Never having been to Germany before, we find ourselves with three spare days and a flight to catch out of Frankfurt! We will have been in France and probably crossing the border round the Trier area - this looks like a worthwhile place to see, then maybe drive to Frankfurt. What sights would you recommend not missing on the way? It looks like wine and castle country - would you recommend this route?

why the mosel of course... get a map and do a search.go up a ways on the river and cut across.. Its all good...go to the giant wine barrel we missed it last time

Trier is definitely worth a an overnight stop. Then follow the Mosel at least as far as Cochem. From there you can "hop" on the autobahn to Koblenz, and from there follow the Rhein route as far as Mainz. From there take the autobahn to Frankfurt airport.

Along the Mosel, be sure to stop in Beilstein. It is my favorite Mosel town. Pretty much in the middle of town is a Cafe - restaurant with a vast collection of coffee grinders. Not only are they fun to look at, but the coffe and pastry is very good as well.

What time of the year will is your trip?

You should work in a stop at one of Europe's best preserved medieval castles too - Burg Eltz, not far from Cochem, is tops, but if you end up short on time you could tour Reichsburg Castle, right in Cochem proper. Reichsburg also has a really interesting falconry exhibition of birds of prey in free flight.