Advice Request: Frankfurt – Brussels – Cologne – Frankfurt

Not clear why you are going all the way to Brussels if based on interest in medieval and early Church history.
Are you planning to go to Ghent or Bruges from there on daytrips
I like this hotel in Brussels
https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-1046-ibis-brussels-off-grand-place/index.shtml

Looks in general doable.

Some questions coming to my mind:

• Why Brussels? Know it is also a very aged city in Europe with lot of history (Brabant, ...). Something very special for that long way?
• Around Frankfurt: do not miss the castles and ruins around mid Rhine Valley.
• Based on your interests I miss very old towns such as Mainz, Trier, Koblenz or Worms
• Cologne looks short to me but has 6 Basilica Minor, no German city has more

Train tickets you will get best directly from Deutsche Bahn (www.bahn.com).

In Cologne try a Kölsch beer but do not forget to put the beermat onto the glass, otherwise they automatically serve on new beer :-)

Yes, Baumholder still exists as a small Army base. I did my 2 week Reserve training there in the summer of 87!

If your interest is medieval history and early church history, you need to include the Justinus church in Frankfurt Höchst. This is one of the oldest churches in Germany as it was consecrated in 850. The neighborhood is filled with about 400 half-timbered houses too. You might want to visit the Deutsche Orden church in Frankfurt, built in 1309, as well as the Alte Nikolai built in 1290.

Next, add in Mainz as well as Worms and Speyer. The cathedrals in these 3 towns are almost 1000 years old. The Archbishop of Mainz was one of the most powerful men in the Holy Roman Empire.

For medieval towns, head to Büdingen and Gelnhausen (an hour by train outside of Frankfurt). You could add in Marburg or Limburg too.

Afterwards head down the Rhine to Trier and Aachen.

Thank you all for the prompt replies. I will look into the hotel and city recommendations. I need to decipher the rail options as they are a bit confusing.

The unusual Felsenkirche, in Idar-Oberstein, is not far from Baumholder.

- more from Atlas Obscura
I've not been inside, but it's still is a memorable sight from the road.

I'd remind you that when the cloth trade began to fall off, Mechelen became the third largest city in Europe. It's still an administrative center for the Catholic Church, I think. I suggest you stay in Antwerp for churches and daytrip to Bruges and Mechelen, maybe Gent.

Don't miss the Kolumba and Schnütgen museums in Cologne, plus artifacts in the MAK museum.

Get a map and learn some geography.

Going from Frankfurt to Brussels then Brussels to Cologne is silly.

In fact, skip Brussels. About the only thing worth seeing is the Grand Plaza.

Also, why three days in Cologne. Once you see the Cathedral, move on.

I have spent quite a lot of time in Belgium and France, and I agree with Tim. Mechelen/Malines is a good option for church viewing, and it is a very close day trip from Brussels/Brussel/Bruxelles. I love old churches, and would also recommend the following: (Note all Belgian cities have 2 names, Flemish and French, and sometimes a different one in English. They change as your train passes through different linguistic regions, so beware!)
- Tournai/Doornik, Notre Dame cathedral, my personal favorite due to its age and style. A UNESCO world heritage site, built in the first half of the 12th century, Romanesque with Gothic choir.

- Brugge/Bruges - Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk, has a wonderful Madonna and Child statue by Michelangelo.
- Ghent/Gent/Gand - St. Bavo's, for the 15th-century 18 panel altarpiece painting Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. I go to see it again every time I am there...absolutely mesmerizing.
All of these cities can be reached by train in easy day trips from Brussels, if you want to stay in the same place for your entire stay. Belgium is easy to overlook, and many visitors do not get past the Grand Place/Grote Markt. However if you dig a bit deeper, you will find a small, easy to navigate country packed with many important sights. I can recommend hotels in Brugge and Brussels, if you will let me know what type of hotel interests you. Have a wonderful time!

My route would be Frankfurt to Cologne, then to Brussels, then to Aachen, unless there is a special event happening in Brussels on the days you listed. Köln Hbf is on one of the trunk rail lines.