South through Germany - help please (1 Viewer)

[Figaro]

Next year I`m planning my first long trip providing I can get the three months leave from work !
I plan to travel south through Germany and cross Austria on the Grossglockner Pass as recommended by @mikebeaches and then explore Slovenia and Croatia.
My question is, do I travel south through Germany down the Rhine / Black Forest or the Romantic route which seems to be a little further East ?
Also if I use the Rhine route do I try and include some of the River Moselle ? Koblenz to Trier sounds like the senic section but a bit of a detour, so not sure.
Suggestions appreciated

 

[magicsurfbus]

I reckon Colmar (in Eastern France) is worth a look on the way down, and/or Strasbourg. I can also put in a good word for Bodensee (Lake Konstanz), which means driving through the Black Forest to get there. The lake's eastern end is in Austria. However, Munich and places like Schloss Neuschwanstein are good to visit too, along with Salzburg.

 

[Mr Milliemobile]

Trier is very nice, worth a visit
Nige

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[rb62]

Can you not go down one way and come back the other?

 

[JockandRita]

Unless you are 3.5T or under, I'd be avoiding Austria.

We are plated at 5.5T and went via Switzerland, buying a 10 x day pass for the MH, for CH32.50 (£25.00).
It is valid for 12 x months.

Good luck with Austria.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Figaro]

I'm thinking I might get to Koblenz then follow the Moselle to Trier then cut across to the Rhine and go south from there through black forest. Does that sound like a plan ?
I've read the Moselle is quite industrial south west of Trier.
When it comes to it, it might depend on the weather, if it's iffy I'll just head south asap !
Leave early may.

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[JockandRita]

I've read the Moselle is quite industrial south west of Trier.

We didn't find the Moselle/Mosel industrious at all, but the Rhine certainly was. We preferred the scenery and tranquility of the Mosel, and it is one of our favourite areas of Germany, as is the Black Forest.

Your route sounds good, and as you have the time, why not, however, I am no expert on the subject.
We only had 7 x weeks, and had to be in Garda, Italy on the first week, then on to Croatia. We got down as far as Split, before heading back up.
We would have liked more time to be able to explore Slovenia too, as it came well recommended by others.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[tacr2man]

It very much depends on what your interests are what way to go , as more of certain things are on certain routes ? Germany has a huge amount to offer , enough to stop you getting anywhere much in three months

 

[Abacist]

For me I'd go Bruges, Aachen, Cologne, Moselle Valley to Trier then across to the East and take the Romantic road down to Fussen then across Austria.

The Moselle is far more picturesque and entertaining than the Rhine because the river is large but not too large not to have bridges at every town so you can cross back and forth at will.

On the other hand the Rhine has railways on either side which are noisy and operate both day and all night and no bridges as its too wide and ferries across are dear. It's industrial and far fewer places to stop and the wine towns were not so Moho friendly for parking as the Moselle.

I've done both and that's the way I'd go every time even though I've done both.

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[hilldweller]

the Grossglockner Pass a detour, so not sure.
Suggestions appreciated

Many YouTube videos make it look a dream on a bike, but a MH ????

The Mosel and the Rhein south of the junction at Koblenz is a dream. Hidelberg fantastic. Then hit Fussen,

 

[Enword]

We did the Grossglockner Pass in 81 on bikes & there were coaches on the pass, the biggest problem we had was the LeMans ran as sick as a parrot at altitude, on the highest part it took a lot of coaxing to get it to start, From what friends have told us the pass has had loads of work done & is much more user friendly now.

 

[Stealaway]

My Favourite route south through Germany is to pick up the E40/42 in Dunkirk to Aachen via Charleroi. Turn off at Junction 2 just as it enters Germany and head directly south to Monschau a town unchanged since a 1700. Then south again to the Mosel at Cochem. Tour the Mosel to Boppard and a ferry across the Rhine. South to Rüdesheim am Rheine and then I would head for Lindau on the Bodensee. You’re now in my favourite part of Germany now, Bavaria and the Tyrol into Austria.

Other popular visits are a lap of the old Nurburging and the science museums at Technik Museum Speyer and Sinsheim

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[Figaro]

Unless you are 3.5T or under, I'd be avoiding Austria.

