Germany and Austria (and a bit of France) 2024 In late September and early October we explored Germany and Austria. We flew into Frankfurt and promptly drove to Heidelberg to start our trip in the state (or Bundeslander) of Baden-Württemberg which also included the resort town of Baden Baden in the Black Forest. Since this was along the Rhine River, we popped across one day to take in Strasbourg and Colmar in France before leaving the Black Forest region for Stuttgart where we visted the Porsche Museum. Next we traveled to Bavaria where we breifly visted the Neuschwantstein Castle near Fussen before spending several days in Munich during Ocktoberfest. Finally, we crossed the border into Austria to visit Salzburg with some side trips to the lake villiage of Hallstatt and Berchtesgaden to see the Eagle's Nest before ending our journey in Vienna. See below for a day by day selection of photos from our trip... Or jump to a specific place: Heidelberg Rothenburg Baden Baden Strasbourg and Colmar Stuttgart (Porsche Museum) Neuschwanstein Castle Munich Salzburg Hallstatt Berchtesgaden Vienna Germany and Austria (and France) 2024 Select Highlights from each day of our Europe trip Heidelberg, Germany We started our trip in Heidelberg in the state of Baden-Württemberg which is known for having the oldest University in Germany founded in 1386 and was a seat of government of the former Electorate of the Palatinate which was a state in the Holy Roman Empire. Heidelberg is also famous for the Heidelberg Castle which dates back to 1214 in its earliest form and was most famously occupied by Ludwig III, an Elector of Palatine and representive of the Holy Roman Emporer. We also happened to visit during their Fall Festival which we were able to enjoy. Day 1 We enjoyed exploring old town Heidelberg including the Old Heidelberg Bridge which spans the Neckar River and where the Heielberg Castle can be seen in the background. For dinner, I enjoyed a local speciality - the Pork Knuckle.                                               Day 2 We booked a tour and visited the Heidelberg Castle (or Heidelberger Schloss in German). The Heidelberg Castle which dates back to 1214 in its earliest form and was most famously occupied by Ludwig III, an Elector of Palatine and representive of the Holy Roman Emporer and later Frederick V given the crown of Bohemia occupied the castle which triggered the outbreak of the Thirty Years War. A lot of history was centered here at the time. Wonderful views of the city and of the river were visible from the castle. Later in the day we enjoyed the Fall Festival which is similar to Ocktoberfest, but Ocktoberfest is really a Bavarian holiday and Heidelberg is not in Bavaria. We found it interesting that almost all the bands were playing covers of classic British and American rock music and that all the local Germans could sing along as they received this music when they were young such was the power of the British invasion and American rock and pop music.                                                                                   Enjoying some beer and drinks with newly met German friends... Rothenburg, Germany We took a day trip from Heidelberg to the medieval city of Rothernburg ob der Tauber. This city features a well presevered medieval old town and is one of only 4 towns in all of Germany with its original city walls intact. It was a "free imperial city" from the Middle Ages through 1803 meaning it had high levels of autonomy from local rulers and was subordinate only to the Holy Roman Emperor. We enjoyed strolling through the town and shops and had a nice lunch in the main square. Day 3 Enjoyed conversing with a couple from Arizona sitting next to us at lunch....   The intact city walls dating back to the Middle Ages...   Hitting 180 km/h on the Autobahn on the way back to Heidelberg and also catching an incredible sunset....     Baden Baden, Germany (Black Forest) On Day 4 we again hopped on the autobahn and drove down to the Black Forest region of Baden-Wuttemberg to visit the resort town of Baden Baden. We spent this night and the next in the town of Freiburg near the Rhine River which borders France. Day 4 We strolled through the lovely streets of Baden Baden, contemplated one of their famous bath houses and took the funicular up to the surrounding hillsides for a view.                                                         Strasbourg and Colmar, France On the morning of day 5 we left Frieburg and crossed the Rhine River into France where we visited Strasbourg and Colmar. These towns are in the Alsace region of France and this region bounced back and forth between German and French rule throughout years thus providing a mix of the two cultures here. Day 5 Strasbourg France is famous for its Christmas Markets and its Astronomical Clock which we were lucky enough to get last minute tickets to visit... The Cathédrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg which contains the Strasbourg astronomical clock... The Strasbourg astronomical clock. This clock is the third iteration dating back to 1843 and features many automata, a perpetual calendar and a planetary dial marking the positions of the planets, moon and sun including indicators for solar and lunar eclipses! Late in the afternoon we left Strasbourg and drove a short distance to Colmar and spent just a little time there exploring its streets....

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Jump To:

• Heidelberg
• Rothenburg
• Baden Baden
• Strasbourg and Colmar
• Stuttgart (Porsche Museum)
• Neuschwanstein Castle
• Munich
• Salzburg
• Hallstatt
• Berchtesgaden
• Vienna