Will be in Frankfurt for 48 hours. Can you see a wonderful castle using the rail for a day trip? Any other suggestions in and around Frankfurt? Love museums, history, unique architecture, sites specfic to the area and/or city, and people watching. Thanks in advance.

I lived in Aschaffenburg for a couple of years; it's about 1/2 hour SE of Frankfurt. Aschaffenburg has a huge schloss (I wouldn't exactly call it a castle) on a bluff overlooking the Main River; the in-house restaurant has a good view and good food. Aschaffenburg also has ancient ruins in a park in the center of town but visiting is restricted. South of the city is Miltenberg, one of those dorfs lost about two centuries ago; you'll need a car to get there or a river boat from Aschaffenburg. <BR><BR>You probably want to go to Heidelberg for a castle with importance; it is impressive. <BR><BR>The National Geographic Traveler's Map of Germany indicates other castle cities around Frankfurt; I've been to several which are not on the NG map. Ask at the Frankfurt tourist office when you arrive.<BR><BR>John Bermont<BR>www.enjoy-europe.com/cds/germany.htm

Schloss Hirschhorn outside Heidelberg was great. We really enjoyed it. It was beautiful, good views, service was good and the food was excellent.

Karen: You don't say when you'll be there, but if you want to tour an authentic castle, the best one I know of within a couple of hours would be Burg Eltz (www.burg-eltz.de) which opens on or near April 1, I believe. The castle has remained undestroyed over hundreds of years and is amazingly furnished. Burg Eltz is an adventure to reach by train; you take the train to Moselkern on the Mosel River, west of Koblenz, then walk/hike about 45 minutes through the forest to get there along a well-marked path (this is a popular way to get there among Germans and you'll see many others along the way.) Rick Steves covers the castle and the walk in his book on Germany. I also like Marksburg Castle in Braubach on the Rhine (south of Koblenz) - another undestroyed castle (only one in the Rhine gorge) which sits high above town on a hill; it's a 20-30 minute strenuous walk, or you can take the little in-town shuttle (a mini-choo-choo on wheels) or a taxi. This one is very rustic compared with Eltz; it's open all year. I think the tours to these places are in German only, so be sure to pick up a handbook to the castles in English at the castle shop or at least ask if there's an English handout that translates the tour dialogue.<BR><BR>There are lots of other castles within a couple of hours as well. Here's a list with photos of some you might look into, all within the state of Hessen, where Frankfurt lies:<BR><BR>http://www.kultursoft.de/01dat/idxgb.html<BR><BR>Of these, I've been to Kassel's Wilhelmsh&ouml;he, a palace of sorts rather than a knight's castle, but if you want to see a palace, there's one in W&uuml;rzburg, Bavaria, on Unesco's World Heritage Site list and a short train ride from Frankfurt; it's magnificent, a must see if you're in the area.

Karen: You don't say when you'll be there, but if you want to tour an authentic castle, the best one I know of within a couple of hours would be Burg Eltz (www.burg-eltz.de) which opens on or near April 1, I believe. The castle has remained undestroyed over hundreds of years and is amazingly furnished. Burg Eltz is an adventure to reach by train; you take the train to Moselkern on the Mosel River, west of Koblenz, then walk/hike about 45 minutes through the forest to get there along a well-marked path (this is a popular way to get there among Germans and you'll see many others along the way.) Rick Steves covers the castle and the walk in his book on Germany. I also like Marksburg Castle in Braubach on the Rhine (south of Koblenz) - another undestroyed castle (only one in the Rhine gorge) which sits high above town on a hill; it's a 20-30 minute strenuous walk, or you can take the little in-town shuttle (a mini-choo-choo on wheels) or a taxi. This one is very rustic compared with Eltz; it's open all year. I think the tours to these places are in German only, so be sure to pick up a handbook to the castles in English at the castle shop or at least ask if there's an English handout that translates the tour dialogue.<BR><BR>There are lots of other castles within a couple of hours as well. Here's a list with photos of some you might look into, all within the state of Hessen, where Frankfurt lies:<BR><BR>http://www.kultursoft.de/01dat/idxgb.html<BR><BR>Of these, I've been to Kassel's Wilhelmsh&ouml;he, a palace of sorts rather than a knight's castle, but if you want to see a palace, there's one in W&uuml;rzburg, Bavaria, the Residenz, on Unesco's World Heritage Site list and a short train ride from Frankfurt; it's magnificent, a must see if you're in the area.