In "The Seven Swabians," part of Grimms' "Complete Fairy Tales," "seven Swabians were once all together," the reader is told in the first sentence. At the end of the brief story, they tragically mishear the words of a man on the opposite side of a river they wish to cross. Instead of "what? what?" the Swabians hear "wade, wade," and, as a result, they follow what they think is the right course of action — but sadly, all drown. Although this tale is undoubtedly an unfortunate one, it serves as a parable for the importance of understanding language when communicating with others.

Schwaebish is a German dialect spoken in the historical and cultural region of Swabia in southwestern Germany, including what is now part of the neighboring states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. But it isn't a dialect that High German (also called Standard German) speakers can easily understand, as the words and intonations differ. And as if that wasn't complicated enough, Schwaebish also varies among different villages and towns. Could it be that the author of this fairytale was also highlighting the potential issues one might face when encountering the area's linguistic differences?

Thankfully, it's not all Grimms-level gloom and doom in Swabia; when it comes to speaking the language, there's a lot of local pride, too. One long-term resident, architect and tour guide Martha Weggenmann, says there's a bumper sticker that some Swabians have on their cars that states, "We can do anything, but not High German." The region also has excellent food and wine, as well as well-preserved Medieval towns and villages, which visitors can explore on a road trip along its portion of Germany's 3,000 km (1,864 miles) Fachwerkstrasse, or Half-Timbered Houses Route.

Where to See the Half-Timbered Houses Along the Route

Buildings constructed in the half-timbered style have walls that have been created with a visible wooden framework, where the spaces between the timber have been filled by other materials such as wattle and daub, plaster, and brick. Many of them can be seen — and even toured — along the Swabian leg of the route.

The town of Esslingen am Neckar has 200 half-timbered houses, including the oldest continuous timber-frame front in Germany (at buildings Hafenmarkt 4–10). Blaubeuren, in the Danube valley, boasts one of the best-preserved historical town centers in Germany, while Bietigheim-Bissingen has a beautiful Marktplatz (market square) and the Hornmoldhaus City Museum (with a half-timbered room as part of its permanent exhibition). Schorndorf is a 12th-century town known for its crooked house called "The House on the Wall" and for being the 1834 birthplace of German engineer Gottlieb Daimler (drawings and other memorabilia are displayed at his former house).

Other Things to Do Along the Half-Timbered Houses Route

In addition to admiring the half-timbered buildings, one of the top things to do along the route is to explore the many vineyards and wineries offering popular Swabian wine varietals, such as pinot blanc, trollinger, riesling, pinot noir, and kerner.

In Besigheim, a small town about a 40-minute drive from Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg's capital, head to Felsengarten Kellerei for a wine tasting, and be taken through the surrounding countryside on a wagon. In Esslingen am Neckar, Sektkellerei Kessler was founded in the 1820s by Georg Christian von Kessler, who had been trained at Veuve-Cliquot in Champagne and brought his winemaking knowledge back with him. Those who take the tour will learn how its sparkling wine is made and about the history of the cellar, which is located in a building that was first constructed in the Middle Ages.

In warmer months, it's possible to do some standup paddleboarding with Die Zugvögel on the River Rems in Bietigheim-Bissingen. Cycling is another popular outdoor activity, with the Danube Cycle Path offering 373 miles of mostly flat terrain. Cyclists following the Swabian part of the route, which begins in the town of Donaueschingen, where the Brigach and Breg rivers meet, will be treated to picturesque views and will pass through small villages that are largely undiscovered by tourists. Those with small children might enjoy a day visiting Tierpark Nymphaea, a zoo near Esslingen.

In Stuttgart, going on a Stäffelestour (a type of guided tour) is a unique way of seeing the city. In fact, there are several tours within this tour — the East, West, North, South, and Middle — with different points of interest, including those along city streets, through a forest, and in a Chinese garden and a vineyard. Stuttgart is also home to the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums, a Market Hall with purveyors selling products like pretzels and sausages, and a vibrant art and cultural scene that includes the world-renowned Stuttgart Ballet.

To the southeast along the Danube is the city of Ulm, where contemporary and medieval architecture coexist. Here, there's a special museum dedicated to bread and art called Museum Brot und Kunst, as well as other sites like the Ulm Minster (the tallest church steeple in the world), the historical Fishermen's and Tanner's Quarter, a museum dedicated to the Einstein family (who once resided in town), and the Kunsthalle Weishaupt, which houses modern art along with an almost 40,000-year-old sculpture called the "Lion Man" (the oldest known anthropomorphic animal carving in the world). Ulm is also the starting point of the Upper Swabian Baroque Road, a local route — separate from the Half-Timbered Houses Route — that links more villages and features Baroque and Rococo churches.

