Small but nice :The Istrian Wine Route

From Savudrija on the border to Slovenia to Pula on the southern tip of Istria, a 175 kilometre long wine route winds its way past pretty little towns with medieval fortifications, Gothic town palaces or Venetian patrician houses.
Small cellars produce fresh Malvazija or earthy Terlan: wines made from autochthonous grapes, which were already popular in Roman times. Countless monuments - villas, temples or forums - along the route bear witness to their presence. First of all, the amphitheatre in Pula, the sixth largest of its kind.

Sophisticated Diva: Saffron from La Mancha

It is considered the most expensive spice in the world. And was once weighed in gold: saffron from Spain. The best quality comes from La Mancha, more precisely from the province of Toledo. There, five communities have joined together to form a Saffron Route.
The route leads from Madridejos via Camuñas to Villafranca - past violet-blossoming fields, olive groves and grain fields. During the harvest season, you can help pick or pluck the threads in the fields. And in Madridejos, a saffron museum awaits visitors. Best time to visit. End of November, when the saffron festival is celebrated in Consuegra.

View of Oberbergen, Kaiserstuhl

Spoiled by the sun: The Baden wine route

The Baden Wine Route runs for a proud 500 kilometres through the sunny southwest of Germany - and passes through the Badische Bergstrasse, Kraichgau, Ortenau, Kaiserstuhl, Tuniberg, Breisgau and Markgräflerland wine growing regions.
There is a lot to discover on the theme road, which was opened in 1954: for example, the Engelsfelsen (Angel Rock) in the Bühlertal valley - one of the steepest vineyards in Europe with a 75 percent gradient. Neuburg Abbey near Heidelberg with its attached monastery brewery. Or the wine grotto near Alsenhof from the 16th century. And of course, there are winegrowers along the way who invite you to visit them.