Castles along the Rhine

You’re certain to feel as though you’re waltzing through a fairytale on this journey through the breathtaking landscape of terraced vineyards, old-world towns and historic, fairytale castles of the Rhine river valley.

We spent two week-ends in April exploring  a few of the castles along the Rhine River. It was like being in a fairytale. The cannons aimed at the river..ready to defend, the suits of armor, the breathe-taking views  from the castle towers.

As we climbed the winding staircases, I wondered what amazing stories could be told by those who had lived here so many years ago.

Korey, Aley and Doug at Rheinstein Castle

Castle Reichenstein

Castle Sooneck

Have I mentioned how much I love living in Europe? Not sure what I will do with my week-ends when I move stateside, but I do know I won't be be exploring castles.

Mannheim in March

Sometimes my travels are planned around Starbucks. Sad, I know! But I miss being able to hit the drive-thru for a Srawberry Frap on a whim. Mannheim is about an hour drive from our house. Not too far for a Starbucks run, right?  One of the most famous icons of the Jugendstil (Arte-Nouveau style) in Germany, the water tower (and small park surrounding it) is a great place to sit and enjoy my frap.

After my Starbucks fix, we toured the Mannheim Palace. Mannheim Palace is a large Baroque palace. It was orignally the main residence of the Prince-electors of the Electoral Palatinate. It is now primarily used by the Universary of Mannheim.



I wasn't allowed to take any photos inside the palace. The palace was beautiful and full of many orante details.

Mannheim is where the Burgenstrasse (castle road) begins. Over 90 castles, palaces and castle ruins line the Castle Road. I wish I could could travel this road from beginning to end...exploring each castle, palace and castle ruin. I know I won't get to all of them, but so far I have been fortunate enough to visit:
Mannheim Palace
Heidelburg Castle
Bad Wimpfen
Rothenburd ob der Tauber

I am so behind....

And I really need to better about updating this blog! So, lets see where I have traveled to in 2011.

 

I am not used to winters that make me want to hibernate. After spending most of January and February inside...I had to get out!! We went to Mainz. It was about an hour drive from our house.


The highlight of this city is the Gutenberg Museum downtown. This museum contains the Gutenberg printing press from 1440 and an original Gutenberg Bible located in a vault upstairs.

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There are also several churches in Mainz worth a visit, inculding the Dom, a 100-year-old cathedral.

Me in front of the Dom

One of the largest Fasching parades in Germany is held on Rose Monday in Mainz. I hope to be there in 2012!

Our first year in Germany

It is hard to believe that we have already been here a year. And what a great year it has been! We quickly found how to have some comforts from home like Hulu for stateside TV and Magic Jack allowed us to keep in contact with family and friends. Then the house hunting adventures kept us in the TLA for more than a month. But once we were settled in our new home we were ready to find all the great things living in Europe had to offer. Here are some of the things we experienced during the first year:
We made some new friends.
We sampled German cuisine and quickly found our favorite resturants.
We learned how to manage the German economy. We can shop, eat and see a movie!
We visited many castles...Nanstein, Hohenecken, Oberstein, Grafenstein, Berwarstein, Neuleinigen, Falkenstein, Lichtenburg,Frankenstein,  Altdahn, Grafendahn, Tanstein, Madenburg Fortress, Homburg, Spangenberg Cliff Fortress, Hardenburg,  and Limburg Monastry.
We went to the Gartenschau to see the tulips.
Tina got a job at The Children's Learning Academy!
We went to Trier.
We took the kids to a fest in Kasierslautern.
We spend an afternoon in Speyer.
Lichtenburg castle had a medievel fest that was loads of fun!
Korey turned 21!!
We spend a day in exploring the castle in Heidelburg.
Aley was asked to nanny for a sweet lil girl.
We rode the Kuckucksbanel for Doug's birthday.
Another day spend exploring Heidelburg.
Brett started his senior year in high school.
Wine fest in Bad Durkheim.
HitscherHof Farm Fest was a blast! We sampled yummy food and experienced a German corn maze.
A trip to Koln where we saw the most amaing catherdal and ate at Hard Rock Cafe.
A fall afternoon spent in the garden of Ludwigsburg Palace.
Wrestling tournaments.
We enjoyed Christmas Markets in Kasierslautern, Trier, and Saarbrucken.
We wrapped up the year with day trips to Bad Wimpfen and Rothenburg.

Wow, what a FUN first year!! We cannot wait to see what the next year is like.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

We made another stop along the Burgenstrasse. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is the best preserved medieval town in Germany. We spent the day exploring the gates, towers, town square and churches. This town is simply amazing! Every corner you turn leads you to yet another fascinating structure filled with the past to discover.

The city wall form a ring around Rothenburg and you can walk on top of it to get great views over the city.

Walking along the wall between towers.



Window full of yummy pastries!!





Burg Gate




St. Jakob's Church



The Town Square

 We have plans to come back to Rothenburg during the summer months. I can only imagine how beautiful this medieval jewel is when the gardens are in full bloom 





Bad Wimpfen

 We were having dinner with our friends and they were telling us about a Christmas market in a great little town they had recently visited.  With no plans for Christmas Eve we decided to check this town out for ourselves. 

Bad Wimpfen is a little town along the river Neckar in the German country side. It is also part of the Burgenstrasse or Historic Castle Route.

  

Bad Wimpfen was left mainly intack during the first and second world wars, so it still has very old well looked after houses. An intersting characteristic is the half-timbered houses some of them dating from the 14th century.



The ruins of the wall that once surrounded the city were amazing.

The two imposing towers of Bad Wimpfen.



                         

The Blue Tower



The Red Tower



 




Despite the cold, snowy day, we found Bad Wimpfen to be a wonderful stop along the Burgenstrasse.

Christmas Markets

Christmas markets are a German tradition dating back hundreds of years. The markets feature hand-crafted items that can be purchased from vendors who have often crafted the items themselves. Each market has its own special charm unique to the community and region. It is amazing to experience the sights, smells and sounds of an Old World Christmas.

As you stroll down the cobble stone streets, you are drawn in by the amazing smells of evergreen reindeer, vanilla popcorn and Gluhwein.

And you just might find St. Nick in the crowd.