Nick,

one nice place to go for a overnight stay on your route could be Winterberg in the Sauerland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterberg

http://www.sauerland.com/Sauerland-entdecken/Orte-im-Sauerland/Winterberg

It depends how many miles you will make to come faster to the east and finally to Zittau. More in the east than Winterberg is Weimar. Less landscape but a lot of culture, museums etc. You know perhaps about the Bauhaus Design which was founded there.

http://www.klassik-stiftung.de/index.php?id=81

http://www.weimar.de/tourismus/sehenswuerdigkeiten/top-ten-in-weimar/

What I would really like to reommend is visiting Dresden if you have the time, perhaps on your way back. It is not in the middle of your route but very close to your way. If you have the time spend one extra day in Dresden and visit historical places and buildings the rebuilt Frauenkirche. If you are a fan of Organ music the Hof Kirche with her Silbermann barock Organ is a must have experience, one of the latest, biggest and best soundings Silbermann organs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katholische_Hofkirche

In Dresden everthing is reachable by walking, very nice and close in the historical center.

They say it is the "Elb-Florenz" which is true. The landscape south of Dresden is fantastic especially the "Elbssandsteingebirge" (please google this wording to have an impression and also for some pics). As well it is a nice area to drive with your Mog

http://www.urlaub-elbsandsteingebirge.de/ferienwohnung/Freizeit.htm


Sorry I cannot help with hotel recommendations at the moment. On Saturday we drive to Siena Italy for vacation. Otherwise I would have liked it to meet you in Cologne for a talk.

'14 4/4 graphite grey