Germany 2013 sites not to miss

Discussion in 'Europe' started by roastbeef82, Dec 8, 2012.

  1. roastbeef82

    roastbeef82 Adventurer

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    Hi guys, I am planning a trip to Germany in August 2013 and I am looking for any tips for places to visit.
    There will be about 4 of us in the team, ( 2 Triumph Tigers, 1 BMW GS and my KTM adv) and not forgetting Chris's K 100 or Bonneville !
    Things we like are: Beer, old castles, twisty roads through the forests, beer, good campsites, mountains with viewpoints, beer - all fairly standard stuff really.
    Neuschwanstein castle (that's the jigsaw one) is already on the list.
    We will be there for about a week, so if you know of anything that's "not to miss" then it would be great if you could let me know.
    Thanks and "Cheers":freaky
    Phil
    #1
  2. DantesDame

    DantesDame Ridin' Fool Super Moderator

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    Poking my head into this thread as I'll be moving to the area in a month and am always on the look out for some good riding. I also like your list of "likes" :D
    #2
  3. MikJogg

    MikJogg Weekend Adventurer

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    Well, the blackforest is my first recommendation (sure,i live here :D) But personelly i would rather go into the vosges-alsace,just an hour west to the blackforest.
    And try the "tannenzäpfle" beer from http://rothaus.de/de/die_brauerei :dutch

    Also very nice is for me the north-eastern area of bavaria,the bavarian forest and saxony/thüringen in the east. Many nice little roads and less traffic than in the alps region.

    And there´s always a lot of good beer :beer

    Cheers
    #3
  4. strom thingie

    strom thingie Lost and Proud! Supporter

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    One week is not nearly enough time. I'd tour the Alps and Dolomites after visiting Neuschwanstein. Great beer and even better roads.
    #4
  5. jayseabea

    jayseabea n00b

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    Excuse me, Phil, but I think you'll find there's an '05 Bonnie or '85 K100 in there as well....:huh
    #5
  6. roastbeef82

    roastbeef82 Adventurer

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    Oops, well you know me, unless its orange I don't pay much attention:D
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  7. der-Seppel

    der-Seppel Dominik

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    You definitely have to miss the the flat western north of germany. It is total boring to ride, no mountains or curved roads.
    #7
  8. Ali in Austria

    Ali in Austria Been here awhile

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    If it is castles you are looking for have a look at The Castle Road and Romantic Road.

    Not single roads but well signposted routes taking in the Castles and Medieval Towns. Google and Wiki should provide you with all the information.

    If you get down our way take a look at Werfen Castle, Schloss Adler in "Where Eagles Dare".
    #8
  9. Rensen

    Rensen Adventurer

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    Just follow these road signs called "Romantische Straße", you will be not disappointed!

    Ride in Bavaria, best beer, wonderful countryside and twisty roads!

    [​IMG]
    #9
  10. MichaelJ

    MichaelJ Long timer Supporter

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    That should be long enough to get through the lines (one to get a ticket and another to get in the castle once you have a ticket) to see the castle.

    I saw it in 1982, and it was pretty much walk up, get a ticket and go through.

    I took a couple of friends there in 2007 who REALLY wanted to see it, and they looked at the lines and said "Forget it".

    We got there in mid-day, it's probably better if you can be there early.

    Neat place, though.

    +1 on the Romantische Strasse and a +1+ on the Dolomites.
    #10
  11. DantesDame

    DantesDame Ridin' Fool Super Moderator

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    :lurk
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  12. marret

    marret Transient

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    If you go to Neuschwanstein castle, suggest you buy the ticket online and pick it up there. Allows you to bypass the ticket purchase line as there is a separate line for pre-purchased tickets. We didn't do that, waited about 45 mintues to buy the ticket for a tour that was a couple hours after that. One can walk up the hill and take exterior photos without buying a ticket and going on the tour.

    The riding across southern Germany is good. +1 on the Blackforest, Alps and Dolomites too. We did a week trip in June of this year starting in Heidelberg, then Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland, Blackforest, and back to Heidelberg.
    #12
  13. MichaelJ

    MichaelJ Long timer Supporter

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    Now THAT'S a great bit of info - thanks :D

    I almost had a crash near Kaiserslautern last year - I was heading back to Heidelberg from the Nurburgring and there was a light fog. As I was passing by Ramstein AB, a C-5 on a landing run appeared out of the fog. It looked like a flying building.

    I damn near stopped in the middle of the Autobahn just to watch :huh
    #13
  14. marret

    marret Transient

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    This site provides information for ticket purchase: http://www.hohenschwangau.de/543.html

    Yep, we have fog/rain a lot and of course aircraft landing all the time on Ramstein AFB. We live near the glide path so see them coming in low and slow all the time. More C17s than C5s, but all kinds of military aircraft and contract flights.

    I finally made it to Nurburgring in my 911 a couple months ago. Of course it was overcast and foggy. Made two trips around. The terrain elevation changes were more than I was expecting. Great time.

    My friends who came from the states for the trip rented bikes from Stefan at Knopf Tours in Heidelberg. We also stayed there the first and last nights of the trip. Stefan took fine care of us.
    #14
  15. roastbeef82

    roastbeef82 Adventurer

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    Getting some good quality info here, thanks to all of you guys who have responded so far. As far as castle viewing goes, I know what will happen in our group - if there is any waiting in lines - forget it - we would rather be riding.

    What about campsites ? I presume they are good campsites in the Black Forest - with bars ??:freaky

    Phil
    #15
  16. marret

    marret Transient

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    I don't know about camping in the Blackforest as I haven't done it, but there are camp sites across Germany. A Gasthaus with plenty of beer and wine is easy.

    Check this site out for places to stay in Europe, many of whom cater to bikes and provide covered parking: http://www.tourenfahrer-hotels.de/

    We stayed here in the Blackforest-garage for bikes, great food and plenty of beer:
    Hotel Lawine
    Fahl 7
    79674 Todtnau
    Doris Wasmer-Mink
    Deutschland
    Tel: 049-07676/93330
    Fax: 07676/933319
    www.lawine.de (click on “zimmeranfrage” and then click on the British flag for english)
    #16
  17. MichaelJ

    MichaelJ Long timer Supporter

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    Yes - somewhere around 1,000 feet of elevation change, IIRC. On my first lat in 2009, I was completely lost (or as lost as one can be on a closed course) and had no idea of where I was or what was coming next. Fun, but less than satisfying.

    Skip forward to November, 2010 and GT5 comes out with the Nordschliefe as one of its tracks.

    Many laps later, I find myself back at the track on "Old Faithful" - my 83K mile+ '93 GSX1100G in July of 2011.

    MUCH better - I actually had a pretty good idea of what was coming up next and could enjoy the ride this time as I knew when I could open the throttle and when I'd better not :D

    [​IMG]
    #17
  18. MikJogg

    MikJogg Weekend Adventurer

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    #18
  19. Ecki66

    Ecki66 n00b

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  20. Horton

    Horton Been here awhile

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    Jep, thats very good. Send all the Strangers to the Schwarzwald. So I can enjoy the Eifel and the Ardennes for my own pleasure. . .
    #20