with statues of saints and local historical figures. It’s one of the best places to soak in the atmosphere: river views, vineyards on the hillsides, and people lingering with glasses of local wine.

Grabbing a drink and standing on the bridge is almost a local tradition—part sightseeing, part social hour.

Marienberg Fortress

High above the city sits the Marienberg Fortress, a hilltop stronghold that has watched over Würzburg for centuries. You can hike up or drive, but either way, the payoff is a panoramic view of the city’s red roofs and the river winding through the valley.

Kiliani Volksfest

We were lucky to visit during the Kiliani Volksfest, Würzburg’s traditional summer fair. Think of it as a slightly smaller, more regional cousin of Oktoberfest: beer tents, rides, music, and locals in dirndls and lederhosen.

For the kids, it was all about the rides and lights. For the adults, it was a chance to try regional Franconian beer and food in a lively, authentic setting.

A Night in Eibelstadt: Wine Fest Magic

One evening, we headed to the nearby town of Eibelstadt for its annual wine fest. This was one of those unexpected highlights of the trip—the kind you can’t fully plan.

Eibelstadt is a small wine-growing town, and during the fest its streets fill with long tables, music, and stalls pouring local wines:

  • We sampled crisp Franconian white wines, traditionally served in their distinctive round “Bocksbeutel” bottles.
  • Kids snacked on pretzels and sweets while we enjoyed live music and the warm, communal atmosphere.

It felt like we’d stumbled into a neighborhood party where everyone was invited.

Hitting the Romantic Road

From Würzburg, we officially joined the Romantic Road (Romantische Straße), a famous scenic route running from Würzburg all the way down to Füssen near the Austrian border. It links together medieval towns, castles, and landscapes that look like they were designed for postcards.

Our first major stop: Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which deserved—and got—its own chunk of our day.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Stepping Back in Time

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval towns. Imagine half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and a city wall you can still walk along.

We:

  • Wandered the narrow lanes, each turn revealing another impossibly photogenic building.
  • Walked a section of the city wall, looking down over roofs and towers.
  • Popped into small shops and bakeries, taking advantage of every excuse to stop for a snack.

Rothenburg is touristy, yes—but there’s a reason. It feels like a storybook brought to life.

Night in Füssen

By evening, we continued along the Romantic Road to Füssen, a charming town tucked near the foothills of the Alps. Füssen would be our base for exploring two of Germany’s most iconic castles the next day.

Next Post:

➡️ [Part 3 – Castles and Cable Cars: Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau and Linderhof](https://hakuna.matata.blog/neuschwanstein-hohenschwangau-linderhof-bavaria/)

Previous Post:

⬅️ [Part 1 – Landing in Germany: From Los Angeles Freeways to Stuttgart Streets](https://hakuna.matata.blog/los-angeles-to-stuttgart-german-road-trip/)