Marksburg Castle on the Rhine

Travel Tuesday: Part 3 of our trip of the Rhine Valley. 

If you are just joining in you can follow links to Part 1 and Part 2.

We awoke at Burg Rheinfels Castle, enjoyed breakfast overlooking the Rhine, explored the ruins of the castle and set off towards the town of Braubach and Marksburg Castle with a final destination of Karden on the Mosel River.  Our original plan was to take the first ferry of the day to Braubach, but we got side tracked with shopping for steins that we had to take a later boat.  The boat we ended up boarding stopped at the town of Boppard and did not go all the way to Braubach.  We consulted our maps and found there was a ferry that would take us across the river and was near a train station.  We could of waited for the next boat but it was hours until the next one - link to KD Rhine boats timetable

It is not always straight forward traveling without a car but it can be done! (photo credit - Google Maps)

We decided to cross the river to be on the same bank as Braubach - there are not too many spots that offer crossing.  Most crossings are for vehicular traffic and there is room for pedestrians as well.  The station was about a mile from the dock - to be honest I can not remember if we walked or found a taxi.  The train station was deserted but the next train did stop for us.  It was a short trip to Braubach and we stored our luggage at the train station while we toured the castle. We found that most ferry docks were near train stations too - very convenient.

There are signs that lead the way to the walking path to the castle making it quite easy to find your way.  The "R" symbol is used through out the region to indicate a castle.

There were a few dogs that we saw along the trail and at the cafe at the castle.  Most castles will have a snack bar with food and drinks providing a great place to grab lunch when you are on the go.  We already ate lunch on the boat but were forced to take a short break because we missed the English tour.  Beers it is!

Kirk intently pouring a pint.

Marksburg Castle is the only castle on the Rhine that did not suffer any damage during the many wars until WWII when the Americans fired at it from across the Rhine.  It is also the head quarters for the German Castle Association that protects and preserves castles through out the country.  Tours are 6 euros and are offered every 20 minutes during the summer and fall.  Pictures are not allowed but I was able to sneak a few!

Frescoes on the ceiling of the chapel

After touring the castle we made our way down the hill, collected our luggage and boarded the 4:30 boat to Koblenz.  It is a half hour trip but we were able to find time to enjoy a pint.  I highly recommend seeing the Rhine by ferry.  The views are phenomenal and you are able to view it in the open air or inside the heated boat.  And remember a Eurorail pass works on the ferry as well.

We disembarked in Koblenz and walked six blocks to the train station.  Our next stop is the town of Karden on the Mosel River where we stayed for two nights to visit Burg Eltz - my second favorite castle, Neuschwanstein being number one.

Have you toured the Rhine Valley?  Which castle or town was your favorite?

Our other stops in Germany: Cologne, The Rhine River by ferry and train, Burg Rheinfels - traveling the Rhine, Burg Eltz, Heidleberg

Cheers,

Amy

Linking up with

Koln (Cologne) , Germany

Cologne or Koln, Germany.  This amazing cathedral is steps from the train station and is definitely worth a visit if you are in Germany or a neighboring country.

Facade

The Cathedral in Cologne is a World Heritage Site, the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and has the second tallest spires in the entire world.  This church is massive which also makes it difficult to photograph, but fun trying  I am at least a block away in the next picture and barely fit the entire facade in the frame. 

There are 509 spiraling stone steps the viewing platform that provide a stunning view of the Rhine.  The climb is a steep one but the price isn't - only two and a half euros for admission.  It is free to enter the main portion of the church.

The cathedral is opposing on the outside but the inside is quite the opposite.   Many Gothic churches and cathedrals feel dark and foreboding, especially if the right organ music is playing (I was a little frightened when I visited Notre Dame.)  Cologne was full of light streaming through the colorful stained glass windows that day.  The beams of light danced upon the stone in the nave which I did my best the capture.

Shrine of the Three Kings, which is said to hold the remains of the Three Wise Men is what the Cathedral was built around.  Cologne is a stop for many pilgrims so that they my see the gold ornate sarcophagus studded with jewels.

This was the first day of our Beer Fest in Germany/Austria/Belgium/Netherlands.  We flew overnight from San Francisco to Dusseldorf and easily caught the train at the airport to Cologne.  We spent a few hours touring the church, climbing the spire and surrounding neighborhood before continuing on to Mainz where we began our tour of the Rhine. 

photo credit

Cedric tagged along for this trip!

Our other stops in Germany: Burg Rheinfels, Rhine River by ferry and train , Marksburg Castle, Burg Eltz, Heidleberg,   Rothenburg odT Linderhof Palace

Cheers,

Amy

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In Bruges

The view from our hotel window

Cedric here reporting from Belgium.

Must sees and dos:
The Ghent Altarpiece: 1432 oil on wood, one of the most famous work by Jan van Eyck

from Web Gallery of Art

Madonna of Bruges: 1504, The only sculpture of Michelangelo to leave Italy during his lifetime.

Magritte Museum, Brussels 1964 Son of Man

 http://artblogbybob.blogspot.com

Manneken Pis, 1619 Bronze sculpture by Jerome Duquensoy.  The pub has a full scale replica that dispenses drinks at parties. Now I need to make him costumes like the original.

Landmark of Brussels

Drink a Trappist Beer, Westmalle is one of seven brews made by Trappist monks.  Chimay is a popular Trappist export.

Eat a real Belgian waffle

Belgium is famous for beer, chocolate, waffles, and being the first country to join the European Union. 

We arrived in Belgium by way of an overnight train from Berlin to Bruxelles Midi station.  Our hotel for three nights was in Bruges so we decided to stop in Ghent for the morning to see the altarpiece.  Since we already stamped our Eurail pass in the morning we wanted to make the most of it and relax in Bruges the next day.

Bruges
Designated as a World Heritage City for it's amazingly well preserved Medieval architecture, Bruges is also known as the Venice of the North because of it's picturesque canals.  Bruges is an idyllic town with cobble stone streets, air filled with the sweet scents of freshly made chocolate covered waffles, graceful swans swimming, and the most revered beers in the world!

Bruges main square at dinner time.  Mussels or Steak with fries are the most popular.

Wall of Beer at 2be, all 800 beers of Belgium with their unique glasses are displayed.

I had to snap a picture of this Wire Fox Terrier.

Half Moon Brewery, the last operating brewery in Bruges.

Enjoying a beer at the Half Moon Brewery

View from our room at dusk.

Our hotel is the building in the middle - it used to be a brewery.

Don't forget to stop by The Choco Story.  A museum all about chocolate!

Brussels

 

Brussels Cathedral

The Grand Place of Brusels is also a World Heritage Site.

Tin Tin and Snowy mural. A stop at the  Tin Tin Boutique is a must if you are a fan of the cartoon.

See the Smurfs, Tintin, and more at the Belgian Comic Strip Center, which is also a building by Victor Horta

 Art Noveau, Magritte, chocolate covered waffles and some of the best beers in the world; what else can one say about this amazing city born of culture, creativity and cuisine.

Cedric signing out.