Please help with Southern Germany hol ideas

[JONSCZ]

Hi all.
Anyone here care to share their expertise/advice about places to visit in Southern Germany, please.
Planning a 7 (ish) day hol next month.
We (myself and the misses) are into a bit of hiking (day hikes only) and general sightseeing - Mountain/lake type scenery/ picturesque villages/ castles/Cathedrals etc - not after any nightlife, but will probably be staying in towns big enough to have chain hotels (Ibis/Novatel type places). Any towns or villages a 'must see'?
Will fly into Southern Germany or Zurich airport and hire a car.
Any advice and help will be very gratefully received.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers, jon

[itsnotarace]

This place was lovely, right on the edge of a lake underneath Zugspitze (Germany's highest mountain).

http://www.eibsee-hotel.de/rw_e8v/main.asp?WebID=e...

http://80.237.203.185/rw_e8v/eibsee_e/panoramen/so... - shows a map of the area including cable car lifts

Really nice, I'd go back. Garmisch - Partenkirchen is big enough to offer more in the way of evenings out.

Ideal place to be based for your criteria I would think, the only thing is it's pretty far South, right on the Austrian border. Lots of WW2 history in the area too

[JONSCZ]

Hi Ross.
Thanks so much for your detailed reply - I'll start looking into that region - we were planning to go to the border area, anyway.
Cheers, Jon

[Red&WhiteMonkey]

As my other half is from Ludwigsburg (near Stuttgart) and goes to university in Freiburg I’ve seen quite a lot of Germany, and in particular southern Germany, over the last few years.

For quite obvious reasons quite a lot of German towns and cities were pretty much entirely re-built after 1945. However, many were done in a manner that reflects their historical appearance so it’s not always immediately obvious (Munich is a good example of this).. You’ll not struggle to find interesting towns and villages all over southern Germany. Ludwigsburg is well preserved and has a fine baroque palace and garden in the middle.

Further afield the Allgau region on the border of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria is beautiful, with plenty of opportunities for hiking there. I’d recommend the Breitach ravine (Breitachklamm), which is a spectacular canyon/ravine cut through the mountains. It’s not too far from there is Neuschwanstein, the castle from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the suposed inspiration for Disney. I’d also recommend the area around Lake Constance, which is beautiful and also gives you easy access into Switzerland and Austria. If you do venture out of Germany be careful of being trapped on toll roads.

Obviously, as this is Pistonheads I would recommend the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart. Even if you’re not massively into cars the building, displays and history is very impressive. Afterwards you can visit their flagship dealership and pretend you’ve got loads of money. The Porsche Museum in nearby Zuffenhausen is good but probably not as impressive.

Despite the stereotype I’ve always found Germans to be very welcoming and I’ve never had any problems. Although I can speak a little of the language I never cease to be amazed by the quality of English spoken by the majority of Germans. Enjoy your trip.

[JONSCZ]

Hi Anthony.
Thanks so much to you, too.
Again - very detailed reply and plenty of info to go on.
Cheers, Jon

[sonic_2k_uk]

JONSCZ said:

Any towns or villages a 'must see'?

There is a really nice little town in the Eiffel mountains called Nurburg you might want to visit

[JONSCZ]

Hi Andy.
Sorry for not replying earlier, but have been away with work.
Thanks for your post - yes, I have already done the Nurburg experience and it was amazing - if not slightly embarrassing when I was overtaken by a Renault Espace with a family on board.....!! (was a local driver, though!).
Cheers, Jon