The Thirty Years’ War left a sad trail of destruction and poverty in much of Germany, after its end, many immigrants, in search of rebuilding their lives, went to the Swabian region to inhabit uninhabited places. They were essential in this economic recovery process, which led to the renovation and construction of several local buildings, in the Baroque style, which would be the trend of the time.

There are 4 different routes that can be done within the Baroque Route of Swabia, but the most famous is the main route, in a circular shape, starting and ending in Ulm, covering more than 70 locations.

The region in which it is located already provides several stunning landscapes, and joining these places, with the centuries-old Baroque works, is a perfect meeting. To get to know the route, the traveler can walk between the Alps of Swabia and Allgäu, or between the River Danube and Lake Constance, making stops to appreciate the beautiful Baroque works.

Among abbeys, monasteries, churches, palaces, and castles, there are these jewels of the past that enchant not only lovers of architecture and arts, impressing visitors by having this contact with a past where beauty was exalted and cultivated.

Identifying a baroque building may not always be a simple task, as each region has its own interpretation and strand within the style, but we can list some general characteristics.

Baroque appreciate movement, has dynamic architecture and does not deny classic forms: columns, arches, friezes, curves (especially on the facades). Light is also a fundamental element, where contrasts between very bright and dark areas created an atmosphere with drama.

In Germany, Barrroco added influence of style in France and Italy. We can mention the building with a predominant influence of the French Baroque, the Schloss Ludwigsburg, in Ludwigsburg, note that this building has more moderate architecture, close to the Classic, sober and imposing. It is important to note that the Ludwigsburg Palace is not located on the Baroque Swabian Route, but there are notable buildings of this style throughout Germany.

In the Baroque with Italian influence, the place where it originated, we see it in a more popularly known, more opulent form, with external domes, many curves, and movement. A great example is the Theatinerkirche basilica in Munich, the result of the work of Italian court architects Agostino Barelli and Enrico Zuccalli, who for decades controlled the Munich architecture. This building is not on the Baroque Route, but it demonstrates the entry of Italian Baroque into the region, which later spread to the Swabian region.

The founders of Viagem Germany, Rafaella, and Raphael, are especially interested in the theme castle, palaces, and history, and recently transferred the office to a palace built during this period in Gutenzell-Hürbel, the Hürbel Schloss.

There are several buildings and properties that deserve prominence on the route, and to visit them will depend on your itinerary. We selected some specials in different cities.

These and other architectural works you can visit with us on our private guided tours and in English during our tailor-made itineraries!