June 16th 2010 – June 17th 2010

Wednesday, and we wake up to rain. We decide to give up, on waiting for better weather, and continue on our way along the Romantische Strasse.

There are no more campsites actually on, or reasonably near to the Romantische Strasse for some considerable distance, so we head for a Stellplatz (a German version of the French Aire).

Donauworth – Stellplatz

We have not used one of these before, so this will be another little adventure.

The Stellplatz is at Donauworth (for Bryan and Joan, or anyone else who may read this and come this way). We got it from the Stellplatz book (2010 version), it is Page 216. It is called Wohnmobilstellplatz am Festplatz. Which I think translates as “Mobile home parking place at the Festival Ground”.

The book says there are places for 8 vans, but when we get there we find there is marked out parking for 8 vans, plus unmarked space for about 4 more, on the edge of a large car park, but only 8 electric hook points (1Euro per 8hours of Electric at about 6amps).

There is a service point for fresh water, and a disposal point for Water and Chemical Toilet.

Water is 1 Euro/100litres, the actual parking is free, and you can stay for upto 5 days (we think), so in short it is 3Euro per day, or free if you do not bother with electric hook-up.

We arrived at about lunch time, at which point there were four vans, including ourselves. By 16:30 there were 10 vans, including one other Brit, the rest being German, Belgian and Swedish.

It is not very scenic, but it was quiet, and only five minutes walk into the town.

It is worth noting, if you may come this way, there was a poster for another StellPlatz, Wertingen (see Page 600 of Stellplatz book). It is a few kilometres off the Romantische Strasse, but the photograph looks very impressive.

Still on the subject of facilities, for the benefit of Bryan and Joan, or anyone else who may read this and come here, there is a town map at the tower on the edge of the old town. Among other things it shows the location of all of the Toilets, in the town, which Kathleen committed to memory.

Donauworth is a very pleasant little town, with lots of cafes and bars. It still has a significant proportion of the town walls and moat intact, dating back to the middle ages.

There is the usual crop of churches with incredible interiors (am I beginning to sound bored with them?).

This is just one of many ceiling paintings, and these are in churches in small towns/villages in Southern Germany, not major Cathederals. There must be dozens of them.

After a good initial explore, we settle into a pavement bar, a pleasant surprise the beers are only 2.5 Euro each for about a pint, the cheapest we have had I think. Kathleen gets her moneys worth by ensuring she makes good use of their toilet, since we are on our own facilities for as long as we stay here!

Thursday morning, surprise, it has not rained overnight, and it is not raining when we get up. The first time in several days.

We walk into Donauworth, for some groceries, and to have a bit more explore. We are very impressed by Donauworth, it is so beautifully kept, and a lot of the town walls, dating back to the middle ages are still intact. We do not know it yet, but there is even better to come.

Storks nest, on chimney of this building.

Really neat vegetable garden, this one taken especially for Martin.

Donauworth, Town Walls

Donauworth, Town Walls and moat.




We are beginning to think, there is so much to see on the Romantische Strasse, we will not be able to fit it all in, in the time we have available.

We come upon this place (Schlosse Harberg), as we drive along. It is free to park, and if you are happy just to browse and take photographs, that is free too. You can have a guided tour if you wish.

Kathleen can be seen checking out possible disposal points, since we will be on another Stellplatz tonight.

Next we come to Nordlingen. It is lunch time, so we stop, park and have a walk around the place.

Back to thos photographs which have not turned around!, damned computers.

We treat ourselves to a Latte Machiatta (a sort of fancy coffee), and enormous pieces of cake. Kathleen has (relatively) healthy Strawberry cake, I have a totally unhealthy slab of cream, black cherries, chocolate, ice cream and cake.

Nordlingen is even more impressive than Donauworth, with even more of its original Town Walls in tact.

Walking along the parapet of Nordlingen Town walls.

Nordlingen from the Town Walls.

More Nordlingen from the Town Walls.














Suitably filled with cake, we return to the van, and head for our destination for today, Dinkelsbuhl.

Dinkelsbuhl – Stellplatz

The Stellplatz is a sort of stripped down campsite and, I think, belongs to a campsite, which is about 500 metres along the road.

It is countryside on the edge of Dinkelsbuhl (about 1 mile, more or less flat, cycle track into town).

It is securely fenced, with “street lights” and an automatic barrier to let you in. You have to pay 10Euro per day, that is inclusive of Electricity (6amp), Water, waste disposal. You pay at the campsite about 500 metres along the road. You cannot get out until you pay!

There are marked out spaces for 14 vans. Once it is full it is full, no chance to squeeze in any more. There were only six vans there, including us. All German, except us of course.

We cycle into town, and explore, it is another beautiful little place, filled with building dating back to the Middle Ages, and all beautifully preserved, but still in regular use.

Dinkelsbuhl, town gate (c1340).

Dinkelsbuhl, street scene

Dinkelsbuhl, another town gate (c1640)

Dinkelsbuhl, houses built into town walls.






Lots of cake shops, it is clear, Germans like their cakes!





While we explore we see two of the German couples from the Stellplatz. On our return, I notice one couple have returned with a giant Strawberry flan (it must be at least 18” across and 3” deep). They sit and demolish half of it!