Trains Near Baumholder, Germany

Trains Near Baumholder, Germany (Photo: )

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Trains are the best way to get around just about everywhere in Germany, so anyone heading to the region in and around Baumholder, Germany should hop aboard. This small town of under 4,500 residents is home to a substantial U.S. military base for active personnel and their families. In fact the American population of the base is more than twice the size of the local population. For Americans, the Baumholder army garrison really puts this town on the map as a place where the military community has flourished since 1951.

Basics About Baumholder, Germany

Where is Baumholder, Germany? The town is in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, one of Germany's 16 states. It's located in the southwest of the country, closely bordered by France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The region is well-known for its wine, and the slopes of the rivers Mosel and Rhine are lined with vineyards. The German state's capital, Mainz, is 64 miles from Baumholder on the route toward Frankfurt, and the entire region is pleasantly wooded, making it a popular area for outdoor pursuits like hiking.

Opportunities for local travel abound, and Baumholder's small train station allows for trips to many local destinations. The city of Frankfurt, Germany's fifth largest, is about 90 miles away, and the lovely city of Metz, in France, is just about the same distance, albeit in the other direction. Directly to the west of Baumholder is the Duchy of Luxembourg, which has an attractive capital city which is popular with tourists. Just 50 miles away is Trier, Germany's oldest city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site still showing signs of its once splendid Roman status. Although Baumholder has a history that's been traced to its 12th century medieval roots, it is not a major tourist destination.

Trains In and Out of Baumholder

For many years Baumholder lacked a train connection, but rail updates in the last ten years have restored service to the town, and the station is located just off the Ringstrasse. There is a regional train departing hourly that connects Baumholder to nearby Idar-Oberstein, and many other destinations can be reached by making this connection. Bookings can be done online at the German rail site, Deutsche Bahn, or in person at the station.

There are also bus stops in Baumholder at four locations: the market in the town center, the Rathaus (or town hall), Schulzentrum (a local school complex), and Baumholder Krankenhaus, the local hospital. From these locations, buses connect to the Idar-Oberstein train station, which is a 25- to 30-minute journey. That train station, built in 1859, has been adapted with elevators for disabled access to its three platforms.

Other Nearby Train Stations

Heimbach is only five miles from Baumholder and has trains arriving from points west, such as Trier. Alternatively, trains in and out of Nohen are convenient to Baumholder, about 15 minutes away by bus. It is not necessary to take the bus to these stations, however, as the regional train service which departs Baumholder for Idar-Oberstein passes through both towns. Approximately 24 miles northeast of Baumholder, the town of Neubruecke is another option for catching connections. Regional Express train service departs from here to Mainz and Mannheim, for example.

Baumholder Army Base

As with other military bases in Germany, the United States Army Garrison (USAG) at Baumholder was established following World War II. Notable today for being one of the larger U.S. Army outposts in Europe, the base situated in wooded hills of Rheinland-Pfalz is affectionately referred to by its nicknames, "The Rock" or "Home of Champions."

At Smith Barracks in Baumholder, U.S. military personnel and their families have all of the facilities that would typically be found in a comparably sized town on American soil. There are schools, churches, medical facilities, recreational facilities, banks, and a variety of stores. These facilities are only available to military personnel and their families. The military base is growing, with 84 new townhouses being added to the community in 2019, and more housing being planned through 2023.

Things to Do in Baumholder

The town's new website proudly points to a new museum opened in 2018 and dedicated to the development of the town, mainly through domestic furnishings and documents. Admission is free to Heimatmuseum, which is open on the second Sunday of each month from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There's more for visitors to do in and around Baumholder. Suggestions include:

• Explore the large 12th century Lichten Berg castle ruins near Thallichtenberg
• Bike along the Nahe River 
• Pedal along the tracks of a scenic abandoned railway in nearby Kusel
• Visit Sittich Farm to admire 1,000 parakeets of 96 species  
• Go swimming in Baumholder Lake on a warm summer day
• Visit the mineral and gemstone museum in Idar-Oberstein
• Tour Steinkaulberg, an old mine in the forest, to see how it once operated
• Visit the large nature park in Saar-Hunsrück

Train Connections at Frankfurt Airport

The nearest large German airport to Baumholder is Frankfurt International Airport, Germany's busiest, about 100 miles to the northeast. It's connected by regional rail service to Idar-Oberstein. On weekdays, the frequency of trains connecting Idar-Oberstein and Frankfurt Airport is hourly at peak times, with approximately 11 daily scheduled departures between approximately 4:30 a.m. and 12 a.m. The average one-way journey takes two hours and seven minutes with a cost of about 20 euros or about $23.

At Frankfurt International Airport, the train station is located inside Terminal 1 at the lowest level, down two sets of escalators. Regional express trains depart from the same place as the S-Bahn (city commuter trains), so follow those signs or ones marked RE for "regional express." The best transit link between the airport's two terminals is via SkyLine, a free automatic monorail shuttle that takes a few minutes.

International travelers should note that Luxembourg Airport is even closer to Baumholder than Frankfurt's airport. From the airport, a frequent bus service operates into Gare Centrale, the central train station in Luxembourg City, about 25 minutes away. Frankfurt's other airport, Frankfurt Hahn, is quite close to Baumholder and is the point of departure for flights on the discount airline RyanAir.

Where to Stay in Baumholder

Stay in a small, family-operated hotel in Old Town Baumholder. At Hotel Zum Stern, a traditional German restaurant is a local favorite. Hotel Berghof serves breakfast to guests and offers free Wi-Fi. Alternatively, a few miles away, Parkhotel Idar-Oberstein is a somewhat larger property that has a fitness room and serves a hearty breakfast. Schlossshenke Oberstein is a picturesque B&B, a timbered building adorned with flower boxes, and City Hotel is a restored historic property in the center of Idar-Oberstein near the market and train station.

Little Known Facts About Baumholder, Germany

Baumholder, Germany has a few more surprises. Delaware, Ohio, an American town that's about 30 miles north of Columbus and home to Ohio Wesleyan University, has a sister city partnership with Baumholder. The relationship began in the early 1990s, fostered by the summer friendly games in Baumholder that are played by the collegiate men's soccer team.

Race car enthusiasts may know that Baumholder is on the professional car rally circuit, a stage in both the Rally Deutschland and the World Rally Championship held annually in August. Old Town Festival is held during the rally, attracting thousands of spectators to the plaza in front of Baumholder's town hall built in 1840. Although small, the Baumholder Christmas marketplace is another authentic local attraction.