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-   -   One week, where to go? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/one-week-where-to-go-325960/)

LyndaKaye Jun 10th, 2003 10:31 AM

One week, where to go?
 
We are going to be in Germany and France for two weeks in September. We will be spending the second week in France. We have one week to spend in Germany. We have been to Germany seven or eight times and have done the southern part a lot. We have seen all of Bavaria, Black Forrest, Romantic Road, etc. Would like some ideas on what to see other than these places. Can you help?

Russ Jun 10th, 2003 11:21 AM

You didn't mention the Mosel; mighty easy to combine with a trip into France:

http://www.mosel-reisefuehrer.de/mos...ightsengl.html

cmeyer54 Jun 10th, 2003 11:24 AM

wine road/strasbourg, barge on the rhine or neckar, contact Porsche and see if you can hook up on one of their driving club tours (you get your own porsche to drive for the trip), go to Prague or Salzburg, tour the lakes area of Switzerland. lots of options.

leesimmons Jun 10th, 2003 11:35 AM

Russ has some good advice. I'd suggest the Middle Rhine and then the river drive along the Mosel.

Along the Rhine, the area is between Rudesheim and Koblenz on one side and Mainz and Koblenz on the other. In this area of about 75 kilometers, is about 25 different castles and some great little riverside towns. We typically stay in Assmanshausen at the Hotel Cafe' Post, but have also stayed in St. Goars at Villa Rheinfels. It's pricier, but the view from the restaurant terrace is worth at least a lunch. There are some great stops here including the Rick Steve's favorite of Bacharach. You can shuttle across inexpensively (with automobile) on the ferry at several places along the river. Whenever we go to Germany, we try to stop in this spot, even if it's brief.

This region is different from Bavaria, but there is plenty to see and do. A little research will tell you much.

At the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers is Koblenz, where you could turn toward Cochem, Traben-Trarbach and on to Trier, driving right along the river. This in itself is a great trip in this lovely wine region.

Hopefully, this gives you an idea and is also 'on your way'.

Suspaul Jun 10th, 2003 12:24 PM

Last September we spent about a week in Lake Constance area and thought it was wonderful, lots to do, easy to do day trips, we stayed in Meersburg. Also, along the Rhine there is a yearly wine festival in Oberwesel in September. Have a great time.
Susan

chip Jun 10th, 2003 12:28 PM

For something different my suggestion would be Schleswig-Holstein. Beautiful scenery and flowers, thatched roof cottages by the Baltic Sea, and fields of those funny modern windmills. We stayed near the Baltic and visited a couple castles. Some towns we visited were Lubeck, Kiel, and Flensburg.

LyndaKaye Jun 11th, 2003 08:02 AM

We have been to the Mosel area of Germany. Also we have traveled the wine route in eastern France. The Mosel area is truly one of my favorites. I guess I am really looking for maybe some place in Northern Germany.

RufusTFirefly Jun 11th, 2003 09:19 AM

We stayed in Beilstein on the Mosel 3 days last June. Had a wonderful time. I think a week would work very well for a Mosel/Rhein stay with all sorts of day trip possibilities.

Russ Jun 11th, 2003 02:27 PM

Have you been to the Eifel?

It's the relatively untamed mouuntainous region north of the Mosel and south of Aachen. You'll need a car. Beautiful drives, interesting, unspoiled towns. Monschau is one of my favorites:

www.monschau.de/cgi-local/steuerung.cgi?englisch

(The site doesn't have much in English, but you can click on "Bildergalerie" in the left-hand frame to get some wonderful photos of the place.)

There's also an interesting open-air museum with an assembly of traditional farmhouses from all over Northern Germany in Mechernich, not far from Aachen.

The Eifel can keep you busy for several days, but if you want to go further north, head northeast from Cologne into the "Weserbergland" and/or the "Harz" regions. Look into Hameln, Rinteln, Bueckeburg, and Hildesheim for interesting towns with history, architecture (Weserrenaissance) and fewer tourists. The Harz (Goslar and other nearby towns) are further east - very popular with German tourists. I've only seen Goslar myself - eye-popping half-timbered buildings - but hope to hit a few more of these towns on my trip to the W'bergland and the Harz this summer.

Gardyloo Jun 11th, 2003 02:45 PM

I'd nix Germany but head to Jutland, Funen, and ultimately Copenhagen. You can roar through N. Germany en route to Denmark. The Baltic ought to be wonderful at that time.

CharlieB Jun 11th, 2003 04:03 PM

Lynda - as you have been to the Mosel & Rhine area as well as other major tourist sites in Germany, I would definitely suggest touring Mecklenburg, and Schleswig-Holstein. Though not well known by American tourist it is a delightful area of Germany. Much different than areas in the South, but just as scenic and enjoyable. Hamburg is a scenic and vibrant city. The historic Hanseatic cities of Lubeck, Bremen, Wismar, and Rostock are must sees. The castle in Schwerin is like a fairy tale, setting on its own island just offshore from the city. Outside of the Pfalz area this is my favorite region. Unlike Gardyloo, I would never tell you to avoid and roar through any area in Europe. They all have their charm and Northern Germany certainly deserves a visit.

Gardyloo Jun 11th, 2003 08:11 PM

Yo Charlie, I didn't say avoid northern Germany. I suggested Denmark. If their time requires roaring through anywhere, the autobahns will do.

Actually my first pick would be Annecy/Haute Savoy. Depending on where in France they're starting, roaring might not be required.


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