Romantica Strasse

[Geoff Tuckley]

Hello again, Folks,

Following our recent robbery in Barcelona, we have decided that the only thing to do is to get back out in the van again and continue to enjoy it.

We are going over to France in the Spring but we are looking at doing the Romantica Strasse in Germany for a month in the Summer. Not having done Germany in the van before we need to collect as much information as we can about the proposed trip eg Stellplatz, sites, and snippets of the immense knowledge and experience that people on this forum will have about the trip. We need to find out where to seek out information in books, websites etc.

Thanks everyone.

[peejay]

This should do for starters....

 

 

https://www.romantischestrasse.de/?lang=uk

 

 

https://www.romantischestrasse.de/showpage.php?SiteID=188&lang=de

 

 

Pete

[rupert123]

Geoff Tuckley - 2010-12-05 11:19 AM

 

Hello again, Folks,

Following our recent robbery in Barcelona, we have decided that the only thing to do is to get back out in the van again and continue to enjoy it.

We are going over to France in the Spring but we are looking at doing the Romantica Strasse in Germany for a month in the Summer. Not having done Germany in the van before we need to collect as much information as we can about the proposed trip eg Stellplatz, sites, and snippets of the immense knowledge and experience that people on this forum will have about the trip. We need to find out where to seek out information in books, websites etc.

Thanks everyone.

 

Germany, in our opinion, is just as good as France and we always find it surprising that their are so few Brits around. Get the Bord Atlas for stellplatz, all in German but easy to follow. English is very widely spoken, it has to be with us as our German is nil, can count up to ten, know what the German is for M/H, electricity. Our second trip this year was Moselle, Rhine, Romantic road, through Austria to Switzerland and back through the Black Forest and Alsace. We love the Moselle and Rhine but found the top part of Romantic road a disapointment, the road between the towns is boring and the towns very attractive but very similar. Having said that do not miss Rothenburg ODT and Neuschwanstein the location of King Ludwigs fairytale castle. Personally would not bother going inside, another big let down, but worth walking up to and then around the outside and up to a spectacular bridge over a gorge, great views. The southern end or the road is great as you approach the Bavarian Alps. Their is a magnificent gothic monastry church at Rottenburg, well worth a look. Their is a new stellplatz at Camping Bannwaldsee within pushbike distance of Ludwigs castle, not listed in Bord atlas, you can use sites showers. We also stayed at Donauworth Stellplatz, not our sort of stop but has hookup and convenient for the town. Oberammergau, famous for it's passion play worth a look. Personally we would recommend joining the Romantic Road around Rothenburg ODT and miss the top part out. Even below ODT the route is pretty ordinary travel wise with little scenary of note until you approach the mountains, sections are very busy with traffic. All our other stops were at ACSI discount sites.

[lennyhb]

Can't add much to the above apart from be aware not all stellplatz have full services, some have none, some dump facilities only. Also found one where the services were about ½ mile across town from the parking area. We always travel with a full water tank in Germany.

 

Would also say the Moselle is Motorhome heaven stellplatz in most villages much quieter than the Rhine.

 

 

 

 

[maggyd]

All of the above and we particularly like Fussen which is on the border of Austria there is a good Stal there a bit more expensive but has showers and toilets as well as washing machines, and lovely bikerides around the lake and some very interesting shops.

 

We have just ordered our new Reise Mobil International Bord Atlas from Vacarious books it has all the stals in and facilities.

 

I can confirm what lenny says about the Moselle we love it, but never have to travel with more than half a tank of water there is no shortage of places to fill and the stals beside the Moselle are very relaxed and mostly beside the water where you can relax and watch the many barges. The only thing I would say is if you see a Supermarket make use of it as most of the villages you can get plenty of wine and if your lucky bread but you have to search for Supermarkets. We have been for the last 4 years that speaks for itself! we did find it hard at the time we went in July to stay in the Black Forest and lake Konstance area but you always find somewhere.

 

 

[rupert123]

A good point made by last post. In Germany they do not seem to have supermarkets as us and the French know them. They have Lidl, Spar type places, pretty small and not a great choice. They do however have bakers and cake shops that rival France and are cheaper. My wife and I had a magnificent Black Forest gateaux and coffee in Titsee, four euro's each, massive piece of gateaux, one between us would have been fine, with not the slightest resemblance to the one you buy in the UK.

[Geoff Tuckley]

Thanks, Folks,

lennyhd and maggyd, the Moselle sounds very interesting, being quieter and all that. We are looking at going in May or June and not when the kids are off school. Could you advise on a possible route we could consider and maybe embroider on. Will it be difficult to fill a month or should we be looking to take in part of the Rhine as well? Anywhere you have stopped on the river and found to be good would go down well. Can't make our minds up where on the river to start for example. Please forgive the lack of knowledge but the only times we have been in Germany has been visits to Rhine Army bases in the North and one trip to the Hertz mountains. Again traveling by air.

