Mars123

Long-time lurker with a question.

I am travelling late summer with my sister and mother and will pick up a car from Marburg and proceed to Goslar. I'd like to break up the trip with a stop in either Hann. Münden or Duderstadt.

Can anyone who's been to one or both places recommend which one to spend 2-3 hours. After Goslar we'll be spending two nights each in Wernigerode, Quedlinburg and Erfurt before heading home.

Thanks.

Cowboy1968

I think Hann. Münden is prettier, also due to its location in the river valley. It's a fairly small town (as is Duderstadt), so you can see probably every cobblestone in 3 hours ;-)
But if you used that break for lunch or a coffee/snack, you should be able to kill 2hrs easily. I think they also have short boat trips from Hann. Münden in summer that will take only an hour or 90min. But not sure about that.
Hann. Münden is very easy off and easy back to A7.

lavandula

I second Cowboy's suggestion - Duderstadt is really very small and I would think there's not much there to keep you for that length of time. Shops (not cafes) close for the midday break, as they do in rural areas. Plus it's quite a long drive off the main roads, not particularly on the way to Goslar. Sad, though, because it has a really pretty town hall, and the main church there has really interesting twisted spires. Hope you get there some other time.

Lavandula

quokka

I'd also vote for Hannoversch Münden. By the way, if you are in for romantic settings, this can be combined with a visit to Sleeping Beauty's castle - "the real one", not the Disney kitsch version: Sababurg in Reinhardswald forest, a few kms North of Hann. Münden. That's how they advertise it - you never know about those fairytales and legend, but it's a known fact that the Brothers Grimm collected their fairytales in this region!

http://www.sababurg.de - Sorry, the website is a mess and the English version is not available, but you'll at least find some photos.

Aramis

Sweet trip. This is rapidly becoming my favourite area of Germany.

Another vote for Hann Munden.

Mars123

Thanks everyone for the suggestion - Hann. Münden it is. And I'll definitely check out Sababurg as I love castles.

lavandula

>Sweet trip. This is rapidly becoming my favourite area of Germany.

Aramis, if you like north Hessen, someone on this forum recommended Alsfeld once. Last year on our way back to Frankfurt we stopped there for a couple of hours on that recommendation and it's very pretty (and evidently very old too). We wanted to do Bad Herzfeld as well but didn't have time. Oh well, another trip...

Lavandula

Cowboy1968

Well, the drive along the river Weser on the Fairy Tale Road is really pretty between Hann. Münden and Hameln (B80/83)
If OP had more time to play with they could do this backroads variation to the straight shot via A7 and do another stopover in Hämelschenburg (castle) and Hameln/ Hamelin town. Very nice examples of Weser Renaissance style. But it would make them arrive in Goslar (from Hameln via B1/6) at least 4-5 hours later if they stopped for short visits along the road. Non-stop it would add appr. 1.5-2 hours drive time.

Mars123

Cowboy - I agree Hameln is a very pretty town. I was fortunate that last time I was in Germany my cousin agreed to a road trip and took us for a day.

quokka

There is another little gem of an old town right on your way, just South of Kassel: Fritzlar.

quokka

Mars how much time do you have? We can easily keep you busy for a week on that route, you see... ;-)

Mars123

I have 10 nights from August 30 - Sept 9. My plan is:

Arrive Frankfurt and train to Marburg - arrive around 11 a.m. (2 nights)
Pick up car in Marburg - Hann. Münden - Goslar (2 nights)
Goslar - Wernigerode (2 nights)
Wernigerode - Quedlinburg (2 nights)
Quedlinburg - Eisenach - Erfurt (drop car, 2 nights)
Erfurt - Frankfurt via train and fly home

Between Wernigerode and Quedlinburg I want to do Thale and perhaps even Brocken with the steam train.

From Quedlinburg to Eisenach I want to arrive for the 1:30 p.m. English tour of the Wartburg as both my sister and I aren't 100% fluent in German.

I'm not sure if I should plan to stop somewhere in between or drive straight through to ensure I make the tour. On the otherhand, if there's a hidden jewel not to be missed, I can pass on the English tour of the Wartburg and make do with a German one.

I really want to keep this a relaxed trip. The last time I was in Germany I planned for 5 weeks and came home after 3 because my mother came down with shingles. It's been 3 years and I've convinced her to try again - plus she's 85 so I don't want to overtire her.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!