Germany's best drives

Magnificent castles and medieval towns line Germany's so-called Romantic Road, which connects the city of Wurzburg with Fussen in Bavaria at the foot of the Alps. The 400-kilometer (250-mile) route passes tranquil rivers, forests and impressive mountain ranges, to reach its final destination at the iconic Neuschwanstein Castle.

The scenic 450-kilometer German Alpine Road crosses southern Germany from Lake Constance to Lake Konigssee (pictured). You're in for a treat on this route, touted as Germany's oldest tourist itinerary, which wends its way through alpine meadows, valleys and dramatic mountain landscapes.

Germany's Castle Route, established in 1954 and leading from Mannheim via Heilbronn to Nuremberg, will make you feel like you've stepped back in time. It passes some of Germany's most impressive historic edifices, among them Nuremberg Castle (pictured), some of which date back centuries. Perfect for history and culture buffs!

Baden-Württemberg's 500-kilometer Wine Route is a treat for wine lovers. Established in 1954, it winds through the region's wine-growing areas on the edge of the Black Forest. Passing many vantage points, like this one near the Kaiserstuhl, it offers spectacular vistas of sun-drenched vineyards and valleys. There are numerous enticing wine bars along the route, too.

Centuries ago, Roman soldiers patrolled this border defense separating the Roman Empire from the land of Germanic tribes. Today, the Limes is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To explore the remains of these installations, as well as carefully reconstructed border fortifications, follow the German Limes Route, which take you from Rhineland-Palatinate to Bavaria.

Thankfully, Germany's volcanoes are no longer active, but they have left visible traces in the landscape. The 280-kilometer German Volcano Route provides a unique opportunity to discover them and learn more about the geology of our planet. Lake Laacher, for example, is a volcanic crater lake.

Disused blast furnaces, mining towers and train tracks dot Germany's Ruhr Valley, the country's former industrial heartland. Many of these sites are under protection today. Follow Germany's Industrial Heritage Trail to visit some of these fascinating relics of the past.

This 600-kilometer-long route through Germany's northwest was established in 1975 and passes some of the most enchanted places you could imagine. It meanders past Sababurg Castle, said to have inspired Grimm's Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, and passes Bremen, where Grimm's Bremen Town Musician story is set.

The Avenue Route stretches almost 3,000 kilometers across the country, passing through 10 different states, providing a great opportunity to enjoy Germany's varied and verdant countryside. The trip takes you all that way from Rugen in the northeast right through to Lake Constance in the southwest.

This route extends all the way from the Elbe estuary to Lake Constance. The half-timbered houses pictured here in Celle are one of many highlights of the tour. Along the way, you'll find not only gorgeous architecture but also romantic parks, historic sites and culinary delights.