Ruined castles and palaces are popular photographic subjects as their aura of transience makes them seem idyllic. Ancient walls bear witness to former splendour, long-forgotten wars of religion and succession and wonderful gardens that are a feast for the eyes. Even for modern-day romantics, their emotion, longing, beauty and mystery have lost none of their appeal.

One of Europe's most famous attractions is a paradox: this gigantic castle overlooking the River Neckar is almost a ruin and you can only imagine just how beautiful the garden, once considered to be the "eighth wonder of the world", must have been. But it is this that gives Heidelberg Castle and park its captivating aura. With its other-worldly appearance, it is the epitome of German romanticism. Even the majestic castle ruins, overgrown with ivy, still reflect the power and magnificence of its former residents, the Wittelsbach dynasty. Built as a fortified castle with towers, casemates and moats in around 1300, this complex perched high above the town developed over four hundred years into a symbol of the feudal power of the Palatinate Electors of the time.
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One of the highlights along the Romantic Road is Weikersheim Palace. It is the ancestral seat of the Hohenlohe family and considered a superb example of a country house and one of the most beautiful of the Hohenlohe residences. In the 16th century, Count Wolfgang II inherited Weikersheim after a division of estates and made it his main home. He had the moated castle converted into a magnificent Renaissance palace. Its splendidly furnished rooms have been preserved with their original furnishings, and the palace garden is watched over by more than 50 stone statues, including gnomes, dwarves and deities, as well as representations of the wind and other elements.
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The palace building made of red sandstone sits in splendour on the banks of the river Main overlooking the Lower Franconian town of Aschaffenburg. With its four towers housing the staircases, it still dominates the townscape today. The rambling palace garden extends from Johannisburg Palace to the Pompejanum reconstructed Roman villa and St. Germain terrace.
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At 14 metres high, the Golden Hall in Augsburg's town hall is one of the highlights of Renaissance interior design in Germany. The state room owes its name to a wealth of gold decoration. Originally built as a venue for the Imperial Diets, upon completion it was mainly used as the town's assembly room.
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