Germany Suggestions

Are you driving or training? It will make a huge difference in posted replies. That said I'd take in Melk abby if you're in the neighborhood (as in within a 2 hour drive). Dresden is also lovely. Luxembourg nice also but you've got to have some sort of logical agenda or you'll waste alot of precious time. Also, please remember that less is frequently more travel wise. Happy travels.

We went to Luxembourg for the sole purpose of visiting the American Cemetary which is approximately 6 miles outside of town. They have a special bus that departs Luxembourg City for the cemetary. Well worth the trip. We also took a day tour on a bus around Luxembourg.

We stayed in Trier, Germany as it was less expensive than Lusemborug.

Trier is a very interesting city. I believe it is known as one of the oldest cities in Western Europe.

Do a Google search on Trier.

This is an IQ test, right?

Which doesn't belong in the group:

Nürnberg
Dresden
Görlitz
Luxembourg

Answer is 4, Luxembourg
All the other towns are near each other. Luxembourg is over 6 hours by the fastest trains from Nürnberg. I'd hardly consider that a day trip.
Luxembourg is pretty easy from the Rhein, but the other destinations are nowhere near the Rhein.

We loved Luxembourg. The capital was nice but lacking the grand monuments you expect from a European capital (we only spent a few hours there). We then went to the north and really enjoyed Vianden.

We actually took the train from Brussels through Luxembourg Ville and to Trier, where we spent the night and rented a car the next day. We then drove back into Luxembourg for a couple days, then drove back down the Mosel into Germany. Wonderful area, under-appreciated by US tourists (a fact that we liked...no crowds, didn't see any Americans, but there were German, Dutch and Belgian tourists).

Nurnburg is a great walking city (no cars in the entire center). The castle is interesting, as is the older part of the city near the castle (that part wasn't flattened in the war). The toy museum is incredible. Allow a full day, but don't take 2 for it. The hotel Victoria has a great location and amenities (in RS's book). We visited it last month.

I was in Germany last year and tried to figure out a day trip to Luxembourg just to say I had been there. As pointed out, it was a long train trip for about a 2 hour visit before you hopped by on the train for the return. We were in St. Goar and it just seemed not a good use of time. I also tried Strasboug, France and again the train schedules didn't make it feasible for a day trip. I have always wanted to go to Dresden. Look it up on the internet. I think it would be well forth your time to go to Dresden. I would vote for Dresden over Trier. Trier was okay but I would have rather seen Dresden or Rothenberg.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Just to clarify:

1) I know that Luxembourg is not in Germany! =)

2) I'm trying to narrow down a list of places that sound interesting--not trying to see all of them.

I really appreciate the feedback on what makes these places interesting (or not).

Thanks

I think if we knew what interested you in those cities that you have named, we could help you more. Are you more into history, architecture, WW2, cathedrals, scenery, and so on? So perhaps Regensburg would be good for you, or Munich. If you want to go to Dresden, do you want to see other cities in the former E.Germany? What is your reason for going to Luxembourg? Are you a fan of European government and want to see where they work? What is interesting for you in Gorlitz? Are you traveling up the Rhine and what are the other places you have decided on?

My interests are pretty varied, but history (from ancient to modern) and architecture are probably what draw me most to a place. Medium-to-big cities tend to be my favorite places.

I've wanted to go to Berlin for years, so I'll definitely be including that. I'm also planning to include the Rhine and Rothenburg. I've been to Munich before, but nowhere else in Germany.

So far, my planning and questions come from reading Rick.

Nurnburg sounds interesting because it could be a fairly convenient overnight stop on the way to Berlin, the Nazi center sounds intriguing (and different from other WWII sites I've seen in France), and the old town also sounds like it could be nice to visit.

Dresden sounds interesting because it also seems like it could be a nice place to stop on the way to Berlin, and because of its architecture.

I don't go out of my way to visit countries I haven't been to before, but I brought up Luxembourg because I noticed that it was relatively close to the Rhine and I don't know much about it. I wouldn't want to waste my time going there just to say I'd been, but if it's a lovely place, then why not? =)

PS-This will all be by train.

If you are going to be in Berlin, then make sure you go to Potsdam too. They are renovating the city like mad, but it looks marvelous. The palace and park grounds are amazing. I could have spent at least a day or two there. Berlin itself is just plain exciting. Construction everywhere, but the mix of architecture is so interesting. Perhaps some of the other northern cities might be thought about. Hamburg or Hannover?

http://picasaweb.google.com/Tom.Luann.Fitzpatrick/Germany_2006

Hi Abby,
... a couple of years ago, Tom & Luann made a tour of Bavaria (mostly) and took a lot of really great pictures. Try this: copy and paste the above link into your Internet search box. Then touch ENTER on your computer's keyboard. When you have the thumbnails on screen, click on "slideshow". You will have the photos full-screen! ... and you may see a place or two you just have to visit! Gute Reise! P

If you like Rococo architecture, you would probably enjoy the Residenz in Würzburg. Personally, I thought the Residenz was over-the-top gawdy, but I did enjoy Festung (Fortress) Marienberg on the hill across the river from the old town. In Marienberg is a museum with a model of Würzburg after the WWII bombing.

Of course, Würzburg is close to Rothenburg, which, despite it's touristy nature, is historically interesting, with it's authentic wall and fortification from the middle ages.

I stopped between Würzburg and Nürnberg at Bamberg. It's a cute town, but perhaps too small for you. I went to see the city hall suspended out from the bridge, but found a street fair just north of there which, for cultural reasons, I enjoyed more.

"Luxembourg (it seems pretty easy from the Rhine....)". Does this mean you are going to spend some time on the Middle Rhine gorge (St. Goar, Bacharach)? If you extend that trip to include the Mosel (Cochem), then Luxembourg would be practical.

I would second Wurzburg. There are some nice Tilman Riemenschneider carvings and a sunny town square with sidewalk dining and drinking. This summer, we took a 2 or 3 hour boat ride on the Main from Wurzburg to Veitsochheim and enjoyed that, too. It wasn't expensive. Near Wurzburg are Miltenberg and Wertheim, old towns along with small pedestrian zones and castles. All of this is accessible by train, I believe.

I will add my 2 cents about Bamberg, as you are interested in architecture. The historical city center of Bamberg was virtually untouched by bombs in WWII, was listed by UNESCO as a world heritage sight, with 1400 beautifully preserved buildings, many from the middle ages. I'm a bit biased as it is our home base when in Germany (my mom's hometown), but perhaps worth a day of your time enroute to Nuernberg.
Dresden is a city literally risen from the ashes. I was amazed that 60 years after the war there were still visible ruins, but it is a beautiful city again.

My husband and I both lived in Germany in the 60's. We now go back about everyother year. We love the Rothenburg area, but it would be hard without a car. We love staying at Castle Harburg. We always stay in the room above the portcullis. It is a very interesting place and not one of the fancy, expensive castles. It was under 100 Euros last year. The food was good. It is a small town of Hargurg, not far from Rothenburg.
My husband lived in Wertheim. We went there and he recognized nothing. It is not far from Wurtzburg. I lived a few K's from Wurtzburg and It looked like the day I left it in 1961. It was Kitzingen am Main. I like the area in the mountains around Bavaria. Would go back there often. I enjoyed my time along the Rhine, but once was enough.