Suggestions needed for Germany Sightseeing

FreeRepublic ^ | 10/26/2014 | Oshkalaboomboom

[Oshkalaboomboom]

I am staying in Aschaffenburg, Germany on business with a car and a 3-day weekend coming up. I am looking for suggestions on interesting things to do within a 60-90 minute driving range in any direction.

Last time we had enough time off we planned on Heidelberg one day then Strausborg, France the next. Both were 2.5-3 hour drives. We were so burnt out after Heidelberg that we never made the trip to France the next day. So this time I'm trying to keep it a bit closer.

I know Aschaffenburg had a large military presence for many years so a lot of veterans may have some good suggestions on where to go. I am going to Frankfurt in a little while because that is close enough to go for just a short visit and come right back. I've been all through Aschaffenburg so now I am looking to expand my horizons a bit.

[Libloather]

Jump on the U-bahn and get to Bad Homburg. A bit pricey but worth every Deutschmark.

Taunus Therme

[taxcontrol]

Rothenburg ob der Tauber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothenburg_ob_der_Tauber)

It is an undamaged walled medieval city. It is about a 2 hr drive from where you are at. I would head to either Wurzburg and then south (A7 and A3), or Bad Mergentheim and then east. Leave early enough that you can get there before noon, have a lunch there, explore the city, do some shopping, early dinner, head back home. Really a nice day trip.

[JeanLM]

Place is calleed “Zun Zweck” as I recall. Order ein grosses Pils and don’t fret if it takes 5 minutes or more to draw.Place is right in the middle of the Wiesbaden padestrian zone.

Across the way is a wine bar called the Eimer or the shitty pot by the locals.

I spent a lot of time in both.

[Katya]

venture Eastward to Wuerzburg, Bamberg and then Bayreuth... you could also loop down towards Nuremberg... and then head back up to Wuerzburg. All beautiful Bavarian cities, though I’m particularly partial to Munich... but that’s prob a five hour drive.
If you’re interested in literature... I’d make a stop at the Goethehaus in Frankfurt.

[Fiji Hill]

Here are a few suggestions:

• I was impressed by Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which I saw in 1966, although it sounds, from comments on this board, as though it has become "touristy."

• Darmstadt is not far away. The Mathildenhöhe, an artist colony features the unique Hochzeitsturm (wedding tower) and an ornate little Russian Orthodox chapel built by the last empress of Russia, a princess from Darmstadt. The Orangerie garden is also impressive. If you go there on Halloween, you can attend a party at Burg Frankenstein, an old, ruined medieval castle just south of Darmstadt.

• Worms, which is just down the freeway, is dominated by an impressive historic cathedral.

• Bad Kreuznach, about 15 miles west of Worms is famous for its Bridge houses, three houses built on a bridge over the Nahe River during the middle ages. Nearby is the Fausthaus, a perfectly preserved structure from the early sixteenth century where Johann Georg Faust, the alchemist aousnd astrologer who inspired the Faust legends once lived. The Pauluskirche, a Lutheran church which is the largest house of worship between Mainz and Trier, is where Karl Marx was married in 1858. Bad Kreuznach is also famous for its Kurhaus, or sanatarium, which often features concerts and other events.

• Idar-Oberstein, located in the mountains about 20 miles west of Bad Kreuznach is famous for its production of gemstones and features an impressive castle

• Michelstadt, in the Odenwald, 31 miles from Aschaffenburg, is famous for its medieval post-and-beam architecture. Its town hall, dating from 1484 is one of the most famous buildings in all of Germany.

• the Deutsche Weinstrasse (German Wine Highway) is a two-lane highway that winds through small towns between Bockenheim, near Worms, and the French border in the heart of the Rheinphalz wine country.

I hope I have given you some good suggestions.

[BamaDi]

When did HQ USAFE relocate from Ramstein AB which is close to Kaiserslautern (or K-Town as we loved to call it)? I spent three years (1976-1979) working there as a civilian (USAFE/LG and USAFE/IN) and loved it. And because of the location was able to see a bunch of Europe without having to drive very far.

[BamaDi]

One thing I really loved was the Rhine Aflame boat trip. Absolutely beautiful at night!