Nearby, the small town of Ehingen-Danube is a center of Fasnet (or "Fastnacht" in High German), the Swabian carnival festivities that take place each year before Lent, while Blaubeuren is known for its old town centered on an 11th-century monastery called Blaubeuren Abbey and the Blautopf, a karst spring with a striking blue color due to nanoscale limestone particles. At Blaubeuren's Prehistory Museum, you can view ice age art that was discovered in caves in the Swabian Jura mountains (a UNESCO World Heritage site).

Where to Eat

Food in Swabia runs the gamut from traditional dishes — such as maultaschen (meat and spinach-filled dumplings) and spaetzle (fresh egg noodles) — to fine dining and everything in between. In spring, restaurants of all kinds clamor for Swabia's prized white asparagus to put on their menus.

In and around Stuttgart, there are numerous Michelin-starred restaurants, including Hupperts, Zauberlehring, and Delice. Diners can eat lunch overlooking vineyards at Rotenberger-Weingaertle, a casual restaurant within walking distance of the 19th-century Sepulchral Chapel, a Roman-style temple that was commissioned by King Wilhelm I in memory of his beloved wife, Katharina.

In Ulm, on pleasant-weather days, locals head to a beer garden called Schloessle. There are also several restaurants in the city's Fishermen's Quarter that serve traditional German food, including Zur Zill, Gerberhaus, Wilder Mann, and Gaststuben Im Zunfthaus Der Schiffleute.

Where to Stay

The Wald & Schlosshotel Friedrichsruhe is a luxury five-star hotel in the town of Zweiflingen, which is not currently considered part of Swabia but was once part of the Duchy of Swabia, a political entity formed in the 10th century. Known for its spa and golf course, it's a perfect place to relax in between visiting towns on the Half-Timbered Houses Route.

The Park Inn by Radisson in Stuttgart is centrally located in Baden-Wuerttemberg's capital city and is a solid choice for anyone spending significant time in town. Just outside the city, the Waldhotel Stuttgart is touted as a "design-hotel at the edge of a forest" and offers a variety of room types along with a restaurant, sun terrace, and garden.

Hotel Schiefes Haus, or "crooked house," in Ulm was first constructed in 1406 and was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1997 as the most crooked hotel in the world — some guestrooms have tilted floors! The Hotel Lago, Ulm, located in a park near the banks of the Danube, offers two restaurants (one of which has received a Michelin star), has a private lake for swimming and sunbathing, and is within a five-minute walk to the city center. Several miles outside of Ulm in the town of Illertissen is Hotel am Schloss, located next to Vohlin Castle. Here, the rooms are contemporary in style, and there is a restaurant and outdoor dining terrace featuring regional specialties.

When to Go

The region that encompasses historical and cultural Swabia is a destination for all seasons. Winters are cold and summers are mild. Traveling between April and October allows visitors to experience pleasant temperatures, but mid-May through mid-September is the best time for weather that's on the warmer side.

There are festivals throughout the year in Swabia. Fastnacht, or Carnival, takes place right before Lent, and many municipalities organize celebrations that are open to the public. The celebration in Ehingen-Danube has particularly lively festivities that take place from the Thursday before Ash Wednesday through the Tuesday before Lent begins. Easter is also widely observed, and May 1st is a public holiday (note that most shops will be closed).

Some other events to note include:

• Esslingen: Zwiebelfest or Onion Festival (August) and Christmas markets (late November through December 22nd).
  
  
• Stuttgart: Stuttgarter Fruehlingsfest or Spring Festival (April), Summer Festival of Cultures (July), Stuttgart Wine Festival (late August-early September), and Canstatter Volksfest beer festival (late September-early October).
  
  
• Ulm: Schwoermontag summer festival (third Monday in July), International Danube Festival (2nd week in July, biannually), and Christmas markets (late November through December 22nd).

How to Get to the Swabian Region

Travelers coming from overseas typically fly into Frankfurt and then rent a car from there, while those coming from destinations within Europe can fly to Stuttgart directly.

The Deutsche Bahn train system is also an efficient way to get to the region from locations within Germany. You can buy a Deutsche Bahn ticket online before travelling to Swabia.

Know Before You Go

It's best to take guided sightseeing tours whenever possible to fully absorb the region's history and local lore. Through the Stuttgart tourism website, travelers can book tours in advance, as well as purchase the Stuttcard, which allows for access to unlimited public transportation for 48 hours and entrance to a variety of sites in Stuttgart.

Combine With

While Stuttgart is an excellent base for exploring the Swabian region, travelers can also pair a road trip with a visit to other major cities within a two- to three-hour drive, such as Frankfurt and Munich in Germany; Strasbourg, France; and Zurich, Switzerland.