Koerperich, Germany, Beaufort, Luxembourg, and Trier, Germany

You don't say whether there is more research to be done when you get to the cities. I ask only because elderly civic employees are among the few people a tourist might meet in Germany who can't get along in English. I had never heard of Koerperich or Beaufort. They are so close that I think even indirect rail connections would be entirely doable.

Have you ever been to Europe before? Do you plan to do regular tourism too, like "the Mosel valley" or "the Rhine valley"? I would not pay a planner for this particular trip because so little value can be added for those three cities by a generic travel agent. Our host Rick has written a lot of books for first-time visitors to Europe that might help you in principle, but he would only cover details of Trier in a book for "tourists." I doubt that Koerperich is even in Lonely Planet, which I use for smaller German cities.

Luxembourg Airlines is often very economical for Americans. Where do you live? Have you ever used public transportation at home?

Tim makes a very important point. The average "travel planner" will know little or nothing about these places, and so can be of little or no help to you. The only thing they can do reliably is book an airline ticket - and they charge for this. With all of us here, you can plan and book this trip yourself.

If you tell us where you live, we can help you plan flights to and from the US (assuming that's where you live). Frankfurt is the busiest "nearby" airport in the region, with lots of nonstops to the US, and Luxembourg City airport is the closest to your three cities. Which is "best" depends on where you live, and how much travel you want to do upon arrival.

To learn about train routes between cities, use the Bahn (German Rail) website http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en, following Rick's tutorial: http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/online-schedules

This will have schedules for almost all of Europe, and prices for trains that start or end in Germany.

If nothing turns up on Bahn, you may need to investigate buses. One way to find these is Rome2Rio: https://www.rome2rio.com/. However, this is always just a start; you need to check directly with the bus company, airline, etc.

Unfortunately, of your destinations, Rick only covers Trier. You may want to look at his Germany book to see if it has information useful to you, for your purposes (which are different from the standard tourism he discusses).

In addition to any advice you get here, be sure to look on specific genealogy forums. People have posted some genealogy tips here, and they have emphasized that for real results, you need to do legwork in advance; you can't just show up in a town and get information. Furthermore, as Tim says, for your purposes you will need German for Trier and Koepernich, and French for Beaufort. If you don't speak these languages, you will need to arrange a translator (or make SURE in advance that someone locally can help you in English). I'm not saying this to frighten you, but to make sure you don't go to a lot of expense and trouble for nothing. With proper planning, this could be a trip of a lifetime!

For general tourist activities, you will be able to do just fine in English in Luxembourg City or Trier. I don't know about Koerperich or Beaufort. The challenge, as mentioned above, is that you want to do more than the general tourist activities, you want to follow up on research.

Train connections between Trier and Luxembourg City are frequent and easy. There is a bus route that leaves from Luxembourg City train station that goes to Beaufort. You might want to consider using Luxembourg City as a "base" for those two locations. There is a tourist information/bus ticket office right inside the train station in Luxembourg City that can help you with bus tickets and information. The buses are right outside the station. I can recommend the Park Inn by Radisson in Luxembourg City. It is just a short walk from the train station.

I remember reading a thread in the last few months where an individual wanted to do some research about family roots and wrote the mayor of the town asking for help getting a local interpreter. It worked out very well for that person who was treated like an extended family member by the town and its mayor. I can't promise it works that way every time, but I think I would consider writing the mayor of each town and seeing if you get a reply.

Thank you so much for the above information. I am basically finished with my research and just wanted to visit the cities of my ancestors. I cannot take a trip at the present time, but l am definitely thinking about it in the future. Your help with information makes it seem possible, especially with the Luxembourg airport and trains and buses to take from there. I am very grateful for the replies. Thanks again.

Hi,

If you want to pin point Körperich, it's very close to Bitburg, the place Reagan made a controversial visit to in 1985. Körperich is in the Eifel area, ie, the other side of the Ardennes. Not a problem getting there, take the train presumably from Frankfurt to Bitburg, one or two changes involved. Then at the Bitburg bus station, a bus takes you Körperich. Frankfurt to Trier ...even easier by train.