Route planners for walking tours in Germany

I am sure that one exists as I have used maps and directions printed out by these online routeplanners before. Does anyone know of one? or the best one if there is a whole wack of these things?

I'm not sure about route planners, but Wanderkarten (= foot travelers' maps) are pretty detailed. You can get them at most department stores and bookstores with travel literature.

I've got to be honest, I think the compass maps are pretty rubbish. I bought a couple when I first got here, and although they can suggest routes you are then entirely dependent on the direction in the text (often a bit vague) and signposts on trails. The maps are detail-poor and clutter-rich - roads and paths are marked with massive, bold colours which makes it impossible to see what the path is actually doing, and often paths which diverge are not at all clear.
If you're used to 'proper' maps stick to the Bavarian government series... they are fantastic. Availiable in Sportscheck and most bookstores, 6,60E a pop. Perfect for anywhere in Bavaria.

I think Kompass are the ones we call "adventure maps". So called because you never know where you'll actually end up...

Iain, the map you're looking for is available from the catchily-titled Bayerische Landesamt für Vermessung und Geoinformation. From the menu, select "GeoDatenOnline". Then select "BayernViewer Plus". Then select "Start". Then select "Starten". Then click "Anmelden". And you're off!

Hey, it's got 'Amt' in the title - you didn't expect it to be straightforward, did you?

What you eventually get are the excellent Bavarian State maps, with the ability to switch between map and aerial photograph view. So it's a bit like Google Maps, except that it's been around for a decade and the map actually marks things

Just to add to the general chorus, Kompass maps are indeed rubbish. In some areas they have larger-scale maps, eg. 1:35,000. But all they've done is enlarged the 1:50,000 map - there isn't a single piece of extra detail!

For Bavaria, the best maps are the Bayerischeblahblahamt topographical maps:



For Austria, the Alpenverein maps are best -- for the areas they don't cover, you're fucked.

Of course, the best maps in the world come from Southampton

Thanks for the info stb

you get the "amtlichen " KArten online here:

http://www.geodaten.bayern.de/

klick on geodaten also satelitte images are available.

have fun