Wildsteig, Romantic Road

In the foothills of the Alps sits the village of Wildsteig. This quiet community of 1370 residents is surrounded by the Ammergau and Allgäu mountains, making it a great location for hiking, Nordic walking or cross-country skiing.

In the centre of the village is the parish church of St Jakob. The white building with yellow trim, a red-pitched roof, and a green onion dome sits perched on a hill, offering a bird’s-eye view of the meadows and pastures below. Where the outside may seem simple in its design, the interior is an elaborate display of baroque architecture, rich stucco and brightly coloured ceiling frescoes. Outside, below the church, is a replica of the Lourdes Grotto with cave-like walkways. It was built in 1908 out of limestone from the nearby Ammer Gorge.

Wildsteig may be small, but it still knows how to serve a good, hearty meal. Dishes such as Parsley Pancake Soup are quite intriguing. It is essentially a clear broth with a rolled-up and sliced pancake (others may refer to them as crepes), topped with freshly chopped parsley. For the main course, you can never go wrong with a schnitzel: thinly pounded meat dipped in egg, lightly breaded, and deep-fried, accompanied by split potatoes. Wrapping up the meal with an oven-baked apple strudel with ice cream and cream would be a great way to clean up the palate.