We are looking for some driving route recommendations. We are ending a cruise in Amsterdam and then renting a car at the airport. We want to see the area our ancestors came from that is around Oldenburg and Cloppenburg. We want to drive as far as Halle to visit friends there and then return to Amsterdam airport. We have about 10 days to make this drive. What route do you recommend that would feature small towns on our circular route? Considerations so far are Quedlinburg and Wernigerode. We are a retired couple who enjoy a scenic drive, a walk around town and some good food. We have visited Germany many times but never this part of the country. We are aware of the overcrowding of tourists in Europe and hope to shy away from that. Our trip will be in late May/early June. Thanks in advance.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
Hi,
I assume in visiting the friends in Halle, itself a city worthy of your time, you will have time to go Leipzig, ( ca. 30 mins way.) , if you want to see a big city too. Leipzig is an important city in German cultural history (as well as in political-military history too). I would recommend seeing Leipzig.
Depending on the time factor, I would also suggest as smaller towns in this general area Jena and Naumburg an der Saale.
"...this part of the country." Most recommendable and singularly important in German cultural history.
Posted by
Sacramento, CA
691 posts
Quedlinburg is a charming town that is easy to walk around, do a little window shopping, and eat some good food. We just spent a week there -- observations are you will not hear much English, and you should have cash with you. Several restaurants and shops do not take credit cards. One thing we realized was how quiet it was there, which for us made for a relaxing stay. I recommend including it in your adventure.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7891 posts
I would fly to Berlin for the visits you mentioned; I have in fact spent ten days driving from Cologne to Amsterdam, but you don't propose any Netherlands sights at all, which also supports flying to Berlin.
Besides Leipzig, which is worth up to three nights, our (not the drive just mentioned) Ost-algia trip included three busy days in Weimar, three in Dresden, and stops in Erfurt and Eisenach. Quedlinburg was also a priority for us. Check the church treasury hours there. We didn't have time for the Karl Zeiss museum in Jena, or the Schloss in Gotha. If you drive towards Amsterdam, I'd see Kassel, Cologne (at least one overnight) and Düsseldorf. Aachen and maybe Maastricht (haven't been there) are also worthwhile. Monschau is worth two hours. It wasn't our specific purpose but recent anniversaries have led others to make trips as Luther Pilgrimages or Bach Pilgrimages.
Posted by
OP
Florida
2 posts
Thank you all for your comments. As this trip will focus on small towns, I appreciate the suggestions for Naumburg an der Saale, Jena, Quedlnburg and Monschau. I look forward to researching them. We have previously visited the larger cities of Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden and agree they are well worth the time. Two other towns we are considering are Luneburg and Wernigerode.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
In this greater area of Leipzig, Halle, etc, and depending on your time constraints, I would also heartily suggest the town of Meißen, should you want to do an impromtu visit if you're close by. It is considered " the birthplace of Saxony" (die Wiege Sachsens) and an important town in German cultural history.
Well worth exploring this town, I spent 2 day trips (on 2 different trips) seeing it. Numerous cities in eastern Germany fit this description.