Castle Road

The Castle Road is the perfect scenic drive for castle lovers. This trail stretches for more than 625 miles starting in Mannheim, Germany and ending in Prague, Czech Republic. The route is lined with 70 castles and palaces throughout southern Germany and western Czech Republic. Castle Road originated in 1954 when several cities in what was then West Germany came together to promote tourism in the areas lying on either side of what was the only west-east route through Germany. The number of castles and palaces along this holiday route led to the obvious name, Castle Road. 
The original route was just under 200 miles long. In the early 1990s when the borders opened with the East, the route was extended all the way to Prague, making the route what it is today. Some castles are only tourist attractions, while others offer the possibility to stay overnight or dine in their restaurant. 

Practical Info

Castle Road can be accessed from Mannheim or Prague at either end. The closest major international airports to the route are Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Munich, and Prague.