Spectacular Coloured Towns of Bavaria

I dedicate this blog to my father who loved travelling through Germany in the early 1960's. Here are the highlights of our more recent experience.

Rothenburg is a well preserved medieval town located in southern Germany. The town survived total destruction at the end of WWII thanks to the negotiating skills of US and German officers.

The town was first settled in 950. The intact 14th century town wall gives you an unrivalled perspective of the narrow cobbled streets and the half-timbered coloured houses.

Do you have a favourite colour? Whatever it is you will find it in this town!

Rothenburg Main Square

Rothenburg

Rothenburg Main Square

Rothenburg

Lindau is an island town. Its urban form is also a great example of medieval architecture. Lindau is located on the eastern shore of Lake Constance. The earliest architecture can be traced back to the 1100s.

Bathing in sunlight Lindau really dazzles!

Lindau

Lindau

Lindau Town Hall

Lindau

Fussen has a 700 year history from its beginnings as a Roman trading fort to its present day attraction as an alpine ski resort. This colourful medieval town glows against the spectacular backdrop of the majestic Alps and the River Lech.

Fussen

Fussen

Fussen

Dinkelsbuhl is another great example of a walled medieval town with fortifications intact. It is thought to be founded in the 8th century.

The wealth of the town was built on cloth manufacturing and weaving. The town was located at the junction of two important trade routes. The route from the Rhine towns through to Eastern Europe and the north-south Germany to Italy route.

Religious wars and technological changes in cloth manufacturing during the Middle Ages led to the decline in the economic prosperity of the town. The town has remained in its original form largely because the residents could not afford to rebuild and opted for renovating existing dwellings.

This has resulted in Dinkelsbuhl being caught in a time capsule. Visitors today are able to enjoy a step back in time and experience the town's built form as it would have existed during medieval times.