Dinkelsbühl is more than just another stop on the Romantic Road — it’s the headquarters! Preserved better than your grandmother’s finest china, it is a sensory delight from tip to toe. Every winding street and every cobbled corner seem to dish up something new.
The first thing you will notice, of course, is the visual onslaught. When the town comes into view, it’s hard to know where to look first. Many guests end up spending a few minutes in the classic pose: heads back, mouths open, gaping at the forest of half-timbered houses sprouting up inside the medieval walls.
The Segringer Tor, Rothenburger Tor, Nördlinger Tor, and the Wörnitztor are all gates in the wall that you will want to wander through as well — if you can tear your eyes away from the initial spectacle!
There is a walking trail that will take you around the outer wall and show you the main sites, but if you don’t trust your feet you can always hire a horse-drawn carriage to make the journey, too.
If you suddenly feel like you’ve stepped back in time to another world, it could be your imagination… or you could be in Dinkelsbühl during their world-famous Kinderzeche. It’s a 10 day re-enactment festival based on the way the children of the town saved their homes from destruction by the Swedish during the 30 Years War. Costumed performers and locals dressed to the hilt roam the streets, putting on a variety of shows and cultural events each July.
Yet if you get a little overwhelmed, don’t worry — there’s plenty here to comfort you. Dinkelsbühl uses both food and wine to calm visitors on sensory overload. Excellent Franconian wine is available all over town, and many of the restaurants have wine cellars that quietly rival top sommeliers’ personal stores. Traditional German fare is enhanced by a strong farm-to-table tradition, ensuring that you’ll be eating and drinking the best the area has to offer.
If you can’t come out for the summer festival, the Christmas market is also lovely. Be sure to pick up some of the pottery — the artisans of this town are especially noted for their high-quality handcrafted wares. Naturally, they cost the earth too, but it is well worth it to walk away with your own bit of joy from the lovely Dinkelsbühl. :-)
