Germany road trip with the Porsche Boxster 718 Spyder RS

German-born Dieter Losskarn is living in the Cape for three decades now. Now he got married to a Swiss woman - in Switzerland. And chose a bright yellow Porsche Boxster Spyder RS for their honeymoon trip to his former homeland Franconia.

In the last light of the afternoon the river Main is placidly flowing past us. Like liquid gold. We are sitting with a bottle of local wine on the cobblestoned quay wall. The bottle itself is a trademark for Franconian quality wines. It is called a ‘Bocksbeutel’, due to the shape resembling the ball sack of a buck. Yes, that’s where my humour is coming from. I was born in this area, with those gentle hills, cultivated with sunny vineyards all the way down to the stream. The reason why this region in the Northern part of Bavaria is often referred to as the German Tuscany.
Franziska and myself are enjoying our honeymoon trip in my homeland. In a very special vehicle, the most powerful Porsche Boxster ever. The styling of this topless Spyder RS is old school, going all the way back to the Porsche 550 Spyder of James Dean fame. In design it still looks like the very first Boxster concept car, first shown in 1996. The two humps behind the seat resemble the ones featured on the magnificent Carrera GT. A successful return to past glory.

Let’s explore more of Franconia in it - on tiny, windy roads. While listening to this ferocious sound. We both can’t remember ever having experienced a more pleasing sound symphony in a car before.
We cruise through the narrow streets of picture-perfect medieval villages, like Marktbreit, Sommerhausen and Randersacker. The glorious sound reverberating from the thick city walls, made of red sandstone. I used to ride my bicycle here as a kid. And we are creating new memories. Like crossing the Main on a little ferry.
My city of birth is an enchanting one as well: Würzburg. When I was young the oldest bridge in town – Alte Mainbrücke – was still used by cars. Now this historic structure, where building works started in the 15thcentury, is a pedestrian area. And a very special one. Here you can have the Franconian equivalent of a Cape sundowner, a so-called ‘Brückenschoppen’. Brücke = bridge, and Schoppen is a ¼ litre glass of wine. Dozens of people gather there on the century-old cobblestones to chat and enjoy the summer.   

In Frickenhausen we check into the lovely historic hotel and wine estate Meintzinger and instantly sense a strong Cape connection on entry. The reason? Well, the owner’s son lived and worked a couple of months on a wine estate near Stellenbosch. So here the Cape coolness meets Franconian cosiness in a perfectliaison. Unfortunately they don’t serve one of the local signature dishes, but instead a really lekker Flammkuchen.
For the best and most popular Franconian bratwurst we have to drive a couple of kilometres further. On another one of those picture-perfect roads. In the cobble-stoned village of Sulzfeld the coiled delicacy is served by the meter. Therefore: Meterbratwurst. But don’t worry: less hungry visitors can order half a meter as well.
The most well-known, hence popular town on our route is without a doubt Rothenburg, in the lovely Tauber valley. At the end of the Second World War the Allies decided not to bomb the historic town, as they did with Dresden and Würzburg, which were 90% destroyed. They obviously wanted to keep it as a post-war medieval attraction. And while it is hectic during a summer day, just wait until the evening for your city stroll – and you will encounter much less people. We also stayed just outside the city walls, in the magnificent Mittermaier Hotel. The owner is not only a Michelin chef, but a keen Porsche enthusiast as well.
And to round this Franconian trip off, we followed the Tauber valley, where one old village follows the next. All with genuine taverns, great food and wines of choice quality. In – remember – Bocksbeutel bottles.

Porsche Boxster 718 Spyder RS
Engine: 4.0-l. naturally aspirated flat 6 boxer, paired with a 7-speed PDK & rear-wheel drive
Power: 388kW (500hp) & 500Nm
0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds
0 to 200 km/h in 10.9 seconds
Top speed: 308km/h
Price: from R3 580 000
www.porsche.co.za

CULINARY
Meterbratwurst, Sulzfeld, www.meterbratwurst.de
The small, historic hamlet of Sulzfeld is well-known for it’s Meterbratwurst. Yes, it is indeed an amazing one meter long bratwurst. You can order a 50cm long version as well, just in case you are not so hungry. For the author (who is clearly biased) this is the best sausage in the world. Preferably served with warm potato salad. Several Gasthäuser in the village have them on their menus.

SLEEP
Hotel Rebstock, Würzburg, www.rebstock.com
The place to go in Würzburg, beautifully restored, with a very tasteful extension, that includes the historic walls of a monastery. In easy walking distance to the town’s major sights and restaurants.  

Hotel Meintzinger, Frickenhausen, www.weingut-meintzinger.de
The perfect fusion of Franconian cosiness and Cape coolness. You can sense, that the owner’s son spent quite some time in the Cape Winelands. Fantastic décor and interior design. The breakfasts are culinary celebrations. The wines outstanding.

Mittermaier Hotel, Rothenburg, www.mittermeiershospitality.com
Nothing can go wrong, when the owner is a keen Porsche enthusiast (911 Turbo S convertible) and a Michelin star chef, cooking in the hotel restaurant ‘Die blaue Sau” (‘The Blue Pig’). Beautifully decorated rooms.

V8 Hotel Stuttgart, Böblingen, www.v8hotel.de
If you ever wanted to sleep in a car, you can do so here in style. In one of the 16 motoring-themed rooms.

SIGHTSEEING
Deutsches Automuseum, Langenburg, www.deutschesautomuseum.de
Not big, but very nice motor museum with friendly staff, situated in a beautiful castle.

Porsche Museum, Stuttgart, www.porsche.com
The sanctuary of everything Porsche. Housed in an architectural masterpiece, right there, where the legendary rides are popping out of the factory. With eyewatering displays of engineering masterpieces, including the very first Boxster design study.

To find out more about the trip and the Porsche follow Franziska & Dieter on FB & Instagram: @dieter.losskarn @franziska.losskarn @swissfilmworx