The half-timbered road in Germany - a cosy holiday route

The half-timbered road in Germany is a wonderfully cosy holiday route. This is a perfect route to follow if you want to experience picturesque Germany by car, motorhome, caravan or motorbike.

Lumber road in Germany

The Deutsche Fachwerkstrasse is a German holiday route that runs from the Elbe in the north, through Oberlausitz in eastern Saxony and down to Lake Constance in the south of the country. The road includes eight sections and runs through the federal states of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Sachsen, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Thüringen, Bayern and Baden-Württemberg.

More than 100 half-timbered towns have joined the route, making the total distance 300 kilometres. Driving the entire route may be unrealistic for most people, but luckily you can choose the section, or gems, that suit you.

On the road's website you will find very good information. You can choose English as your language and on this page you will find a very good overview of the different sections, which are clearly marked with different colours.

Fast facts about Korsvirkesvägen

• Start: Bleckede (Lower Saxony)
• Stop: Meersburg on Lake Constance (Baden-Württemberg)
• Total length: Over 300 miles (3000 km)

Our journey along the Crossroads - five great stops

Last summer we travelled along the Korsvirkesvägen. We didn't follow all 300 kilometres, but we chose five stops that we were curious about. All five turned out to be fantastic gems! Here you can see a map of the places we visited and read about our experiences.

1. cell

Celle was the first town we encountered along the Crossroads, and we fell in love. What an amazing little town! Up and down the street, the half-timbered houses are densely packed, and everywhere you'll find charming houses and cosy cafés. If you want, you can check out the most famous half-timbered house in town, the six-storey Hoppener Haus, which dates back to 1532.

You can also admire the beautiful old town hall and visit the castle, which dates back to the 13th century. If you are travelling by motorhome, you will find a superfine parking space, Womo-Celle Am Badeland, on 77er Strasse, which has also been honoured with awards.

2nd Quedlinburg

Quedlinburg is another incredibly picturesque half-timbered town, located along the green part of the half-timbered road. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this town is full of charming alleys and half-timbered houses. The half-timbered building 'Ständerbau', which dates from the first half of the 14th century, also houses a half-timbered museum.

In Quedlinburg, you can climb the Castle Hill to see the castle and the St Servatius Collegiate Church. Just as cosy is strolling through the winding alleys, where you'll find countless cafés and small delicatessens selling everything from honey to venison sausages. If you're travelling by motorhome, there's an excellent caravan park. Castle car park on Schenkgasse.

3. wernigerode

The third town we visited on the first part of the half-timbered road turned out to be at least as cosy as the others. Wernigerode is also a town filled with cute half-timbered houses. Even the beautiful peach-coloured town hall is built in half-timbered style. Other special half-timbered houses are the "smallest house" and the "crooked house".

In addition to strolling through all the cosy alleys, it is worth visiting Wernigerode Castle, where you can take a guided tour and sit on an outdoor terrace with a view. If you're travelling with a motorhome, it's a good idea to stay at the caravan park. Cat pond, at Am katzenteich 10. 

4. Hann.Münden

Hann.Münden is on the brown section and is a small town that we fell in love with. Needless to say, there are a lot of charming half-timbered houses here? Another special thing is that the city is framed by no less than three rivers and a mighty city wall, which makes this place unique.

If you wish, you can climb the Tillyschanze tower or visit the Sababurg Sleeping Beauty Castle. If you're travelling with a motorhome (max 3.5 tonnes), caravan or tent, we recommend the cosy campsite/standby site. Busch Leisure & Tourism. If you are driving a heavier vehicle, you can instead take in the RV park Am Weserstein, which is just next door.

5th Miltenberg

Our last stop along the Korsvirkesvägen was in Miltenberg. What a gem! This town is beautifully situated on the river Main, and if someone asks us for a German favourite, this is a hot candidate. The old town is filled with charming and historic half-timbered houses. For example, you can check out the Alter Marktplatz square and the medieval Zum Riesen hotel.

It is also interesting to visit the Miltenberg Castle, while this provides a great view of the city and the river. Are you travelling with a motorhome, caravan or tent? Then we can highly recommend the campsite Main Camping at Josef Wirth Strasse 1. An absolutely wonderful place with great views!

Have you travelled along Korsvirkesvägen?

Have you travelled along the Route of the Crossroads, or have you visited any of the towns along the route? How was your experience?

Facts about Korsvirkesvägen

Here you can find all the towns included in Korsvirkesvägen, divided into the different sections.

Korsvirkesvägen: Green route (north)

Bleckede, Hitzacker, Dannenberg, Lüchow, Salzwedel, Celle, Königslutter, Hornburg, Osterwieck, Halberstadt, Quedlinburg, Wernigerode, Osterode am Harz, Duderstadt, Northeim, Einbeck, Bockenem, Alfeld, Stadthagen, Bad Essen and Nienburg.

Korsvirkesvägen: Blue section (east)

Herrnut, Oderwitz, Mittel-herwigsdorf, Grosschöna, Seifhennersdorf, Ebersach Neugersdorf and Kottmar.

Korsvirkesvägen: Orange section (central)

Südharz, Bleicherode, Mühlhausen, Bad Langensalza, Wanfried, Treffurt and Schmalkalden.

Korsvirkesvägen: Brown section (central)

Hann-Münden, Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Eschwege, Spangenberg, Melsungen, Kaufungen, Wolfhagen, Fritzlar, Homberg, Rotenburg a.d. Fulda, Bad Hersfeld, Schwalmstadt, Homberg, Alsfeld, Schlitz, Lauterbach, Grünberg and Steinau an der Strasse.

Korsvirkesvägen: Yellow section (central)

Dillenburg, Herborn, Wetzlar, Braunfels, Limburg, Montabaur, Bad Camberg, Idstein and Höschst.

Korsvirkesvägen: Purple stretch (central)

Trebur, Dreieich, Hanau-Steinheim, Seligenstadt, Babenhausen, Dieburg, Gross-Umstadt, Reinheim, Walldürn, Miltenberg and Wertheim.

Korsvirkesvägen: Wine-red section (central)

Markt Stadtlauringen, Heldburg, Sesslach, Markt Marktzeuln, Untermerzbach, Ebern, Baunach, Hofheim i. Unterfranken, Königsberg i.Bay, Hassfurt, Zeil a. Main, Herzogenaurach, Markt Cadolzurg, Bad Windsheim and Ochsenfurt.

Korsvirkesvägen: Red section (south)

Eberbach, Mosbach, Eppingen, Bönnigheim, Besigheim, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Vaihingen a. d. Enz, Markgrönningen, Waiblingen, Backnang, Schorndorf, Kirschheim unter Teck, Bad Urach, Nehren, Herrenberg, Sindelfingen, Calw, Neubulach, Altensteig, Dornstetten, Schiltach, Haslach, Gengenbach, Sasbachwalden, Blaubeuren, Trochtelfingen, Riedlingen, Biberach a.d. Riss, Pfullendorf and Meersburg.