GERMANY 2026 • DAILY ITINERARY

Saturday, November 7, 2026

Solingen Blade Museum → Grefrath festival

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Genusshaus Vorst exterior in Vorst — departure location.
Genusshaus Vorst exterior in Vorst — departure location.

Depart Vorst, Tönisvorst

Genusshaus Vorst
Kuhstraße 4, 47918 Tönisvorst

1Genusshaus Vorst — official hotel exterior.

Genusshaus Vorst — official hotel exterior.

8:45–9:00 AM

Check out of Genusshaus Vorst

Kuhstraße 4, 47918 Tönisvorst

Breakfast, load luggage and set off for Solingen. Tonight and Sunday night are at Hotel Haffmans in Grefrath.

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2Deutsches Klingenmuseum exterior — photo Lutz Hoffmeister, supplied by Deutsches Klingenmuseum / NRW Tourism.

Deutsches Klingenmuseum exterior — photo Lutz Hoffmeister, supplied by Deutsches Klingenmuseum / NRW Tourism.

10:15 AM–12:15 PM

German Blade Museum

Klosterhof 4, 42653 Solingen

Allow 1–1¼ hours to reach the Deutsches Klingenmuseum in Solingen-Gräfrath. Explore the history of knives, swords, scissors and table cutlery, with Solingen’s blade-making tradition as the thread through the collection. Allow two hours. Published Saturday opening is 10 AM–5 PM. Solingen-Gräfrath is different from Grefrath.

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3Blade Museum building — Solingen-Gräfrath lunch-area context; restaurant not selected.

Blade Museum building — Solingen-Gräfrath lunch-area context; restaurant not selected.

12:15–1:00 PM

Lunch in Solingen-Gräfrath

Historic centre near Klosterhof, 42653 Solingen

Have lunch near the museum. The brewery detour is removed from the main schedule so the museum and Grefrath festival both have comfortable time. Schmitz Mönk is retained only as a future meal possibility once service is confirmed, not as a scheduled stop today.

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4Hotel Haffmans courtyard / entrance — official hotel photograph.

Hotel Haffmans courtyard / entrance — official hotel photograph.

2:15–3:30 PM

Hotel Haffmans — arrive and settle in

Markt 12–14, 47929 Grefrath

Allow approximately 1–1½ hours from Solingen, then time for parking and hotel access. Stay November 7–9. Confirm arrival arrangements and market-square access on the festival day. The separate hotel confirmation document is still needed.

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5Grefrath market square — town setting, not a festival photograph.

Grefrath market square — town setting, not a festival photograph. Photo: NiederRhein-Maas Info.

4:00 PM onward

Grefrath St. Martin festival

Markt, 47929 Grefrath; assembly at Am Schattenbek

Market-square gathering from 4 PM. The saved 2026 listing gives procession assembly at 5:30 PM and departure at 5:45 PM, via Schaphauser Straße, Wankumer Straße, Markt and Hohe Straße. Watch near Haffmans / Markt; the precise passing time and end time are not published.

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6Hohe Straße looking toward St. Laurentius — supper-area context, not the restaurant exterior.

Hohe Straße looking toward St. Laurentius — supper-area context, not the restaurant exterior. Photo: NiederRhein-Maas Info.

Around 7:00–7:30 PM

Supper at Alt Grefrath

Hohe Straße 34, 47929 Grefrath

Planned supper after the procession. Telephone +49 2158 404002. Ask for mussels and confirm preorder requirements, table and kitchen hours. This is the dinner choice, but no reservation or mussels availability has been confirmed.

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Full day driving route

Solingen Blade Museum → Grefrath festival

Open route and current driving estimates

All times are local German time. Driving blocks include planning buffers and are not verified live traffic estimates. Booked accommodation is unchanged. Visitor access, meals and appointments marked unconfirmed have not been reserved. The brewery and Dorenburg / market detours are removed from this main day to protect the festival arrival. Festival timing is carried forward from the saved 2026 event listing; precise procession passing time is not guaranteed.

Hotel Haffmans — official courtyard / entrance photograph.
Hotel Haffmans — official courtyard / entrance photograph.

Arrival & overnight — Hotel Haffmans

Markt 12–14, 47929 Grefrath

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