Head out of Munich and it won’t be long before you reach Alpine lakes, snow-capped peaks and wild Bavarian countryside. Leaving the city and following the tumbling River Isar and the Deutsche Alpenstrasse (German’s famed Alpine Road) will lead you to mountainous scenery and some of the country’s best-preserved medieval towns, their rusty red roofs peeking out from the dense, dark forests.

Two hours’ north of Munich, the historic Rothenburg ob der Tauber provides a fantastic window into Bavarian culture. The town has carefully preserved its heritage and traditions and is filled with wood panelled houses and scenic cobbled streets. Festivals and public shows celebrating the town’s history often take place here.

There are plenty of locations along the picturesque winding passageway that’s nicknamed the Romantic Road to pause and take in the views, or tuck into some traditional Bavarian fare. The rustic, hearty local cuisine commonly features white sausage, freshly baked pretzels, cheeses and dumplings, and is often enjoyed on long communal wooden tables with an obligatory pint of beer.

For those interested in castles, the region has several within its borders. King Ludwig II’s personal residence, the soaring turrets and mountainous backdrop of Neuschwanstein Castle give it the look of a Disney palace. Marginally more modest, Linderhof Palace was inspired by Versailles and is set within the attractive Graswang valley.

With so much to see in Bavaria, hire a car at Munich Airport and experience the best of southeastern Germany in your own time.