Last year we went to Germany, but only traveled Frankfort to Creglingen and Dinkelsbuhl (we had also visited Amsterdam and Belgium for a week). If we go back this year in May, we were thinking of flying into Stuttgart, visiting nearby Poppenweiler and Bittenfeld (ancestral homes), and going east back to pick up the Romantic Road again at Nordlingen and work south to Fussen. That would still leave days left over.
Any suggestions?
Also -- we love staying at inexpensive guesthouses that have great food (we were lucky last year). Any ideas in the area around Poppenweiler/Bittenfeld area (Neckar region, I believe), and Fussen? We love to stay close to smaller towns and villages, getting to meet locals. Not much into cities. We might try to leave out of Munich, only so we don%26#39;t have to track back, but am not too crazy about being in the city for long.
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May is a lovely time in the Stuttgart area. The chestnut trees in the beer gardens will be in bloom, there is the specal asparagus menus at restaurants, and in early May the cherry trees blooming in the Rems Valley on the hillsides is one of the most beautiful things I%26#39;ve seen.
Stuttgart and the nearby area has a lot of things to see and do, certainly weeks%26#39; worth. Besides Stuttgart itself, within the public transportation region and easly accessible are the largest perfectly preserved baroque palace (Swabian Versailles) at Ludwigsburg with its fairy tale gardens and the wonderful old center of Esslingen. Nearby are the college towns of Heidelberg and Tuebingen, the great fairy tale-like castles at Hohenzollern (Hechingen) and Lichtenstein, the well preserved monasteries at Maulbronn and Bebenhausen, and nice towns like Besigheim, Schwaebisch Hall (with walled Comburg monastery nearby), Schwaebisch Gmuend, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber (which you should visit if you haven%26#39;t already), and the northern Black Forest. Close to Lichtenstein Castle on the Schwaebische Alb are the state stables at Marbach which is interesting and enjoyable as you can walk through the horse stalls and the grounds. Poppenweiler is between Ludwigsburg and Marbach (Neckar) and if you are interested in Schiller there is a museum devoted to him there.
There really is no need to follow any set road (such as the Romantic Road), Germany is full of interesting attractions, just get good books (e.g. Baden-Wuerttemberg Sehenswert-Liebenswert published by DRW-Verlag Weinbrenner GmbH %26amp; Co., Leinfelden-Echterdingen (filled with pictures and in three languages German, English, French)) with pictures in them and select what YOU want to visit. I personally enjoy the multitude of wonderful baroque churches and monasteries of the Oberschwaben area, Steinhausen has been rightly called the most beautiful village church in the world. The Bodensee (Lake Constance) is also nice to visit. From the Oberschwaben area Neuschwanstein Castle (Fuessen) is a short distance away.
In most of these places that I have mentioned with the exception of Rothenburg and Neuschwanstein, you will see few foreign tourists and surprisingly, also not too many German ones although these are wonderful places. You will be able to visit the %26quot;real%26quot; Germany and meet the locals and not hordes of American and Japanese tourists. I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll have a wonderful trip.
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It sounds as if you haven%26#39;t seen the Bavarian Alps yet. This region is full of smaller towns and villages (%26quot;bigger%26quot; towns would be Berchtesgaden or Garmisch-Partenkirchen) and is a nice place to spend a few days hiking in the mountains. There is also a region called Allgäu which is quite rural and gives a lot of options to meet locals.
Of course, there would be the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) area, Germany%26#39;s highest low mountain range, which is very often visited by tourists. I have read a lot of posts by American visitors here on this forum who have recommended this area. I have personally been to a town called Todtnau which is very nice for hiking, too.
If you work your way up to the middle of Germany, I would recommend smaller cities like Heidelberg (Neckar region) or Trier for their history and sights.
I agree to MarcoPolko that there is no need to stick to the Romantic Road as this is just meant to be a help (and a marketing strategy) for people who don%26#39;t really know where to go.
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I would recommend Mittenwald. Very beautiful.
I know this isn%26#39;t part of Germany, but just over the border, Salzburg. This is one of my favorite cities in Europe. It isn%26#39;t a small town, but is a small city. If you stay in the old town, you will feel like you are in a small town.
Munich is a great homebase for this area, but my least favorite in Bavaria. Saying that, I still enjoy Munich, there is just so much to do in this area of Germany.
I think Chimesee is worth a stop, maybe not overnight but on the way to Salzburg or Eagles nest.
It also depends if you are driving or taking the train.
I don%26#39;t think there is a wrong answer, the entire area is wonderful.
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The Lake Constance (Bodensee) area is very attractive.
But, have you thought about heading toward northeast toward Dresden, going by way of Thuringen (Thuringia) and the Fraenkische Schweiz (Swiss Franconia)? These are lovely areas, with may quaint towns, off the beaten
%26quot;must see%26quot; US Tourist track and with small spas that offer good hotel accomodations. Dresden is a marvellous city, and the countryside around it is also very scenic,.
If this appeals to you,let me know and I can give you a few landmarks to orient yourself on the map.
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Stuttgart Region Sights
stuttgart-tourist.de/english/…index.html
In first place of course Ludwigsburg itself.
And the old town of Esslingen:
esslingen-tourist.de/english/Sehenswert.htm
Backnang and Marbach also nice towns.
The Swäbischer Wald (Swabian Forest) is a nice recreation area, and totally unknown outside the Stuttgart region.
Nice towns on the map (but out of the Suttgart) region are Tübingen and Schwäbisch Hall.
Close to Stuttgart are also the
Black Forest
http://www.blackforest-tourism.com/
and the Swabian Alb
http://www.schwaebischealb.de/
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Thanks, Folks! After going to the library and getting some books and exploring some of teh towns you have mentioned online, it looks like there is no shortage of places to see!
It will be difficult to narrow them down. I would really love to make it over to see Eagle%26#39;s Nest, Bertesgarten and Mittenwald. Looks spectacular!
I think we%26#39;ll try to stay away from Munich except perhaps to fly out of there....
Thanks again!
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Why not just have a couple of days in Munich at the end of your stay if you plan to leave from there. Munich, eventhough a city is a great place to visit and has some great places to see with an atmosphere of its own. You would never be at a loss for a decent meal or drink, and there are some small places to stay ie B%26amp;Bs.
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