While stationed in the military in Germany about 25 years ago (perhaps 30) an article was published about a ceramic trail or road in Germany. This is the route along which many of the steins and stoneware type mugs are produced. We purchased several at what amounted to outlet type stores. I have not been able to locate any information about this road and wondered if anyone out there knows what I am referring to. I aim to take a trip back there and would dearly love to travel that road again.

I think this is what you may be looking for: http://www.germany-tourism.de/e/21768.html
It also lists all the German tourist roads.
Google "Potters Route"

Ken

I think you are talking about the Porzellan Strasse, which runs from Selb to Marktredwitz, northeast of Bayreuth. You probably were in that region when you were with the US Army at Grafenwoehr, which is not too far from there.

Probably the most famous area for German stoneware, as Norrisken suggests, is the Westerwald, just west of Koblenz. The Kannenbäckerland or "potbaker country", north to the area around Frechen, is the traditional German stoneware region. There are still many potters operating and both small family shops and larger "outlet" type factories.

For ceramic enthusiasts visiting the northern German Rhine, a detour to Hohr-Grenzhausen with its excellent museum and workshops is a nice day's excursion.

Treplow's Porzellan Strasse is another wonderful ceramic area but not generally viewed as a center of stoneware manufacture, steins or mugs.

Since everybody seems to have a different idea of what you looking for, let me suggest the area just south of Trier.
Here you have the Mettlach as well as Villeroy & Boch all within 15 minutes of each other.
A wonderful village unknown to most American near here is Saarburg. There is a canal with 3 old water wheels wondering through this small but quaint village and lots of cafe's to sit and people watch. There is also a chairlift to take you to a cafe on top of the hill where you can watch the river wind it's way towards France.
Hope this helps.

Villorey & Boch is/was based in the town of Mettlach. The factory no longer seems to be operating and most of the production has been moved to Luxembourg.

Natlivelowan,

The Hoehr-Grenzhausen (they merged in 1936/7) area is pretty much the stein and pottery making area. One word of advice if interested in purchasing steins: Since the end of WWll, most steins are mass produced in great quantities for the tourist/decorator trade. If you are interested in "collecting" steins as a hobby, you can do just as well, if not better on ebay as long as you know what you are doing and understand Caveat Emptor.

If you buy the "tourist" type steins, when you leave the shop it is like buying a new car: The resale price drops in half.

On the other hand, when we were there in 2002, I was looking to purchase early steins (1900 or earlier). I'm a collector. I found the prices in the so-called "Antique Shops" to be just as high as they are in the states. In three weeks I purchased zero.

Curious

Thank you all. This helps a great deal. I look forward to my trip back.