Where to Base for 5 days in Southern Germany

Hi,

I am hoping someone can give me a good idea of where to base for 5 days and do small day trips around to see some of southern Germany. We can either do the Black Forest region, Bavarian Alps region or Romantic Road region (south to southwest area).

We are traveling by train and want to stay in one spot for the 5 days so that we don%26#39;t have to haul luggage everywhere. I want to get a good sampling of the medieval villages, castles and just some good German culture.

Thanks in advance!

Stephanie

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In my opinion, Black Forest and Romantic Road are out for day trips by train, if you have 5 days and also want to see the Bavarian Alps.

I suggest Prien, halfway between Munich and Salzburg. From there (actually Prien/Stock, just 4km by bus or old steam train or walk from downtown) you can take the boat to the Herrenchiemsee Island with King Ludwig%26#39;s palace Herrenchiemsee. You can do day trips, using the heavily discounted Bayernkarte to Munich and Salzburg (about 1hr.,by train each), also takethe railbus to Aschau, a scenic Alpine viallge, with a gondola lift to the top of the Kampenwand, with great views of the lake and the alps., as well as a day trip by train to Berchtesgaden. From the RR station in B%26#39;gdn busses run to the Kehlstein and Kehlsteinhaus (aka Eagles Nest), Koeigsee, Jenner gondola lift, the Saltmine (Salzbergwerk). Last but no least, you can also take a bus from Prien to Reit im Winkel, a picture postcard alpine village, about 1 hr. from Prien. I suggest you reserve lodgings in one of the hotels or B%26amp;B%26#39;s (Pension) along the lake shore.

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Treplow is correct that Prien makes for a good travel base and has suggested some worthwhile outings.

But if as you say you seek %26quot;a good sampling of the medieval villages, castles and just some good German culture%26quot; and you want to do this from one place by train, that%26#39;s a tall order.

In Bavaria, the only place I%26#39;m familiar with that I think meet these criteria would be in and around Franconia. Würzburg, Rothenburg (both on the Romantic Road) Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Coburg all make for great visits. Stay in Nuremberg for easy train access to the other places, or in nearby Neustadt an der Aisch, on the train line between Nuremberg and Würzburg.

The other obvious place in Southern Germany isn%26#39;t listed in your possible regions - that would be in the Rheinland where medieval castles and villages seem to congregate. Cochem on the Mosel is a good base for outings to Beilstein (by cruise boat), Bernkastel (wonderful half-timbered wine village, train to Wittlich w/ bus connection) Burg Eltz (castle tour) and not too far from Marksburg Castle in Braubach (by train via Koblenz or the scenic villages of Linz (north of Koblenz, Limburg (to the east along the Lahn River) and Bacharach (to the south on the Rhein.

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I think that all three of the areas you mention have problems with your stated goals. The Romantic Road is a highway, and making visits along it by train would be difficult, and the Bavarian Alps have little public transportation east to west along them. The Black Forest will have the best public transportation wihout having to leave it but will be deficient in castles. I think that Salzburg, Austria and nearby Berchtesgaden, Germany probably comes close to your stated goals. The suggestion for the Rhine Valley and the Moselle River is probably even better.

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I have looked into the Mosel Valley like you advised. I think Cochem would be a wonderful area to base. There is so much to see! I am a wine lover so that suits me well too. I am seeing about maybe cutting a bit of time from our Paris stay to add another day to Germany. I would like to try to get one quick trip into Switz for a taste of the area.

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