6 Best Hotels in The Romantic Road, Germany

Just around the corner from Augsburg's cathedral, this snug, quiet hotel has personality to spare, with a long history of hosting official church visitors, and a recent renovation that's provided good modern amenities. Ask for one of the attic rooms, where you'll sleep under beam ceilings and wake to a rooftop view of the city. Or try for one of the rooms on the top floor that have a small terrace facing the cathedral. A garden terrace borders the old city walls, and in summer you'll have your breakfast in the garden under old chestnut trees.

Sister hotels (both family-owned) that are adjoined, the two buildings have unique decor; some of the rooms have vintage furniture, antique paintings, and dolls. Located just behind the old historic Rathaus on the fringe of the Old Town, if you take a room toward the front, look up from your window and you'll see the Münster (cathedral). The hotels are located directly at the Danube Bike Path.

This 13th-century castle 18 miles east of Rothenburg has been converted into a hotel and maintains a high standard of comfort within its original medieval walls without sacrificing the atmosphere. Logs are often burning in the fireplace of the entrance hall, illuminating an original Tin Lizzy Model T Ford from 1917. The restaurant Zur Remise serves venison from the castle's own hunting grounds, and the hotel will organize guided hiking tours, including with Theobald von Colmberg. The original castle chapel is a popular spot for weddings, and the castle often books out for them in summer.

Located outside the city center, this converted monastery offers modern amenities to supplement small and simple, but comfortable, rooms. The in-house restaurant produces gourmet wonders like venison ravioli, and there is also a charming beer garden.

Master chefs in the service of the Holy Roman Emperor were the inspiration for the name of this historic hotel, occupying one of the oldest trader's houses in Rothenburg, which has been operated by the same energetic family for five generations. Rooms are furnished in a stylish mixture of old and new; light veneer pieces share space with heavy oak bedsteads and painted cupboards. You can have meals on the tree-covered terrace overlooking a square or late-night meals and drinks at the Lõchle wine tavern. They also rent out apartments nearby.

Although part of the NH budget chain, this converted monastery within the city walls is less than monastic, with modern amenities, updated rooms, two restaurants, and a lobby bar. The architecture is charming, the rooms simple but modern, and nearly all have a view of historic buildings.