Day 5 – Miltenberg on the Main River in Lower Franconia, Barvaria

04 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by KidazzleInk.com in Amsterdam to Budapest, Germany, Miltenberg, River Cruising, Travelling in Europe, Uncategorized

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Castles, Germany, Grimm Brothers, Lower Franconia, Middle Rhine, Miltenberg, Rhine, UNESCO, Viking, World Heritage Site

D.B. and I in Miltenberg, Germany

After leaving the splendour of yesterday’s Castles in the Middle Rhine Area of Germany, we’d sailed on into the night.

By early morning we’d found ourselves passing through the small villages and vineyards of Bavaria in Lower Franconia.

We were now in the second river of our Grand European Journey…. the Main River.

A great light-hearted little read about Germany

With some free time to ourselves, before we reached our next scheduled UNESCO World Heritage destination of Miltenberg, we’d decided to take advantage of a relaxing opportunity to just kick back and enjoy some time to ourselves.

We wanted to mellow into this most magnificent holiday; after all we were totally enjoying our new home-away-from-home on Longship Tor. We were also enjoying being pampered and spoilt; it was truly so lovely not having to do anything for yourself…..well not very much for ourselves anyway!

This must be the most luxurious way to Journey through Europe!

To wile away a few hours this morning I’d chosen to spend time reading. I’d recently picked up a very light-hearted, yet humorous little book on modern-day Germany entitled “Those Crazy Germans” by Steven Somers.

It filled in a couple of hours nicely (actually triggered several lively conversations and a few hearty chuckles along the way)….Really it did help me to start to differentiate the “bergs” from the “burgs”; it developed my understanding of tipping and even clarified the appropriate etiquette for eating out at a local German tavern.

It also did a great job of acquainting me with some of the other less-well-known cultural aspects of every day life in today’s Germany.

As the morning passed, it was also delightful just watching the river and all of the little Bavarian villages pass by; lovely to see the green of the countryside in all of its new Spring leaf and most enjoyable to take photographs of yet another new day.

A swan on the Main River in Germany

I loved watching the graceful, white swans as they swam just out from our stateroom windows.

I recall there seemed to be so many beautiful white swans; they were on all of the rivers throughout Europe and most wonderful to look at. I could have sat and watched them for hours if I’d had time.

But the morning soon disappeared and we were again off and away to sightsee and explore.

We spent the afternoon in an absolutely delightful township called Miltenberg (population about 10,000).

It was just magical.

Coming from Australia we’d never seen a township with so much history or so many traditional medieval buildings before. Initially I thought them to be some sort of Tudor architectural style but I was quickly corrected.

After all Tudor is English….most definitely not German.

Out and about in Miltenberg Germany

Metal sculptures outside a shop in Miltenberg, Germany

Fachwerk Architectural Style, Miltenberg, Germany

Scarf shopping Miltenberg, Germany

More of the "Fachwerk" Architectural style in Miltenberg, Germany.

Main street in Miltenberg, Germany.

They are, in fact, great examples of what is known as the “Fachwerk” architectural style.

Though do be most careful how you say that. It’s a little tricky for the English speaker and should always be pronounced with the very guttural European tone. (Please remember…. it’s not to be confused with any sort of poor English enunciation!)

Actually many people, including the helpful Viking team, just seem to call it the half-timbered façade style.

Whatever you prefer to call it, I found Miltenberg a most magical little village. It was filled with the kind of charm, architecture and history that we just don’t have in our land down under…… in Australia.

Once again I found myself thinking that perhaps Walt Disney or one of those Grimm’s brothers might just materialize as we were rounding a medieval corner or passing one of those very traditional timber doorways in this amazing little place.

Beautiful old doorway with flood levels on wall beside, in Miltenberg,Germany

One very old cottage in particular reminded me so much of that Fairy Tale about Hansel and Gretel. Take a look…isn’t it just so charming. I do so love, love, love it!

Charming old cottage in Miltenberg, Germany

After our educational Viking info-walk, looking at the culture and history of Miltenberg and the Lower Franconian region in general, we’d had some free time to explore on our own.

Dearly Beloved (D.B.) had been hoping for some yummy traditional Apple Strudel. How could we possibly eat any more I questioned?

D.B. outside the cafe that sold the longed for Apple Struedel

Somehow I recall I managed to talk him into a pleasant little uphill stroll to explore the scenic views from up on high at the Miltenberg Castle.

Like all castles it was perched on one of the highest points overlooking the little township. The views were breathtaking and so well worth the slightly strenuous walk uphill to see them.

Through the tunnel and up the hill to the castle, Miltenberg, Germany

The path to the castle in Miltenberg, Germany

Flowers in our travels around Miltenberg, Germany.

