In one compact region, European travelers can experience everything from vineyards to spa towns to forested trails to historic city centers—the underrated Baden-Württemberg.
Flying under the radar for many, Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of Germany and often passed over for Bavaria or other regions. But here, visitors find that same famous German culture and beautiful landscapes with much smaller crowds.
One of the secrets to this region is that it is impressively connected by trains, both high-speed and regional varieties. Whether you’re looking to spend the day exploring a castle, sipping drinks at a café in the city, of cycling through the countryside, the different parts of Baden-Württemberg are all so accessible thanks to numerous convenient rail connections.
Some of the highlights here include:
Heidelberg is an idyllic German town, with a lovely Old Town area, numerous church towers, the meandering Neckar River, terra-cotta-colored rooftops, and of course an impressive castle overlooking it all.
Heidelberg Castle (Photo via Lauren Bowman)
The Black Forest is full of lush forests, high waterfalls, small towns, and lakeside villages. You can walk along a plethora of trails, try some of the fames local cuisine (including Black Forest cake and smoked ham).
Stuttgart, the sixth largest city in Germany, boasts nearby wineries, museums dedicated to Porche and Mercedes-Benz automobiles, and plenty of festivals throughout the year. The city is well connected to many cities across Germany and central Europe.
Baden-Baden has history going back more than 2,000 years; the Romans were known to have fancied the region’s hot springs. Today, the many baths around town still welcome locals and visitors alike. You can come for the spa experience but stay for the many tree lined parks and Belle Époque architecture.
In the span of a few days, visitors to Baden-Württemberg are able to see and do so much, thanks to the easy connectivity of Rail Europe. It’s a breeze to compare and plan routes, book rail tickets and build an itinerary. And unlike air travel, where you rarely get a good sense of the connective tissue of the countryside, rail travel allows you to watch the landscape continually change outside your window, making the journey part of the great memories.
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