89 days in the summer of 2026: Germany (& Austria)

There are so many museums in Frankfurt, am curious as to why only the Romantic Museum is on your list?
You might want to visit the Jewish Museum which has the Frank family section in it. You can also walk by her birth house, though you can't go in, as people live there. It is near the Hauptfriedhof, on Marbachweg. Perhaps visit the Rat-Beil Jewish cemetery as well as the Judengasse Museum, or the WW2 Bunker that has some wonderful exhibits from the Initiative 9 Nov. It is only open on Wed. evening from 1700-1900 and Sun. from 11-14:00.
In Höchst, you should visit the Justinus church, possibly the oldest church in Germany. St. Josefs is also interesting with an art deco interior. There is also a bunker in the Alt Stadt, built on the ruins of a synagogue.

Any questions about Frankfurt, ask away. There will be a lot of festivals this summer.

Well prepared!

Just to widen the view for your very interesting topic of "cultural history" let me think a little bit on the topic.

I recommend to check "Germany" maps from 800 to 1900 to see what where the cultural roots. What were the main tribes and later kingdoms or leaders? Today's major cities were seldomly the centers of the past.

I miss a little bit the Nordic part but maybe you did that on an earlier tour:

• Hanseatic League (roles of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen)
• Red brick gothic architecture
• Vikings (Haithabu)
• Frisian freedom
• Dutchy of Schleswig (Gottorf castle)
• Slavic tribes
• Swedish dominion
• Danish wars (Dannewerk)
• Kiel Canal and Kiel week (major unknown event in Germany)
• Hanover annual meeting of the guard clubs (Schützenfest)
• Braunschweig and Heinrich der Löwe
• Independency of (Grand) Dutchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin saw the day-trip on your list
• ...

You see that tons of things coming to my mind spontaneously. Likely you know most of them already.

In your current agenda I miss the cultural roots of Swabia, Franconia, Saxons (tribe), Sorbians (minority) and some minor / older roots.

Weimar is a good choice and I do not say that the other listed destinations are not. So, do it and maybe also visit some archives or very local museums of the cities, e. g. Märkisches Museum in Berlin. Closed for renovation until 2028 but they have smaller exhibitions.

HL , while in Frankfurt , The Stadel Museum was a high point for me , Also , if you can make a day trip to Darmstadt ,The Jugendstil Artists Colony is well worth a day - https://www.staedelmuseum.de/en and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darmstadt_Artists%27_Colony Wonderful itinerary , both here and in Austria !!

HL fotoeins, this will be such a wonderful trip! I am so envious, as I would love to have that much time to spend in Germany. Maybe in a few years. I do love that you have a lot of cemeteries included. Those are one of my favorite things to visit when I travel.

I really look forward to reading about this and especially to seeing your blog photos. You have such a gift for photography!

" I do love that you have a lot of cemeteries included. " My sentiments , as well ! I always pay a visit to Grinzing Friedhof when in Vienna , ( I'm a retired musician , and a lifelong Mahler enthusiast ) and the specifics about the locations of the various burials are just what is needed when visiting cemeteries

Well, mostly I just look at your notes and I want to take it all for my own planning:)

But as to Erfurt...have you been to the Topf and Sons Memorial? I'm guessing maybe you have...but it's worth a visit if you haven't.

For those perusing this thread and unfamiliar with the Topf firm , this article will explain their nefarious activities https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topf_and_Sons