Goslar, Weimar, or Quedlinburg on the way to Berlin
 

We are traveling from the west and want to stop somewhere before we get to Berlin. Which of the 3 should we stop in? We like small historic towns. THanks

Goslar and Quedlinburg would be on one possible route eastward, and Weimar would have to be another since it is quite a bit farther south.

Of the three, Wiemar is the largest - population about 65,000, Goslar has about 45,000 and Quedlinburg about 29,000.

Weimar feels like a small city, Goslar like something between a town and a city, and Quedlinburg like a moderately sized town.

For pure atmosphere, I think Quedlinburg is the winner. It really is the gem of the Harz area. Goslar would be my second choice. If you are a Wagner aficionado, first, then Weimar.

Seeing either Goslar or Quedlinburg would mean you would be driving right by the other. If it is possible, and it suits your travelling style, you might want to leave really really early and stop in both.

There is even a third option on the Goslar Quedlinburg route - Wernigerode (pop. 34,000).

I have been to all of them, and would (plan to) return to all of them. If you forced me to just choose one, it would be Quedlinburg.

"If you are a Wagner aficionado, first, then Weimar."

Why that, Aramis?

I second the recommendation of Quedlinburg first. Would be my choice, too.

I.

We spent 3 days in Quedlinburg a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it. We took a regional train from Berlin -- a very pleasant, easy ride.

I'm a fanatic of historic half-timbered (Fachwerk) architecture and this town was bursting with beautiful, amazing buildings. It's jaw-droppingly wonderful.

It was incredibly non-touristy, too, which was great.

If you can stay overnight, I highly recommend the Gasthaus Toepke: www.gaestehaus-toepke.de

It's a short 3 minute walk from the main square. The owners are wonderful, rooms are comfy and spotless, and the breakfast was excellent. I think we paid 50E/night for a double room.

Also check out www.quedlinburg.de for more info. I think you'll really love it.

ttt for future reference

Quedlinburg is my recommendation as well altho we haven't been to the other two. But Quedlinburg and Wernigerode were so charming; we loved both.

We splurged on the Stadtschloss Hotel and absolutely loved it. Great location, great service.

http://www.precisehotels.com/nc/en/h...loss/home.html

Ingo; Oops!

I'm reading Weimar but thinking Bayreuth for some reason.

Please substitute Goethe, Schiller, and Bauhaus for Wagner :-)

My recommendation, however, does not change.

Weimar would be my preference.
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It has the biggest significance for German culture. Home to Goethe and Schiller - and very pleasant scenery.
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Personally I hate the Harz towns as they feel horribly provincial to me.

It depends a little on what you're looking for in your travels, but little Goslar has pretty, colourful, carved North German Fachwerk (half-timbered houses) (the main square in particular is the drawcard), Quedlinburg overwhelms for the sheer number of Fachwerk houses, and Weimar has almost no Fachwerk but a lot of Baroque styles in architecture. I mention this because this is something many visitors want to see in Germany. I would also recommend that if you want to visit Weimar, that you do your homework and bone up on history, which is the main reason to visit. Read something by Goethe and Schiller, find out who Duchess Anna Amalia was (she has a splendid library here), look at some paintings by Lucas Cranach, read about the Weimar Republic and Bauhaus, and the sights will come alive for you. If not, well, Weimar is pretty, but if you're looking for Fachwerk it's not the place for you. Weimar is very popular amongst German tourists who understand the background to the city. There are many museums, also lots of horse-drawn carriage tours in the same vein as Vienna, Prague and Dresden. If you think you'd want to visit a Holocaust site, Buchenwald is nearby too, although I've never been there. I think the average visitor could spend at least 3 days there and not be bored.
If you're contemplating Goslar, think about a quick trip to Duderstadt (near Göttingen) as well. It has a really super town hall, which is all carved Fachwerk, and twisted spires on the main church there. I wouldn't make it a trip on its own but if you're doing that area it would be neat to combine the two, or add Wolfenbüttel as well (which also has a unique historic library and Fachwerk as well). Casanova was also a visitor to Wolfenbüttel!
Lavandula

Great info, Lavandula, I'm saving this for my next trip. Thanks!