Traveling in June from Beilstein to Freiburg where we plan to turn in a rental car and catch the train into Switzerland.

Have looked at routes on Via Michelin and am asking for opinions on the best route between these cities. Via Michelin shows entry into France for a short distance. Am wondering if the border crossings would complicate this route?

Also, can anyone familiar with this route offer an idea of the travel time involved?

Thanks for your help.

<<Am wondering if the border crossings would complicate this route?>>

Odds are, it won't involve anything more than crossing a state line, in the US. I do remember an odd occurrence - - I think it was at the height of the foot-and-mouth (cattle disease) mania, all trucks had to stop at the border for washing the mud off their tires. Delays of up to 30 minutes, in some cases. An ordinary traffic accident can do the same thing, of course.

I've made a vaguely similar drive from near Saarbrucken (Germany) to Oberkirch (Germany, near Strasbourg in France), and I can't think of any reason not to cut through this "corner" of France.

Best wishes,

Rex

Thanks, Rex, for the info about border crossings. We have always been on a train when crossing European borders.

Can anyone else respond to my question about the time for this trip? We'll be traveling on a Saturday morning. Via Michelin quotes 3.25 hours for this route. Any comments or recommendations are appreciated.

viamichelin gives more or less average driving times obeying the speed limits--where there are such.

We generally found that it took us less driving time than viamichelin estimated, but I've seen other posters who said it took them more time. It all depends on your driving style and the driving conditions on the particular day you are there.

I'm thinking of taking a day trip from Strausburg to Freiburg...I have not been able to find much information about what to do there...what are you going to do there? Thanks

Sorry can't help you on this. We're justing driving there to drop off the rental car and pick up the train into Switzerland. The most we'll do in Freiburg is grab some lunch, probably.

Do a search for Freiburg, though, as I have read several helpful posts with info on places to see like the Cathedral.

When I was staying in Colmar, I often drove over the border (the Rhine) to Freiburg. It is an old university town with a wonderful centre. However I went to Freiberg to go to the spa centre just outside the city at Eugen Keidel. If you have not been to such a place, go! The variety of pools and jets etc etc make for a most relaxing result. There are lots of spas on the slopes of the Black Forest on the German side of the Rhine, the most famous being at Baden Baden. Funny, isn't it?..whenever the Germans find a spa, they bathe in it. Whenever the French find one, they bottle it and sell it in supermarkets!

Thank you abeden. I have tried to search for some info here but hardly found any, even googeling it didn't produce much. We will take a day trip to either Freiburg or Baden Baden, I knew about the spas at BB, but didn't know that they were at Freiburg also. Does either town have an advantage over the other one for a day trip?
DeeDee, we will be wrapping up with this after two weeks in Switzerland, sounds like you are doing a reverse order of my trip!

susanna,

yes, we start in Germany and then travel to Switzerland. When are you traveling?

DeeDee: we leave SF Sept 6th for three weeks, two weeks in Sachseln, where we have rented a place..it is about 20 mins south of Lucern, which should have be good for daytrips, then 5 nights in Strausborg with daytrips, one to Freiburg. We had hoped to go to the Rhine/Mosel area also, but there won't be enough of time, which is why we want a day trip over to Germany...let us know about your trip when you return!