Berlin, Rhine, Romantic Road

West of Berlin you will pass Potsdam, the ancient residence of the Prussian kings. You will then rush through the rural provinces of Brandenburg, Saxony and Lower Saxony. Before arriving in Cologne, you will pass through the Ruhr Valley, Germany's industrial centre during the 19th and 20th centuries.Prices for a 2nd class seat start at around € 100. Unless otherwise requested, Umfulana booked a train that departs late in the morning.

Just south of Cologne you will pass Bonn, the former capital of the Federal Republic of Germany and the birthplace of Beethoven. Important sites include the 11th century cathedral and Beethoven-Haus, which contains the largest Beethoven collection in the world, including the last piano owned by the composer. At Boppard south of Koblenz you should leave the motorway and take a scenic drive along the Rhine to St. Goar.

After passing Frankfurt and the hilly forests of the Spessart region, one of Germany's largest natural parks, you will reach the medieval city of Würzburg. The most famous of the city's many sites is the Old Bridge dating back to 1473. From here you can take the "Romantic Road" (Romantische Straße), an old trade route that connects many of Bavaria's most picturesque villages, or continue on the main motorway. Among the villages between Würzburg and Rothenburg, Creglingen is a true gem and a must for every traveller.

The route follows the Romantic Road south from Rothenburg. You will pass the medieval villages of Schillingsfürst, Feuchtwangen and Dinkelsbühl. The latter town is particularly enchanting with its city wall and timber-frame houses. Rothenburg, Dinkelsbühl and Nördlingen, the next stop on the tour, are the only three towns in Germany with fully intact medieval city walls.

The route follows the southern section of the Romantic Road to Füssen. Numerous castles, monastries and quaint villages are tucked into the rolling hills and forests. Towns worth visiting include Landsberg am Lech, Hohenwurch, Schongau and Wildsteig. [Side note: Landsberg is where Adolf Hitler was imprisoned in 1924 and wrote "Mein Kampf".] The latter part of the route is known as the "Land of Churches". The baroque church in Rottenbuch and the rococo pilgrimage church of Wies (a World Heritage Site) should not be missed.

Much of this journey follows a scenic stretch of road that connects some of the most enchanting villages, churches and landscapes in southern Germany. A few places worth noting along the way are the Pilgrimage Church of Wies, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the towns of Wildsteig, Rottenbuch, Peiting, Schongau and Hohenfurch.