[Brambles]

Loads of German Supermarkets everywhere. Of course small villages do not have, but small towns no problem. Agree with rest of posts though.

 

Lidl and Aldi are far better in Germany than here and their fresh bread is cheaper than elsewhere and very good. Bear in mind the supermarkets are often very discrete with their signage so easy to miss. Kaufland, Real amonst the big ones. Ther are others just cannot recall the names. Maybe this is the problem in some of you do not recognise the supermaret names.

 

Another one.. Globus - sound like DIY, but is supermarket.

[lennyhb]

A few photos here the first 10 are on the Moselle, next 3 Bavaria the rest Slovenia.

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/lennyhb/GermanySloveniaAug2008#

 

We find we can never get a decent nights kip on the Rhine barges thumping away all night rail lines on both sides of the river.

 

 

As for routes & times we started at Koblenz and worked our way up to Trier only spent 4/5 days as we were on our way to Slovenia to do the Moselle justice your probable need 2-3 weeks of slow amberling.

 

 

Two extremes of stellaplaz on the Moselle

 

 

 

[lennyhb]

Brambles - 2010-12-05 4:58 PM

 

Loads of German Supermarkets everywhere. Of course small villages do not have, but small towns no problem. Agree with rest of posts though.

 

Lidl and Aldi are far better in Germany than here and their fresh bread is cheaper than elsewhere and very good. Bear in mind the supermarkets are often very discrete with their signage so easy to miss. Kaufland, Real amonst the big ones. Ther are others just cannot recall the names. Maybe this is the problem in some of you do not recognise the supermaret names.

 

Another one.. Globus - sound like DIY, but is supermarket.

 

The big supermarkets tend to be in town centrers and often not accessible in a Motorhome they don't have out of town commercial centres like France but as said plenty of small ones. Yes Aldi & Lidl far better than in the UK.

 

Do bear in mind a lot of German shops still close Saturday lunchtime until Monday.

 

 

 

 

[rupert123]

Geoff Tuckley - 2010-12-05 4:16 PM

 

Thanks, Folks,

lennyhd and maggyd, the Moselle sounds very interesting, being quieter and all that. We are looking at going in May or June and not when the kids are off school. Could you advise on a possible route we could consider and maybe embroider on. Will it be difficult to fill a month or should we be looking to take in part of the Rhine as well? Anywhere you have stopped on the river and found to be good would go down well. Can't make our minds up where on the river to start for example. Please forgive the lack of knowledge but the only times we have been in Germany has been visits to Rhine Army bases in the North and one trip to the Hertz mountains. Again traveling by air.

 

We went via Luxemburg and joined Moselle at Trier, down river to Rhine junction at Koblenz then followed this to just below Rudesheim. From here you can cut across to Romantic Road. Cannot agree about supermarkets though, just as bad as UK Lidl's but I suppose it depends what you want.

[tonyg3nwl]

Hi, We did the route back in May, having been told about it and given a tourist guide leaflet by our friends.Our total journey went via Dover Calais to first overnight at St Omer (arques Aire). Second night at Bleharies Aire on french belgium border (fish and chip bar adjacent). Third night at Trier stelplatz via Luxumbourg city, (Water and electric hookups available).

Day 4 at Eberbach on Neckar River stelplatz. Next stop Bad Wimpfen for lunch and look around. Then overnight at Creglingen (Camping Romantic Strasse. A Busy crowded site and raining, full facilities so laundry etc used..

 

Rothenburg next on list, stelplatz almost adjacent to old town entrance. A tourist ripoff trap for the unwary, but interesting place to visit for the day.

Probably best to join a guided tour.

 

Next up, Nordlingen, walk around old town, stelplatz 50 yds from town gate. Mc D adjacent to stelplatz, public toilet as well.

 

Augsburg, Stelplatz immediately adjacent to ring road but fill, empty and overnight at a fee into machine. A mile or so walk into old town centre and tourist info office in main square. Local estate agent's office pointed us in right direction.

 

On next to Schongau, stopping to take on food at Lidl and replenish empty gas bottle at a roadside camping shop. Steep climb up into hilltop old town from stelplatz, and following morning a "flo markt " adjacent to stelplatz. (boot sale in english). Possible walk around the town walls outside with views. Ice cream vendor in town, and fountain at entry to cool down.

 

Next day to Schwangau for the fairytale castle. Parking area very busy. so carried on into Fussen Stelplatz. Busy again, and about a mile walk into Fussen centre.. Re visited Castle next day but defeated by parking so moved on into Austria va Fern Pass heading to Innsbruck. Do not forget sticker for Motorways.