I`m 3.8T, I was under the impression if I avoided motorways I`d be ok in Austria, no need for the gobox or anything else. Have I read that wrong ?
I`m just after some Alpine scenery, having only ever viewed it from 36,000 feet so far.
The Gossglockner High Alpine Road sounded good but I`m sure there is lots in Switzerland to keep me happy

 

[Abacist]

I`m 3.8T, I was under the impression if I avoided motorways I`d be ok in Austria, no need for the gobox or anything else. Have I read that wrong ?
I`m just after some Alpine scenery, having only ever viewed it from 36,000 feet so far.
The Gossglockner High Alpine Road sounded good but I`m sure there is lots in Switzerland to keep me happy

Quite correct unless the rules have changed recently

 

[JockandRita]

I`m 3.8T, I was under the impression if I avoided motorways I`d be ok in Austria, no need for the gobox or anything else. Have I read that wrong ?

No you haven't read that wrong. I think that ruling still stands today. You need to be careful though. If you are inadvertently diverted on to an Autoroute due to a road closure for example, (road works or an RTC/RTA) and you don't have a Go-Box or Vignette, you run the risk of getting heavily fined. It's a chance you take.

Good luck

Jock.

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[injebreck99]

My Favourite route south through Germany is to pick up the E40/42 in Dunkirk to Aachen via Charleroi. Turn off at Junction 2 just as it enters Germany and head directly south to Monschau a town unchanged since a 1700. Then south again to the Mosel at Cochem. Tour the Mosel to Boppard and a ferry across the Rhine. South to Rüdesheim am Rheine and then I would head for Lindau on the Bodensee. You’re now in my favourite part of Germany now, Bavaria and the Tyrol into Austria.

Other popular visits are a lap of the old Nurburging and the science museums at Technik Museum Speyer and Sinsheim

My route of choice exactly, the rough old N258 to Monschau used to be very interesting, not been that way for a while.

 

[Figaro]

So, sounds like I'll be needing a good map of Austria showing toll roads ! I'm hoping that'll be enough, I've no plans to go into cities.
The plans coming together so thanks to all

 

[Speve]

Don’t forget to apply for your Umwelt (emissions ) sticker there are lots of zones in Germany and you will likely pass some.

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[autorouter]

and then I would head for Lindau on the Bodensee

If you like that kind of thing, and are near the Bodensee, the biggest waterfall in Europe is very near. As the Rhine comes out of the Bodensee at the Swiss end, it goes over the Rhine Falls. Spectacular.

Cycling round the Bodensee is popular, and if you are having trouble with your Electroblok, Schaudt is in that area.

On the Austria/Switzerland motorway subject, be careful. The usual road sign colours (Blue = motorway, Green = ordinary road) are reversed. Double-check and don't be misled by road sign colour.

 

[hilldweller]

So, sounds like I'll be needing a good map of Austria showing toll roads

And quick wits. I remember one roundabout where one exit was the motorway and another the road we wanted, only fractions of a second to pick the right one from a load of alien signs.

But we managed.

I now know we did use a toll road because the crafty locals made just a few miles of road/tunnel into autoroute, both ends normal. We got away with it more than once.

 

[Garfields]

Have a search for the Palatinate Forest national park.
Less commercialised than Black Forest and some really nice walking etc.
We were recommended the area last year by a German friend and plan to include the it again as part of next years trip
Also a Mosel fan and river upstream of Hiedelburgh

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[journeyman]

Hi Figaro, sounds like you will have a great time. We did southern Germany and into Austria in 2015 for a month. Heading directly to Koblenz, down the Moselle, bearing off at Trier, then heading further south, an overnight in a Vinyard at Neustadt, literally parked between the vines, then through Baden-Baden, over some massive hill! and then into the Black Forest, finding a lovely isolated bar/restaurant with camping for one van ….No Planning, no pre-booking, we just winged the whole trip and loved it. Our target was Late Constance, but it was rammed with tourists…sniff, so we stayed one night, moved onto Oberstodorf, went up a mountain, then just decided to have a peek at Austria….blown away and we stayed in a fantastic little site in the Tannheim Valley for three days, climbed another mountain…stunning.

Eventually we headed back north towards the low countries along the Romantic Strasser initially. We plan on returning to Bavaria/Austria this July for a month. Fantastic place. Blog Entries below:

https://motorhomedreamer.com/2015/07/26/deutschebimble15-the-schlep-down-south/