The view from the Miltenberg Castle, Germany

D.B. and I with the view of Miltenberg, Germany in the background

HAVE A LOOK AT THESE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS OF CASTLES ALONG THE MIDDLE RHINE ON THE LOVELY ADINPARADISE BLOG – IT TOO HAS A GALLERY OF BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS SHOWING MANY OF THE CASTLES FOUND IN THIS AREA:

Just click on this link http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/thanks-for-the-memory-castles-on-the-rhine/ and it will take you there.

OR MAYBE CHECK OUT THESE OTHER INTERESTING BLOGS ABOUT THE MIDDLE RHINE AND MILTENBERG:

12th September – Middle Rhine to Miltenberg (laurencewesley55.wordpress.com)
Miltenberg, Germany (neitherbeernorthere.wordpress.com)
Castles and Vineyards Along the Rhine (innovationthroughexploration.wordpress.com)

And thanks for dropping by my Blog.

Day 4 – Koblenz and the Middle Rhine

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by KidazzleInk.com in Amsterdam to Budapest, River Cruising, Uncategorized, Viking River Cruise

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

Braubach, Deutsches Eck, German, Germany, Koblenz, Marksberg Castle, Middle Rhine, Moselle (river), Rhine

Today we were excited about exploring Koblenz and the castle district of the Middle Rhine in Germany.

View to the Rhine Germany

Early this morning we’d tied up in the Deutsches Eck or German Corner which sits majestically on a headland at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle Rivers in Germany.

German Corner in Koblenz Germany

We’d looked out to see the most wonderful equestrian statue; an historical monument depicting the well known German Emperor, William the 1^stthat was initially erected in the late 1800s. Sitting grandly right on the tip of the headland it signalled yet another historical window into Germany’s past. It is now viewed as a dedicated landmark to the continued unification of Germany.

We were on the outskirts of the city of Koblenz (Population approx 110,000).

Tulips at a church near the German Corner Koblenz

It was green and it was spring.

We’d soon be heading off to explore the medieval past with our scheduled visit to Marksberg Castle this morning.

Marksberg rises high above the small town of Braubach on the banks of the Middle Rhine. Amazingly,it still remains firmly intact despite the two world wars and the significant turmoil and destruction of the 20^th century. It’s one of the very few castles that remains in original form despite the centuries of battle and the civil calamities that are all part of early German history.

This castle’s survival provides a kind of lens through which we can view our affluent German ancestors, their enemies, their servants, their goals and their daily lives in days of yore.

Viking Coaches to take us to Marksberg Castle

As we disembarked our Longship Tor, we saw that Viking had organized their very own….. very modern Viking Fleet of Buses to Transport us in comfort up to the Castle for the morning’s sightseeing. (We weren’t aware they owned a fleet of company buses prior to this.)

Well anyway once again there would be many wonderful travel photo opportunities and I was looking forward to them all. My battery was charged and my beloved camera was close by. Dearly Beloved (D.B.) was kindly helping to carry the photographic paraphernalia as he often does.

First we saw the neat traditional outside structure of the castle itself.

Marksberg Castle Germany

Then there was the well maintained historical inner core.

The painted ceiling Marksberg Castle

Four Post Bed Marksberg Castle

The Kitchen Marksberg Castle

The Armoury Marksberg Castle

Another ancient wall painting Marksberg Castle

Finally there was the wonderful view down to the river.

The Middle Rhine Germany

After our morning’s immersion in daily castle life, it was once again back to our Longship Tor for lunch.

As usual, the Viking Chef’s had very been busy in our absence. (I still occasionally wonder what life may have been like if I could’ve actually taken one or two of those wonderful chefs home with me! Anyway enough with the daydreaming). They had prepared yet another delicious buffet.

For today they’d naturally chosen a variety of the more traditional German recipes such as wurst, sauerkraut, salads and freshly baked pretzels. The dishes were made from the very freshest of local ingredients which had again obviously been sourced from the surrounding bakeries and farming areas along the Rhine.

Castle on the Middle Rhine

After a fairly busy morning we were now able to relax up on the beautiful Aquavit Terrace with our fellow travellers as we watched in awe of the surrounding scenery on this lovely Spring Afternoon.

There seemed to be castles everywhere…well at least castles every couple of kilometres or so. They perched high on the hills overlooking the river. There were times when there seemed to be castles everywhere you looked…and sometimes they were even on both banks of the river in the same area.

Same castle on the Middle Rhine in Germany

I recall that the the weather that afternoon was delightful…not too hot, not too cold……..just right in fact.

With the soft white clouds floating across the beautiful blue sky, our chilled glasses of German Moselle were adding an even more magical quality to the fairy tale vista unfolding before us……It was yet another glorious afternoon sailing down the Rhine… one to savour and just enjoy.