My daughter will be studying abroad for 6 months. We are flying into Paris and spending 4 days there. Then we would like to spend 2 to 3 days exploring Germany, would love to see a castle or two. We need to be in Schwabisch Gmund on Friday, March 1st. Does anyone have any suggestions? Would be traveling by train.
Help with German itinerary
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Lucky, lucky you! This is one of my favorite areas of Germany.
Also, one of my favorite castles is a little over an hour away, Schloss Lichtenstein. How you get there without a car is beyond me.
I'm sure there is public transportation and you can run it through google maps.
I think it may be easier and maybe more exciting to go to Hohenzollern Castle. It's a very grand castle and much more popular.
There is a palace outside of Stuttgart, Ludwigburg that maybe of some interest. I haven't been so I can't comment. There is so much to see in the area.
I would head for the Middle Rhine Valley where 40 castles hug the river between Koblenz and Bingen:
http://www.welterbe-mittelrheintal.de/index.php?id=288&L=3
The 9:10 train from Paris Est station gets you to Koblenz at 13:37. On 2/26 and 2/27, the German railways site is showing fares of 39€ one way as of right now for train-specific tickets - excellent deal:
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
Once there, check into a hotel near the station, drop bags, grab lunch, and catch the 14:54 train to Braubach (12 minutes to the south.) Walk (uphill, maybe 25 min.) or taxi up to never-destroyed Marksburg Castle for a tour (open all year, last tour at 4 pm):
http://www.roadstoruins.com/marksburg.htm
http://www.marksburg.de/english/frame.htm
Tours will be in German but you can grab a flyer or print out this guide:
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/germany/marksburg.htm
Return to Koblenz.
Day 2: Leave Koblenz for points south on the MRB (slow) train and a morning of castle-spotting. The MRB will stop everywhere along the west bank and give you a good view of castles on the opposite side, at least. Crane your neck to see castles on your side. Make a 1-2-hour stop in Bacharach (about 40 minutes from Koblenz) to see the half-timbered buildings and maybe visit a winery? The tourist office is open 9-13:00 and should be willing to hold your bags while you look around (no lockers at station.) Reboard the MRB train and head for Mainz (lockers there, cathedral and nice pedestrianized old town area to explore.) Stay the night there if you have time or head off to Schwäbisch Gmünd if you need to.
For this day's train trips, a Rheinland-Pfalz ticket (daypass, 26€ for two, good after 9 am on regional trains) is great if you're only traveling from Koblenz to Mainz, or beyond Mainz to other towns as far south as Karlsruhe; see area of coverage map and details on this page:
http://www.vrminfo.de/en/tickets-and-fares/ticket-offers/rheinland-pfalz-ticket/
You'll need different tickets to reach S. Gmünd.