Our family is traveling this summer to Europe from the states. We are 2 seniors, 2 adults and 3 children ages 6,8,10. We will be leaving Paris by rail to Germany. We have a about a week we can spend in Germany then on to Switzerland. We are thinking about Rothenburg and Fussen, however a few of us have already been there and would like to experience new places. We have also been to Heidelburg, Munich, Cologn, Berlin, and Hamburg. Would like some suggestions of cute, small towns to visit that would be easy access to trains and easy routes for our trip to Switzerland. Maybe Rothenburg and Fussen are the best choices as they are so unique……any thoughts?
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Fuessen is nice, but we always stay just outside of Fuessen in Horn Schwangau. Lots of bike paths, cute chalet style hotels, dramatic views to the castles, lots of cows grazing in the fields. The Crystal Therme pool/spa is there and Tegelberg alpine luge is a blast for the kids.
Munich can be a blast. It's not a little town, but there are lots of interesting things to see and do. Salzburg is a fun easy daytrip from Munich. Get on the train with the cheap Bavarian Ticket and visit the Salt Mines and the Luge located behind the mines accessible by gondola.
Switzerland is easy - head for the hills in Lauterbrunnen, Murren or Wengen. If you choose Murren try to book rooms in the Chalet Fontana with Denise. We love Murren.
Posted by
Paradise
6637 posts
"Would like some suggestions of cute, small towns to visit that would be easy access to trains and easy routes for our trip to Switzerland."
Take the train to Cochem, on the Mosel River, 4 hours from Paris:
Cochem, waterfront
Cochem, market square
Photos of the falconry show, Cochem's Reichsburg Castle
Take a train to Moselkern and walk to Burg Eltz (which is Rick Steves' favorite European castle.)
How to walk to Burg Eltz from Moselkern
You can take a day trip by train along the Mosel River and the Rhine River to St. Goar for a visit to Rheinfels Castle and maybe pay a visit to Bacharach (10 min. south of St. Goar) too.
After several days in Cochem, take the train to Gengenbach (about 4.5 hours, on the way to Switzerland) for a few days there and a day trip to the Black Forest villages along the Black Forest Railway.
Gengenbach
Black Forest Railway and towns
Map of the BF Railway
Free train travel in the Black Forest if you stay in Gengenbach or other small villages
Vogtsbauernhof open air museum
From Gengenbach you can take a train south to Basel Switzerland in 2 hours' time.
If you try to go to Füssen, Salzburg, etc. you will be on the train for many hours.
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2404 posts
Look at staying in apartments - ferienwohnung. Many places allow 3 day stays (sometimes even shorter). The best way to find them is at the town website - usually www.TOWN NAME.de, although Gengenbach's is www.stadt-gengenbach.de
Check out Bavaria Ben's excellent website - www.bensbauernhof.com
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
"Would like some suggestions of cute, small towns to visit that would be easy access to trains and easy routes for our trip to Switzerland." Where in Switzerland?
"Maybe Rothenburg and Fussen are the best choices as they are so unique" Allow me to break a secret to you... Rothenburg is unique for the disproportionate amount of attention it gets from tourists, but otherwise, not particularly unique at all. You can find preserved towns filled with Fachwerk all over central and southern Germany, some of which also maintain their defensive walls, such as Nördlingen, Michelstadt, Büdingen, Fritzlar, and Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, to name just a few of the examples that still have walls. The castles near Füssen... yes, I would agree that those are a little more unique, although not completely one of a kind either.
Even though you've already visited Heidelberg, have you seen the towns of the nearby Bergstraße, the scenic towns and castles of the beautiful Neckar River Valley, or the Deutsche Weinstraße? All of these are convenient to explore via public transportation, and would fit in well on the way from Paris to Switzerland.