We are coming from Bacharach by car and are very much interested in both of these but unfortunately do not have time to give each a day. Trier looks to be on the way to or from Lux City from Bacharach. It seems as though most of the sights in Trier are in a core area a couple miles RT walk from train station parking... and with Lux we wanted to wander the Chemin & Casemates, Grand Ducal and just get lost strolling for a few hours. I realize it will be a long day with an early rise, but is this too much? Worth it? For clarification, we will have another 2.5 days exploring the Rhine from Bacharach so this is more of a road trip/adventure day.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
2235 posts
No. First because driving, and parking, in Luxembourg city is miserable. And expensive. And getting anywhere usually involves detours, and a possible protest. It's the only place I've seen with an many double parkers as NYC. And a few hours is what you'll spend just seeing the Ducal palace and casemates.
Yes, Trier's Roman ruins are just about a 2 mile hike. Up and down the hill, and, again, the parking is not what anyone calls ideal. Just doing the main points, Ponte Negra, Bridge, both baths, and the coliseum will take the better part of 4 hours to walk, and you want to walk or you'll spend even longer moving the car around. But if you take in some of the other stuff; the Dom, the flak tower, Karl Marks house, the RLD, the marktplatz, the garden, the Landesmuseum (with it's huge collection of Roman mosaics), etc. you'll be all day just inside the old walls.
Take the train from Bacharach? You're 2 hours+, each way, providing DB doesn't screw you over with a delay (which will happen.)
One or the other. Personally I like Trier more.
Posted by
9239 posts
No, No, No---
Posted by
Paradise
7680 posts
See other thread for my comments.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Thank you! We will abandon this plan...hey, it's why it is wise to ask. I think we consider Eltz and Trier instead and leave Lux for another time.
Posted by
Edmonton Alberta Canada
134 posts
Not relevant to your question but just to get my two cents in- I’m planning to see Luxembourg via train on a day trip from Trier. I’m not dying to see Lux but since I’ll be sightseeing in Trier for a few days I figure I’m so close It seems a shame not to, since none of my future Europe trip plans are anywhere near Luxembourg.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Greg, I agree. The 2 level set up and fortifications of the city along with the casemates and Grand palace are intriguing to me. I have a car and am 2 hours from the city in Bacharach so I figured it be a great time to check it out for a day. My conundrum is I also very much want to visit Trier and since it is on the route I figured to combine. But I do this a lot...try to combine too much. I have the same thoughts of when I would ever visit and I guess easiest way would be when back in Paris and have an extra day to train in from there. So I have one day and probably need to figure out what I want to see...Lux City or Trier. I am leaning Trier as the sites and history look impressive and would be more in line with our Rhine/Mosel area trip. Also I may can visit Eltz Castle early morning beforehand so this may be the way. Lux next time I guess!
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
982 posts
road trip/adventure day
Are you comittted to a day trip rather than on overnight stay? Spreading the drives over two mornings, IMO, makes for two better touring days versus one marathon day. With a car you can leave your big bags in the vehicle and just take a small overnight bag into the hotel on your "day trip".
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Just wanted to come back to say we decided on visiting Burg Eltz in the AM and then drove to Trier for the afternoon and was very happy with our decision. Lux City can be for another time. We drove to the Landhotel Muhle arriving at 8:30am and hiked 30 mins to Burg Eltz with ZERO other people. Arrived to have the castle all to ourselves for about 30 mins. Soaked it all in and decided against taking the tour...it was enough to just be there around the exterior. We drove to Trier and were staring up at Porta Nigra by 11:30 and spent 4 incredible hours there...not rushed, just perusing the sights. Amazing Dom, Throne Room and Baths and an excellent lunch in the square at Zum Domstein. On the way back to Bacharach we stopped at the Machern Brauhaus for some beers and dinner after a tip on the forum and that did not disappoint. All in all a fantastic road trip day and it also had me longing for more time on the Mosel...which looked far calmer and quaint than the Rhine!