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Exploring Europe 2023
  • Debi Shaw
  • Debi Shaw

Exploring Europe 2023

Our hearts belong to Italy, but with so many other amazing countries to explore, it is time to spread our wings and fly outside our comfort zone. Europe - here we come. Weiterlesen
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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Reisender

    Fortress Hohensalzburg, Salzburg

    4. April 2023 in Österreich ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C

    Next on the agenda for this morning was a visit to the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Hohensalzburg Castle looms over the Old City of Salzburg from its lofty position on top of Mount Festungsberg, and the easiest way up is in the funicular. It was built in 1077 under the orders of Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein and later enlarged at the end of the 15th century. This is the largest, fully preserved castle-fortress in Europe, measuring 250 meters long and 150 meters wide. It was intended as a retreat for the Bishops and Prince-Bishops of Salzburg.

    In order to get supplies and building materials to the mountain top an elementary “Reisszug" or cable car was devised in 1495 and it functioned until 1504. This is considered the oldest operating funicular in Europe.

    In more recent history the castle fortress was used as a prison for Italian prisoners of war in World War I and later in 1934 it held Nazi activists, before Austria was invaded by Germany. The history of this place is so interesting and we got to walk through the spaces, see a collection of historic weapons and other interesting artefacts, and climb the tower to admire the views of Salzburg below. Being it is off season not everything was open to see but what we did get to see was impressive. I am so glad we finally had good weather to get up here.    Weiterlesen

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    St. Andräkirche, Salzburg

    4. April 2023 in Österreich ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

    While waiting for our afternoon tour to start we came across another church, yes another one. And of course we popped our heads in to have a look. This is the Roman Catholic Andrakirche, a large city parish church in the Newstart district of Salzburg. Built from 1892 to 1898, it was severely hit by aerial bombs in 1945. During restoration between 1969 to 1972 the stained glass windows and alter created by Karl Weiser were added and these are what really set this church apart from the others we have seen in town. The stained glass windows look quite modern with their different hues of brighter colours. It is a simple but pretty church. I do love how different they all are.Weiterlesen

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    Hallstatt, Austria

    4. April 2023 in Österreich ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

    This afternoon we took a bus tour to the town of Hallstatt, Austria. Hallstatt is known for its prehistoric salt mines and has the oldest working salt mines in the world today. The town is comprised of 16th century alpine houses, cafes and hotels. It is a really beautiful spot, situated on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt. It looks like it has come straight out of a fairytale and we enjoyed wandering the beautiful laneways.

    We did the walk up to St Michael’s Chapel before having a delicious lunch at Hotel Gruner Baum in a beautiful dining room overlooking Lake Hallstatt. Brad had wild boar and I had pumpkin risotto with goats cheese.

    Hallstatt is a charming town and it was fabulous getting to experience it. It was also wonderful seeing the amazing Austrian countryside where everything is so vividly green and lush. What a beautiful country.    Weiterlesen

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    Charnel House, Hallstatt

    4. April 2023 in Österreich ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

    One of the more interesting and unique sites in Hallstatt is the Bone House (Charnel House), which has been in existence since the 12th century. As the graveyard in Hallstatt is very small and with no room to extend, the graves were opened 10 - 20 years after the burial and the skull and large bones which took up a lot of space were removed. The skull was cleaned and bleached by the sun and the moon for some weeks, until all signs of decay had disappeared and the skull took on a mild ivory colour. As the graves were decorated with flowers, the skulls finally came to be painted with floral motives by the undertaker or artists. This was seen as a sign of love. This tradition was started in 1720 AD. There is also a symbolism behind each painting with Oak leaves being the symbol of glory, Laurel meaning victory, Ivy is the symbol of life and Roses are the symbol of love.

    There are 1200 skulls placed in the Charnel House of which 610 are painted and arranged according to family names and are marked with the date of death. The last skull was placed in the charnel house in 1995. It is the skull of a woman who died in 1983 and her gold tooth is still visible. It was her personal wish to be placed in the Charnel House.

    Today, it is no longer necessary to remove bones from the graves because the number of cremations has increased sharply. However it is still possible to have your bones place here as long as you make a personal testament to this effect. After ten years of grave rest the skull is removed, chemically treated and painted.

    This is such a unique and interesting site and I love the reverence given. Situated in the peaceful cemetery overlooking the lake and the majestic mountains behind, it was well worth the visit.    Weiterlesen

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    Schönau am Königssee, Germany

    5. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ 2 °C

    We sadly farewelled Salzburg today and picked up our hire car for our next week in Germany.

    First stop was Schönau am Königssee, a picturesque town situated on Lake Königssee. From images I had seen I was expecting a beautiful lakeside village but in actuality this is a skiing town, aimed at tourists. However, while it does have a tourist feel it is still an amazing place with the snow capped mountains surrounding the crystal clear lake and rolling hills of green. Spectacular!

    We had a quick walk through town before deciding to enjoy a delicious meal by the lake. Our German waiter certainly added to the experience with his charm.

    Our accomodation was next to a stream and the walk along the bank was so picturesque. The view from our balcony was spectacular day and night. This is a beautiful part of Germany and I am so happy we added it to our travels.    Weiterlesen

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    Mount Jenner, Schönau am Königssee

    5. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ -3 °C

    What we were not prepared for was the snow. Very unexpected and unusual for this time of year and we decided to embrace it. So here we are, lounging in the sunshine overlooking the amazing snow covered mountains, from the top of a snow covered mountain. We decided to take the cable car up to the top of Mount Jenner, 1874m high, have a play in the snow and admire the stunning views. With no wind it is actually quite pleasant and such a fantastic experience. The snow is so white and clean and shimmers in the sunshine, and sky is a beautiful blue. And we are sat in loungers covered on warm blankets enjoying a warm wine and beer and a plate of pomme frites, What a fabulous way to spend an afternoon.Weiterlesen

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    St Bartholomä, Konigssee

    6. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C

    Before leaving Konigssee we did a boat trip across Lake Konigssee to see the striking St. Bartholomä church and the small settlement surrounding it.

