Germany summer advice
 

My husband and I will be travelling from Normandy in July and want to spend about 10 days in Germany. We're driving and don't want to spend all our time in the car so would like recommendations for an area or three which will be good to visit -- we like small towns/villages rather than big cities, prefer to spend time outdoors (walking, cycling) and exploring lesser-populated regions. Also realising July may be busy so would appreciate any thoughts on where to go without crowds.

I've been looking at the Koblenz area as it's only about 6 hours drive from Normandy but wondering if it might be heaving at this time of year.

Thanks for suggestions.

The Mosel is especially nice and not heaving

Freiburg and the Black Forest

Two great suggestions above and I would add the Harz mountain area: Goslar, Wernegerode, Quedliburg, etc.

You really can't go wrong...

I will second the Harz mountains - beautiful and you won't be rubbing shoulders with the crowds. Anywhere along the Rhine will have plenty of tourists, many of them concentrated in Rüdesheim. Koblenz is a bit bigger and can absorb people better, but you will still have boatloads of people there.

Lavandula