Germany wears its riches well. It has elegant big-city charm, picture-postcard towns, dense forests and pagan-inspired harvest festivals. To all that, add a wealth of art and culture, the pleasures of delightful castles and fine wine and beer. From Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire to Otto von Bismarck?s German Reich, Nazism and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, no other nation has moulded Europe the way Germany has ? for better or worse.

But it?s a big country and it?s tough to figure out where to start. We?ve picked some vacation routes that might help you get acquainted with day-to-day life in the country. So, read on, as we list the best routes that give would-be travellers a peek into the true essence of the fascinating land that is Germany.

German Alpine Route

Established in 1927, this 450 km route winds through the Alps, between Lindau on Lake Constance and Berchtesgaden on the Knigssee. Cycling enthusiasts, fans of water sports, hot-air ballooning and winter sports all get their money?s worth here, as do those who love natural beauty spots.

Twisting alleys and narrow gabled houses await you in Lindau and Oberstaufen besides the spa towns of Sonthofen and Hindelang and the highest German mountain, the Zugspitze.

If you have been yearning for a romantic wedding, you might enter the marble hall of Schloss Mirabell in Salzburg, just across the border in Austria. This apart, the Kloster Ettal monastery with its famous liqueur; the Sylvensteinsee, Schliersee, Tegernsee and Bad Reichenhall lakes; the villages of Ruhpolding and Reit im Winkel and the famous St Bartholom salt mine are a few of the route?s other attractions.

Castle Route

Romantic fortresses and fairy tale castles dot the 975 km-long castle route from Mannheim to Prague. The legacy of the art-loving Electors of the Palatinate can still be admired in towns like Mannheim, Heidelberg or Schwetzingen, where the countryside is as varied as the history.

These towns with their fortresses, ruins and castles stand as witnesses to the past. There is a cycle path along this route, where hostels, guesthouses and hospitable people ensure that your trip will be a pleasant one.

Romanesque Route

Once you come across monasteries, cathedrals, village churches, towns, houses and fortresses, arranged with sculptures and sacred ornaments, you know for sure you?re on the Romanesque Route. It is here that you will discover landscapes connected to the state of Saxony- Anhalt. This legendary route traverses five distinct regions, and is split into northern and southern sections.

The high point of both sections is Magdeburg, whose Monastery of Our White Lady, built by Archbishop Gero (1017 AD), is Germany?s most important example of Romanesque architecture. Reconstructed by Archbishop Werner, this monastery underwent numerous changes over the centuries, leaving Magdeburg with this unique masterpiece of clerical architecture.

German Wine Route

The world?s first and best known wine route for tourists starts in Bockenheim and ends in Schweigen-Rechterbach. This section of Germany, adjacent to France, has lots of sunshine and a Mediterranean appeal.

The wines of the region are dry or semi-sweet and there are many pubs, wineries, bistros and gourmet restaurants to enjoy the region?s haute cuisine. Every fall, the Wurstmarkt wine festival is a major draw.

Fairy Tale Route

Come enter the world of fairy tales, Germany?s legacy to the children of the world. According to some legends, the Seven Dwarfs lived in the hill country of the River Weser, behind the seven hills. One very special myth surrounds the Neuschwanstein castle, whose originator, Bavaria?s King Louis II, succeeded in transforming himself into a legendary fairy tale king during his lifetime.

Besides the fairy tale quality of towns such as Hanau, Marburg, Minden and Bremen or the quaint half-timbered villages of Hesse, the breadbasket of Germany, the attraction also lies in the unspoiled landscapes. Don?t miss the nature reserves and protected wilderness that lie along the route as it winds through fertile river meadows and bright-green fields.

Romantic Road

In 1950, The Romantic Road was first advertised overseas, and to this day, it remains the most famous of Germany?s scenic routings. It begins at the exit from A-7 Autobahn to wend its way from Wuerzburg to Fuessen.

Leave the concrete of the Autobahn to be rewarded with the ultimate that Franconia, Upper Bavaria and Bavarian Swabia can offer ? the stunning Wuerzburg Residence Palace, the magic of Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber and Dinkelsbuhl, the Roman remains in Augsburg.or even King Ludwig II?s dream castle of Neuschwanstein.

An unexpected highlight is to be found in Noerdlingen?s Ries Crater, where America?s astronauts trained for their walk on the moon ? rocks from the moon in the Rieskrater Museum. Throughout the Romantic Road, historic festivals are hosted ? featuring live theatre and musical performances on open-air stages. Wherever travellers find themselves, they can only rave about the exceptional cuisine, delicious wines, glorious land and the castles, churches and fortresses.

