Harburg, Romantic Road

The small medieval village of Harburg is located in the Bavarian region of Swabia. It has a population of 5,500 residents, and it sits between the banks of the Wörnitz River and the castle hill, with Harburg Castle rising above it. Its origins date back to the 12th century when it was owned by the Hohenstaufen family, a noble dynasty that rose to rule the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages (1138-1254).

It was at the same time that the first mention of Harburg Castle was documented when 13-year-old Hohenstaufen Heinrich, son of King Conrad III, sent a letter from the castle to his aunt about an upcoming battle. The castle remained in the family until 1299, when ownership passed to the Oettingen family, who over the next two centuries expanded it into the fortress that exists today.

The castle is a complex of buildings within a fortified wall, complete with bastions, battlements, a drawbridge, a prison tower, a private residence, a central well, and several other buildings. Having been expanded over a long period of time, various architectural styles showcase buildings from Romanesque (10thC), Gothic (12thC), Renaissance (15thC) and Baroque (17thC) periods. The central water well was once 417ft (127m) deep and reached the groundwater in the valley. Its construction was very complex and expensive, indicating the castle's importance. Due to a road tunnel, the well was reduced by nearly two-thirds of its original size.

Throughout its history, the castle has seen many sieges, battles and wars, but fortunately, it has never been destroyed or seriously damaged, as many other German castles were during WWII. Owned by the Prince Oettingen-Wallerstein Cultural Foundation, the castle remains one of the most well-preserved castles of the Middle Ages.

For a culinary experience, Swabian cuisine would delight those who enjoy simple and rustic flavours. Swabian home cooking is centred around egg noodles, potato and flour dumplings, soups, stews, crepes, bread pudding, a wide variety of breads and baked goods.

One of the interesting dishes with a story is the Gaisburger Marsch (March to Gaisburg). The dish is a stew made of cubed ox meat, potato and egg pasta in deeply flavoured beef broth. It is topped with fried onions. According to legend, back in the 19th century, the stew was served to soldiers in Gaisburg (a district in Stuttgart), and it became so popular that soldiers stationed further away would march to Gaisburg for a serve, hence the name.