[Gaffer]

Headquarters USAFE moved FROM Lindsey TO Ramstein IIRC.

[CodeToad]

“120 on the Autobahn.”

...and get run over going so slow.

[BamaDi]

I think I remember that. A friend of mine was over there in the 60s and I’m pretty sure that’s where she lived. She then came back for a second tour where she was the secretary to the CinCUSAFE. She took me under her wing and because a big sister. Later when I was back at my home base (Eglin AFB) the guy I was dating was reassigned to the Pentagon so naturally I decided that’s where I needed to be. I called her and told her I wanted to transfer up (at the time she was the secretary to the VCinCUSAF) and within a couple of days I had a job offer and a paid move.

[Senator_Blutarski]

bump for future reference

[Berlin_Freeper]

Nov. 9 Berlin, 25 years since the wall came down.

[T-Bird45]

Thanks for the reminder on the restaurant name in Wiesbaden, makes me want to get back over there, in spite of my TSA aversion.

[wolf78]

If you’re close enough to go to Frankfurt, change that to Wiesbaden.

Mainz

Mainz and Wiesbaden are almost like one big city. It's literally a ten minute drive from one town center to the other. If you want, you can do both in one day. Mainz with its narrow streets in the historical city center has more of a medieval vibe to it, whereas Wiesbaden - as pepsionice said - is a spa town with imperial architecture.

Both more or less form the gate to the Rhine valley, Germany's major wine growing region. Just follow the River a few miles and there are many very picturesque little towns like Eltville, which is also just a 15-minute drive away (Remember the monestary from "The name of the Rose"? You can visit the real Eberbach monestary there). Germany is known for beer, but the Rhineland has a wine tradition, too. During harvest season, you should try some Federweisser (must) with Zwiebelkuchen (onion pie / onion quiche).

Depending on what kind of activities / sightseeing you like, you can always pick and choose frome what Mainz/Wiesbaden and the surrounding towns have to offer and spend a really nice day.

[wolf78]

I don’t know about you but one thing on *my* bucket list is to someday rent a BMW or Audi and do 120 on the Autobahn.

...and get run over going so slow.

To be fair, 120 isn't that slow for the autobahn, unless you're talking kph, then yes, it is. However it isn't very fast either. If you are talking about unrestricted (many heavily used autobahns - especially when you're getting close to a major city - are restricted to 75 mph), three-lane (major autobahns have 4 in one direction, 2 is the minimum) autobahns: The right-most lane is usually for trucks, the leisurely and elderly, going about 65 mph. The middle lane is for overtaking those at about 85 mph. The left lane (also known as the BMW-Mercedes-Porsche-lane) is where you usually go round about 120 mph.

Always remember: The left lanes are for overtaking, you only use them if you are reasonably faster than the traffic in front of you on the right lane. If there are no cars in front of you, you stay right (chances are, someone much faster is already approaching you from behind). On the other hand, overtaking someone on the right is strictly VERBOTEN. Right lane - slow, left lane - fast.

As a funny aside: Almost every German driver has done 120-150 mph on the autobahn. That sentence coming from a German would sound like that (cue melancholy sigh): "Someday I'd like to do 200 on the autobahn". (Or rather he'd say: "Ich wuerde gerne mal 300 fahren" as in 300 kph, approx 190 mph).

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Thanks to everyone for all of the suggestions. Now I’ll have to sort them out and come up with a plan.
Yesterday a local took us to an old factory in Frankfurt that has been turned into a showroom and storage facility for people who have exotic or vintage cars and want to sell them or store them for the winter. All free for the looking and simply amazing if you are a car enthusiast. Everything from vintage Mercedes, Porsche, BMWs, dozens of different types of Ferarris right up to the newest models of Lamborghini. They even had a Fisker for the earth warming crowd. We then returned to Aschaffenburg for dinner at a 400 year old brewrey right near the castle. Can’t wait for the weekend.

[Daffynition]

Oshka get me one...a bathtub 356.......your cheque is in the mail.

[Fresh Wind]

I used to own one of those bathtubs. Wish I still had it. They’re bringing incredible money these days!

[RegulatorCountry]

Trier, on the French border. Ancient university town.

[Daffynition]

One of the only cars I wish I had kept. :(