Pop into Germany while in Alsace

There’s Baden-Baden and the Black Forest.

Gengenbach is a pleasant town a short way from Strasbourg by train if, by Alsace, that is where you will be. 1 hour by local trains.

where in Alsace will you be? Will you have a car?

the Rhine in this area is quite lovely -- it would be worth it to take one of the day cruises on the river through the area with the scenic castles and such. We did on on our way to Strasbourg a few years ago. We stayed in Assmannshausen but cannot remember if the cruise was from there. It lasted two or 3 hours and it was just beautiful. A drive along the Rhine would also be nice.

Another smaller town is Staufen im Breisgau depending on where you’re coming from.

Gengenbach is a pleasant town a short way from Strasbourg by train if, by Alsace, that is where you will be. 1 hour by local trains.

I’m in Strasbourg now and want to do this, but when I looked at the train schedule, it wasn’t as straightforward as I expected, so I postponed it for the day. Can you tell me what I’m missing? Thank you!

Here's another vote for Gengenbach. It is one of my favorite places in Germany and is a beautiful and charming village, with a lot to see and do. Considering its size, it has a number of excellent restaurants and cafes.

KRS and OP, to get to Gengenbach from Strasbourg is easy and does not that long (45 min. to an hour). You can book your ticket online (I would suggest using the German train system as it is easier). Just go to https://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en. For the departure city, choose "Strasbourg, gare" from the drop down menu, and for arrive, choose "Bahnhofstraße, Gengenbach". Input your date and approximate time of day then hit the search button and it will show you the available trains.

There is one stopover in Offenburg, where you will change trains. It's an easy transfer as Offenburg is not that large of a station.

I would also suggest downloading the Deutsche Bahn (DB Navigator) app. Once you have set up an account and paid for the ticket, then you store it in the app on your phone and show the QR code to the conductor.

The other option is to just go to the Strasbourg train station and buy a round-trip ticket there. It will take you on the same route with one transfer in Offenburg.

Trains tomorrow, all via Offenburg. 6:20, 7:20, 7:49, 8:20, 8:50, 9:50, 10:51, 12:50, 14:20, 14:50, 15:20, 16:20, 16:51, 17:50, 18:20, 18:50, 20:20, 21:50. A couple others using a bus from Offenburg.

You are such wonderful people, thank you! I think I was looking at SNCF. I’m still trying to overcome getting a bit nervous so far out of my comfort zone and my mind just seems to go blank at times. Believe it or not, someone on a train asked me for help yesterday and I was able to give it. 😊

OP, I did lots of research here and on other sites and decided Gengenbach seemed to be the overall favorite, so that’s where I’m going. This morning I walked from Strasbourg over to Kehl just because. I took the tram back, but now I’ve officially been in Germany for the first time ever.

For Gengenbach get the Europass 24H train ticket. Be sure to visit the Narren ( carnival fool ) museum. It’s open after 2:00 pm on Friday. Only 3 Euro. Great masks.

I hadn’t been to Gengenbach in 7 years and last week I was again struck by how pretty the altstadt is.

We will be traveling by train. Many of you mention Gengenbach. I sounds like a winner. I do wonder if the villages on both sides of
the boader will be pretty similar, with half-timbered houses and all.

Mlw, I wondered the same. As it happened, I had to miss Gengenbach yesterday due to the weather. I’m disappointed, but I was a bit “pretty villaged” out after seeing a few lovely places on the Rue de Vin. Guess I’ll save Gengenbach for another trip!

Where is the Rue de Vin?

Maybe the Route des Vins?
https://www.wineroute.alsace/

Maybe the Route des Vins?
https://www.wineroute.alsace/

Correct, thanks Sam!

Just left and stayed in Oberkirsch. Lovely little town. Went to the Octoberfest event at their castle. Would have loved to spend more time at the other villages in the area.