Suggestions for stopover Hook of Holland to Austria

[eastwestdivide]

We’re off to Jenbach, Austria (between Munich and Innsbruck), on an interrail later this year, and trying to work out a nice stopover somewhere in Germany. Preferably with IC/ICE trains or within easy reach of them, and somewhere a bit scenic. Doesn’t have to have railway interest. Done the Rhine gorge already, and Ulm, so ruling those out. Would like to get to Jenbach around 1700 or so, probably on EC89 the 1534 from Munich, so we’re looking at a longer day from Hook and a shorter one to Jenbach.
Aschaffenburg (E of Frankfurt) is top of the list so far, but any interesting suggestions gratefully received. Ta

 

[306024]

If you are interested in Second World War history Nuremberg would be suitable.

https://museums.nuernberg.de/documentation-center/the-site/the-nazi-party-rally-grounds

The German rail museum is in Nuremberg too, so enough for a whole day. If you only want one night you can chose one or the other and then catch the 14.10 Nuremberg to Munich and make your EC89 connection.

You've ruled out the two most scenic routes, so there’s not much else to chose from scenery wise. But while you are in the area a trip from Innsbruck to Garmisch and up the Zugspitz is worthwhile.

 

[30907]

Among medium-sized towns Wuerzburg, with its Residenz, is on my bucket list, and so is Augsburg.

Alternatively Lindau, using a bit of the new HSL to Ulm, would be a pleasant place to stopover; thence to Feldkirch and pick up EC Transalpin with its Panorama Car - thoughthat would get you to Jenbach at 1300 not 1700.
The Arlberg route is worth it anyway, far more scenic than via Munich.

For yet more scenery, you could go south to Offenburg and then use the Schwarzwald main line towards Konstanz (I don't know the town but there's a recent thread suggests it's nice!).

 

[eastwestdivide]

Thanks people. Plenty of options there.

 

[iainbhx]

Would certainly consder Nürnberg and Würzburg both of which are charming and good places to stop over, but I would also consider historic Bamberg.

Aschaffenburg was a bit of a nothingburger when I visited.

 

[dutchflyer]

Propose Stuttgart or Karlsruhe-with chance to go across Schwarzwald=Black Forest.
Use inland line via Garmisch partenkirchen for M-INn, in stead ofndirect/boring EC via Kufstein. Though perhaps still a short part by rail-repl. bus.

 

[duesselmartin]

Dachau is a nice little town with the dark shadow of the concentration camp near it. It hits home the evil side of racism and what humans are capable of. .
Only an S-Bahn run from Munich.

 

[blackfive460]

Another vote for Lindau but instead of continuing via the Arlberg, try the scenic route via Kempten and Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Innsbruck and then on to Jenbach.
Leaving Lindau-Insel at 09:55 you'll get to Jenbach at 16:24 without any extended stops but you could always have an hour in Garmisch and get to Jenbach an hour later.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Thanks again for the suggestions people. Already been via some of those routes, and need to work with the limitations of the ferry arrival time in HvH, but there’s plenty there that I hadn’t considered.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Any small town in Germany has enough to interest you for a couple of days. In a big town there could just be too much to see.

One place on my bucket list to visit again is Giessen, where there is a museum of watering cans. "giessen" is also a verb: to irrigate.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Giessen, where there is a museum of watering cans. "giessen" is also a verb: to irrigate.

Is that a “pour” example of German humour?!

 

[duesselmartin]

Gießen was once voted to be Germany's ugliest town The best part is the station, to get away from it.

 

[fandroid]

Slightly offroute but not far is Prien am Chiemsee on the Munich to Salzburg line. Nice town on a big lake with steam trains and a mad King Ludwig schloss on an island.

 

[Fireless]

Slightly offroute but not far is Prien am Chiemsee on the Munich to Salzburg line. Nice town on a big lake with steam trains and a mad King Ludwig schloss on an island.

The Chiemseebahn (the 2 km long metre gauge railway between Prien station and the Chiemsee) is worth a visit just to ride on their original rolling stock built in 1887 and in regular service ever since.
The steam loco is booked run on saturdays and sundays during the summer (from the 20th of May until mid September).