Glass Route

Germany?s latest vacation route, the Glass Route, stretches from Neustadt on the Waldnaab River to Passau on the Danube. The best part about it is the tradition of glass production, which can be retraced on a trail known as the ?steep glass track?. Beginning at Lamer Winkel, this 40-km hiking trail includes the sites of former glass works and leads to Bayerisch Eisenstein.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Neustadt has been known as the ?centre of European lead crystal?. Worth a visit are the townhouses and mansions, the baroque palace (once home to Bohemian princes) and the Bavarian crystal manufacturing plant, where you can observe the entire process of glass manufacturing.

Famous for its Zwieseler glass, Zwiesel in the Bavarian Forest is also home to individual glass workshops, studios, galleries and exhibitions where one can admire modern and historic glasswork.

Goethe Route

For those who love Goethe, there?s a route named after him that connects the most important aspects of the poet?s life and work. As we pass from Frankfurt Main through Erfurt to Leipzig, we see the landscapes and cultural assets that shaped his work and personality.

The journey begins at the city of the poet?s birth, Frankfurt Am Main ? a metropolis that thrives on its astonishing cultural diversity. Historically important places such as the St Paul?s Church or the ?Romer?, the city?s old town hall, also leave an impression. The route then leads us to Fulda, where in 1765, at the age of 16, Goethe was touched by the sights of the city like St Michael?s Church and the City Palace. By this time, he was already writing poetry, inspired by the atmosphere of the place.

Orange Route

The house of Orange-Nassau is one of the oldest and best-known dynasties in Europe. Its founders originated in Hesse in Germany. This route is a fascinating journey of discovery through 25 German and Dutch cities and holiday regions linked with the house of Orange-Nassau. Packed with splendid landscapes, palaces, castles, gardens and art treasures in museums and exhibitions, this is a silent witness to the Orange dynasty?s grandeur.

The hospitality of many historic cities, an extensive calendar of events and the beauty of the regions between Amsterdam and Schwerin make the Orange Route a unique cultural experience.

Clock Route

The German ?clock route? unfolds its charms along a round trip from Villingen-Schwenningen via Rottweil, Waldkirch, Titisee, and back to Villingen-Schwenningen in the heart of the Black Forest, an old cultural region where cuckoo clocks come from. In the old towns, pub signs tempt visitors to sample local specialties ? spring water, schnapps, fine wines and real Black Forest Gateau.

The German clock route offers ramblers or cyclists the chance to visit historical old towns, typical Black Forest farms, the Gutach valley bridge and the protected area, Schwenninger Moos. Also, there are other spots like the baroque St. Peter church and Monastery, the Triberg waterfalls, clock factories and the world?s largest cuckoo clock in Schonach.

Precious Stones Route

In the Hunsruck-Nahe region, one of the most beautiful low-mountain areas in Germany, there is a treasure chest of precious objects waiting to be discovered. This route links all places around Idar-Oberstein which have been shaped by the processing of precious stones.

The origins of the cutting of precious stones, which can be traced back to the rich mineral findings and their quarrying in this area since the Middle Ages, are demonstrated by two still-intact agate-cutting shops. Even today, visitors can dig for sparkling stones in the precious stone mines in Steinkaulenberg. A very special little treasure chest is the small town of Herrstein.

Saxony Silver Route

During the Middle Ages, it was primarily silver mining in neighbouring Schneeberg that was responsible for bringing prosperity to the people of Zwickau. The once extensive silver deposits in the Erzgebirge mountains have long been exhausted. But the old miners? saying, ?The mine is the source of everything?, still holds true today, 500 years after silver ore mining began here.

The Silver Route, which starts in Zwickau, is liberally blessed with art treasures, churches, cathedrals and parades. Traditional crafts skills still flourish here and there are stretches that give cyclists and walkers the opportunity to explore what is the world?s largest open-air museum. Here, German life throughout the centuries is recreated as visitors stroll through a village containing a school, bakery, shops, fire-station, church and inn.

Hitting the high road

Suchitra Pillai, VJ-cum- actress

When my dad was posted in Germany, I got a chance to see the sights and sounds of the nearby areas. Of course, I was very young, but I do remember the countryside and the historical relics. The various tourist routes nearby were each more interesting than the other.

Ritu Beri, designer

I have travelled all over Germany, right from Dusseldorf to Frankfurt. The fairy-tale route is particularly fascinating for travellers. I also enjoy the beer and champagne festivals as well as the fabric fairs.

USEFUL SITES

www.romantic-road-coach.de
www.oranjeroute.n