Eichstatt
 

I may be taking 25 American college students to Germany in early August 2009. What is the availability of rail service from Munich to Eichstatt and is there suitable hotel accomodations for such a large group?

Rail service: http://www.bahn.de (remember that the spelling is either "Eichstätt" or Eichstaett")

Accommodation: Contact the local tourist information office:

Tourist-Information Eichstätt
Domplatz 8
85072 Eichstätt
Tel.:08421/6001-400
Fax:08421/6001-408

Their website is in German only: http://www.eichstaett.info/

There are definitely regular trains from Munich. You do have to take a small train from the main line into the station in town.
I am not sure about hotels for that size group. You might want to check with the university to see if there is any way you could use the dorms

I have several times been to conferences at the Katholische Universität Eichstätt.

It is a beautiful town.

Eichstätt has three or four small hotels. It won't be a problem to accomodate 25 students - if you book early enough. Maybe you have to distribute your students over two hotels (which won't be a problem, since Eichstätt is a small, walkable town.

Hotels are Adler, Fuchs, Schießstätte, Trompete.

Rail service from München: A direct train leaves every hour and takes 1:26.

You may contact the university regarding accomodation:

www.ku-eichstaett.de

Here some pictures:

http://www.ku-eichstaett.de/Ueberbli.../eichstaett.de

Thank you. Thank you. This is all very helpful and comforting to see that the possibility exists. As an added question, is it feasible to travel by train from Eichstaetet to Solnhofen and back to Eichstaett in a half day?

Use:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

or the link that quokka gave you to check train schedules.

It takes about 12 min Eichstätt to Solnhofen. The trains appear to run about every hour depending on your timing.

Regards, Gary

Thanks Gary. I now have sufficient sources to plan the trip to Eichstaett. You all have been of great help.

I assume since you are asking about Solnhofen that you and your students are interested in fossils? The Jura Museum in Eichstätt at the Willibaldsburg (castle overlooking the town) has a great collection and I believe there are smaller ones in Solnhofen and other neighboring towns in the Altmühl valley.

The Altmühltal is a picturesque valley. A canoe trip on the Altmühl is a most rewarding experience.

There are numerous places to rent canoes in the valley and in Eichstätt.

In Eichstätt:
www.boote-glas.de
www.fahrradgarage.de (also combination bicycle/canoe)

You can even make a canoe trip from Solnhofen to Eichstätt:

www.kanuuh.de