I am headed to Germany on business, staying in Bad Kreuznach. I will have two or three free days, and wonder how best to use them. I am already scheduled to see:

Rhine River tour (one day), Bingen to Braubach
Marksburg Castle
Castle Burg Eltz

I have already seen Heildelberg and Rothenburg.

People have recommended Wiesbaden and Assmanhausen. I know nothing about Wiesbaden; is it an interesting city?

What else is there to see SW of Frankfurt?

Thank you for your help.

I just returned from a Rhine-trip.
Wiesbaden is very nice, very clean and elegant. Visit the Altstadt (old town), drive down Wilhelmstrasse and Spielcasino.

Eltville is very nice, some first class (***) restaurants in Eltville-Erbach.

Visit Schloss Johannisberg in Johannisberg - winery: Riesling and Sekt (sparkling wine).
And visit Kloster Eberbach.
Skip Ruedesheim (tourist trap), however, you may visit Germania on a hill over Ruedesheim.

Another possibility is to go to Trier. It is said that Trier is the oldest town in Germany. There are a lot of Roman monuments (e.g. the famous "Porta Nigra", a gate from 2nd century) and many old churches (e.g. the cathedrale).

The website

http://www.trier.de/

is also available in english with many pictures.

[This message has been edited by LH738 (edited 07-28-2001).]

[This message has been edited by LH738 (edited 07-28-2001).]

Trier is an interesting city with the Roman Basilica (converted dining hall), gate, 3 baths, coliseum, bridge, and also Karl marx's birthplace.

The trouble is that rail connection seems a bit patchy. You may have to head up to Koblenz and change for a train down the Moselle river.

Mainz is a nice city (with 7 major churches) to stroll around for a few hours.

USAFAN, LH738, and terenz, thank you for your suggestions. I've purchased Fodors Germany 2001. I'm going to look up all the recommendations you've give me. I'm looking forward to a great trip to the Rhine and Mosel River Valleys!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by USAFAN:
I just returned from a Rhine-trip.
Wiesbaden is very nice, very clean and elegant. Visit the Altstadt (old town), drive down Wilhelmstrasse and Spielcasino.

</font>

Much history is to see on the other side of the Rhein in Mainz (old cathedral, roman aequaduct etc.).