 

Camping Natterersee excellent site facilities and local bus into Innsbruck Recommend walkabout guided tour of old town.

 

I have written this up more fully with photos, and could offer a copy by post if interested.

 

Spelling errors corrected

Tonyg3nwl

[spospe]

Don't forget to get an Umwelt Plakette, lest you stray into one of the protected areas.

 

Easy enough to get one when you are there (we got ours at a Euromaster Tyre Depot in Ulm) and very easy to stray into a protected zone without one if you are not 100% wary.

[Hopesy]

An excellent thread as we're thinking of doing the same thing. We've been to france and spain for the past three years and fancy something a little different and i love the mountains. I was thinking of visiting Munich for a couple of days or so as friends have recommended it so does anyone have any suggestions for this. Watching the current series on BBC4 which is tempting me even more!

Sorry to hijack the OP but it's very similar

[lennyhb]

You won't go far wrong in Bavaria, the Western side around Fussen valleys leading to the mountains great for cycling.

The Eastern side around Berchtesgaden brilliant for walking very steep hard on the knees, also if you are into WWII stuff Hitler's Bunkers, Eagle's nest etc.

 

Been there a couple of times with the caravan only driven through with the Motorhome.

 

No experience of Munich apart from accidentally towing a caravan right through the centre. If you are going to Munich make sure you get a Emissions sticker 5€ from most car showrooms.

 

A few photos here:-

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/lennyhb/WesternBavariaJuly06#

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/lennyhb/EasternBavariaAug07#

 

 

[Mel B]

Pennymarkt is one of the supermarkets in Germany and we quite like it! Also we find Lidl and Aldi fine for our needs. The only thing we occasionally had problems with was getting 'normal' white bread as there's a lot of the brown malt-type and rye bread, so if you like white, get it when you can.

[lennyhb]

For white bread they always have white crispy crust rolls available it wouldn't be breakfast in Germany without them.

Also par baked baguettes & rolls are widely available we always keep them in the Motorhome wherever we are, a great stand by, just pop in the oven for 10 min.

I love their malt & rye bread but it is a bit heavy going.

 

 

[Geoff Tuckley]

Ok so what is an Umwelt Plakette?

Told you we are still a little green and that is why we posted this thread.

Thanks a lot to all of you who took the trouble to reply. There is some real valuable experience on this Forum.

Hopesy, don't apologise, that what the Forum is about!

Thanks again

[Brambles]

this link might help you...

http://www.germany-tourism.co.uk/driving_in_germany_low_emission_zones.htm

[lennyhb]

Geoff Tuckley - 2010-12-07 11:18 AM

 

Ok so what is an Umwelt Plakette?

Told you we are still a little green and that is why we posted this thread.

Thanks again

 

It's the emissions sticker need to drive into most large cities, cost 5€ you can get at most car dealers in Germany.

 

Info here:-

 

http://www.umwelt-plakette.de/int_england.php?SID=d83ec60a7120fc7b39d2d7026329e485

 

 

 

 

[maggyd]

It saves a lot of worry if you get one before you go :-S if I were you I would send for one in plenty of time.

[lennyhb]

It's no problem at all getting one in Germany we just went into a car dealer. Just need to show them your V5 they may ask to see the vehicle.

If in doubt just ask at the local tourist office they will tell you which dealer's do them, fairly certain it's all main dealers + TUV Test Stations.

 

One point make sure are happy with the position you are fixing the disc the adhesive is powerful and once stuck can not be removed.

 

 

 

 

[rupert123]

maggyd - 2010-12-07 2:51 PM

 

It saves a lot of worry if you get one before you go :-S if I were you I would send for one in plenty of time.

 

Agree with this who wants to search around for someone who sells them when it is simple to get one by post. Incidently on the route you are looking at you will not need it.

[spospe]

The Umwelt Plakette is indeed very sticky and once applied to the windscreen would be difficult to get off. What I did is to fit it into a normal UK Road Tax disk holder (the Plakette is a touch larger than a Tax Disk, but a quick trim with sissors is all you need).

 

The Plakette is fitted to the windscreen on the UK drivers side (opposite the UK Tax Disk). Getting them in Germany is easy, ours came from a Euromaster Tyre depot and they last the life of the vehicle. Better have one and then you have no worries about straying into a protected zone.

[Brambles]

spospe,

Your supposed to stick it on, as far as my german goes and it is a legal requirement to affix properly so it cannot be transferred to another vehicle, despite it having your registration number written on it.

 

In a Right hand drive vehicle you are allowed to fix it on the left so it is not an obstruction to the view on the drivers side. The garage I got mine from was going to put in on right, then realised I was right hand drive, got out a document or two and read them, made a phone call and then said it goes on passenger side above tax disc not to obstruct your view.

 

When I came home I checked this online and found something saying if RHD you are permitted to place on left.