Trip to Germany in April, via ?
 

Me and my lady are off to Germany to go visit her relatives in April/May time and we're planning to make a 'proper' trip of it. We're planning on spending 7-10 days to get there, 7 or so days where they live in Quedlinburg and then another 5 or 6 days getting back, 3ish weeks in total.
My first thought was to go via the Alps but then realised that it'll probably still be too cold and snowy during April or May, but if anyone could confirm that I'd be glad to hear.
So has anyone got any ideas (preferrably from experience) about where we could head for our tour instead? Nice scenery and good biking roads are the only 2 requirements, as long as we arrive at our destination after 7-10 days it doesn't matter where we go!
My thought at the moment was to head past Germany and into the Czech republic and see what it's like out there, but my heart is still also set on the alps if it were possible. Can the lower slopes be done at all that time of year? Could we wind our way through them without running into snow + ice if we just worked around the lower passes?
I'll keep this updated as we progress our plans but right now we're just seeing what's possible!
Cheers :)

Re: Trip to Germany in April, via ?
 

Load of good info and forum here:

http://www.alpineroads.com/

Go as late in the year as you can. I have been to French Alps last 2 weeks of June and the high passes have still been closed. The lower ones had been cut out of the snow (20ft high snow banks:cool:) and occassional streams of ice across the road.

The good thing is there are tons of good alternative routes. And with internet access being that good these days you can check on the day what passes are open.

Re: Trip to Germany in April, via ?
 

Cheers, I'll have a gander and maybe have a post on there. Crossing my fingers I can still get into the Alps at that time of year, otherwise it might be Vosges and the Black Forest :)

Re: Trip to Germany in April, via ?
 

Nowt wrong with that either :D

Re: Trip to Germany in April, via ?
 

Also the Eifel/Mosel area has some nice roads.

Re: Trip to Germany in April, via ?
 

The Mosel is beautiful, we spent a week there last year some incredible empty well surfaced roads, hairpins, biking dream really.

Re: Trip to Germany in April, via ?
 

Endorse above - we live here!! Climate great, roads brilliant, scenery stunning, beer and wine lovely, loads to see and do. Very handy for heading East or South (Prague or Alps).
If you need a place to stay, we do B&B and self-catering for 15 euros pn for forum members - www.river-valley-guest-house.co.uk
Happy to help with local info if you need it.