We plan to visit Germany at the beginning of July, first visiting relatives, then 4 days in the mountains with our son and daughter-in-law, our 5 year old grandson, and my husband and me - so 5 of us. We think that we have narrowed down the next stop to either Wiggensbach or Mittenwald on the way to Munich. Would one be better – more to offer, less crowded, or more picturesque? Our grandson is used to hiking with his parents so we would definitely want to do that. The last stop on our trip will be Munich where we may revisit Schliersee or Tegernsee and possibly take the cable car up to the Rotwandhaus.
We are driving from Seebach. Would it be better to drive south through Alsace past Colmar etc or south on A7? Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.
Posted by
Paradise
7166 posts
I've never heard of Wiggensbach, much less been there. Your mention of it is the very first on this forum AFAIK, so my hunch is that you probably won't be receiving a lot of feedback on it here. I think it's a good bet that in July Wiggensbach will be far less crowded than better-known Mittenwald. Its location could be convenient if you intend to visit Lindau/Meersburg/Lake Constance or Oberstdorf.
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
8418 posts
I agree with Russ in that Wiggensbach would probably be less crowded than Mittenwald. If you're interested in looking for accommodations, you might want to check the Unterkunft portion of their website where you can find a lot of local listings. It will be in German with no option for English, so I would suggest using Google Translate (you can download its extension on most major browsers). https://www.wiggensbach.de/Tourismus/Unterk%C3%BCnfte
I'm assuming you are driving from Seebach, Germany. That threw me a moment as I thought you were talking about Switzerland. Either way, you could certainly drive through Alsace if you wanted some more scenic views, but you do have to let your rental car company know that you are driving in a different country, and you might need to get an emissions sticker.
If it were me, and I wanted some scenery, I would probably head south towards Freiburg im Breisgau and then along Bodensee (Lake Constance), passing through Lindau and so on. It would be a pretty drive, albeit longer. Although, of course, if you're staying in Mittenwald, you would have the opportunity to take a day trip down there.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34313 posts
I agree with both Russ and Mardee, I've never heard of Wiggensbach either. But I have heard of Kempten which is adjacent, and it is easier to get my head around.
I also agree, Barbara, that there is a bit of ambiguity about which Seebach - there's one in Switzerland, one in France and one in Germany. Since you are visiting German rellies I'll agree that it is my assumption that you mean Seebach in the northern Black Forest in B-W.
If that's the case it will be much more convenient on the longish drive to stop at Kempten and Wiggensbach than past Füssen and Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Mittenwald.
But the two places are really really different. Of course in the Black Forest you will have been around hills and woods, and in Mittenwald (just as the name, in German, says) you will be in the woods, with mountains on your doorstep and all around. Kempten, and I honestly don't know about nearby Wiggensbach, is right on the edge of the flatlands and not quite in the foothills.
It is really what you want to do when there. Are you making a pilgrimage to Neuschwanstein? Sort of halfway between. Are you going up Zugspitze? Near G-P and Mittenwald. Your choice....
Posted by
OP
Boston
5 posts
Thank you, Russ and Mardee. You both agree that Mittenwald would be more crowded. That was our thought, since it is well-known. I was not aware that there was a Seebach, Germany! We are driving from Seebach, France, so thank you for the car rental tip.
My husband and I have driven both routes. We remember the beautiful villages of Alsace. We can't remember the specific roads across and south because we encountered roadblocks so we simply guessed, based on direction, and drove through the most wonderful natural scenery. We did not have Garmin to guide us!
Posted by
OP
Boston
5 posts
Thank you Nigel. That gives us more to think about. Even though I wasn't clear about which Seebach, your description of the areas, specifically Kempten, is very helpful.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34313 posts
aha - the plot thickens!!
Most of my suggestions still stand. I was not far from Seebach, Alsace (but didn't see it) last year when I took the Bac (corrected spelling) over towards Rastatt. I have the whole collection of Alsacian Bacs now.
My wee question is where are you renting the car? If in France it should have the Crit'Air yellow sticker so you can go into the vicinity of Strasbourg, but a German one is unlikely to. If you rented it in Germany it will have the Umweltplakette so that you can go into the centres of Munich, Karlsruhe, Freiburg im Breisgau, etc., but a French rental is unlikely to have that.
There is also the cross border return question with high drop off costs.
I might have rented across the border in Karlsruhe, or maybe you have a car from the rellies.
And likely, as you have driven there before, I am preaching to the choir. Never mind.
Posted by
OP
Boston
5 posts
Nigel, thanks for the car info! We are renting in Germany. One of our stops is Sinzheim, so near Rastatt. Alsacian Becs?? I'm not familiar with becs. Looked it up...still not helpful.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34313 posts
in addition to the bridges across the Rhine there are ferries the length of Alsace, all free, used locally but not much by tourists. I love messing about on boats, big and small.
They are called Bacs. Sorry for the finger fumble. https://www.alsace.eu/aides-et-services/mobilite-et-transport/les-bacs-rhenans/
https://www.visit.alsace/en/261000185-ferry-boat-over-the-rhine/