    Konigssee Lake is the cleanest in Germany because, since 1909, only pedal, rowing or electric boats have been allowed on it. It was originally carved by glaciers thousands of years ago, during the ice age.

    Konigssee Lake is 7.7 km in length and 1.7 km at its widest point. At its deepest point, it is 190 metres, but on average it’s about 100 metres deep, making it the 3rd deepest lake in Germany. The Watzmann Mountain to the east reaches almost 2743 metres above the lake’s shimmering green ripples. It was a very calm smooth and quiet boat ride to St. Bartholomä.

    While not as old as previous churches we have seen with the original 12th century church being demolished, this 17th century church is very striking with its two different onion domes and three red domed roofs. Without all the bells and whistles of many other churches we have visited, the simplicity of this church is just perfect for the amazing location it is in. With the reflections from the clear lake to the mountains soaring behind as a beautiful backdrop it was too easy to take too many photos of this church.

    We enjoyed a lovely walk along the water edge and through the grounds, taking time to just enjoy the silence and the serenity of the location. Pictures and words can’t truely describe how magical this place is. It is so good to see that the area is preserved as a national park and it is so well looked after. It was a lovely start to our day.    Weiterlesen

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    Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, Germany

    6. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    We left Konigssee after our boat ride on the lake to make our way to our next stop, Mittenwald. We did stop for a scenic break on the way at a small town in the Bavarian Alps, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden. It is the site of an iconic photograph for this region and a well known photo op stop.

    St. Sebastians is a Catholic Church set in the green hills with a stunning mountain backdrop and turquoise stream bubbling along in the foreground. A very picturesque view and one that is often photographed. Not only did we take the expected photo, we also took a stroll to the church itself and wandered through it’s cemetery. I do love how every town memorialises their loved ones in different ways and I find the headstones and the artistry of them so interesting. Much more unique than our cemeteries at home with their uniformed vibe. Another thing that often surprises me is their use of skeletons for signs and headstones. It is what it is and there is no hiding from that here. The most surprising use of a skeleton imagery is the comic like image over the entrance of the cemetery - it just looked so out of place with the history of the church and it’s surrounding grounds.

    The other thing we noticed is how much care is taken with the cemetery and how many were decorated for Easter, had been freshly planted and maintained. There is a real respect for those that have passed. It was a lovely place to stop and reflect.    Weiterlesen

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    Mittenwald, Germany

    6. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Our home for the next couple of days is Mittenwald, a relatively small town amid the Alpine peaks of Bavaria, Germany. With the majestic mountains as a backdrop no matter which way we looked, we were excited to see more of this town. As we arrived early evening and with snow and rain forecast for our stay here, and it being Easter weekend, we stopped by a grocery store to stock up so we could cook for our next few days and nights. Unlike other towns we aren’t in walking distance to the main streets and restaurants and cafes, and driving when it snows was not appealing, so we made sure we were prepared just in case.

    The view from our apartment overlooked the town with the huge snow covered mountains looming in the background. It was breathtaking and we spent a lot of time admiring the view at different times of day and night and in the varying weather conditions, including snow! Amazing.    Weiterlesen

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    Hotel Gröbl-Alm, Mittenwald

    7. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    This morning we woke to snow, as in it was really snowing, something we haven’t experienced before. It was such a great experience for us Queenslanders. We were quite happy just relaxing for the morning before heading out for lunch up the road. Thankfully the snow had stopped by the time of our booking. We had lunch at the nearby Hotel Gröbl-Alm, a family owned traditional German restaurant. Our table had spectacular views of the snow covered Karwendel and Wetterstein mountains.

    We both had meals typical for the local area with Brad having a wild caught river trout and I had a Bavarian version of spinach ravioli. Both meals were delicious and filling. We were hoping to have dessert but were too full so decided we would return the next afternoon for afternoon tea.

    This restaurant was so worth the visit, from its charming Easter themed decor, it’s magnificent location and views to the very delicious meals. It was a fabulous experience.    Weiterlesen

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    Mittenwald Old Town, Germany

    7. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    After lunch and with a small window of clear skies, we drove into town for a wander around the pretty streets. Chartered in 1307, Mittenwald was an important trading centre in the 15th and 16th centuries. The village has been famous since the 17th century for the manufacture of violins, violas and cellos, and it is believed the personal violin of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was crafted in Mittenwald.

    It is also known for its colorful painted houses adorned with Lüftlmalerei, a mural art unique to southern Germany and Austria. Alongside the cobbled stone lanes and the gorgeous mountains as the backdrop, these artsy houses are striking and it feels like we are in a storybook.

    On the main street of Mittenwald Old Town (Obermarkt) are most of the Lüftlmalerei, some dating back 250 years ago. Commonly, the images portrayed in the murals are the favorite saints of the house owner, their profession, and their daily lives in Mittenwald back in the day. They are so colourful, detailed and interesting and it was hard to control myself with my camera.    Weiterlesen

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    St. Peter and St. Paul Mittenwald

    7. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    The tower of the 14th century church of St. Peter and St. Paul can be seen from every street in town. While the church isn’t as detailed as many we have seen, it is one of the more unique churches we have visited, with its colorful frescoes and Lüftlmalerei, which did give the illusion that the design was three dimensional. As we do, we decided to check out the interior of the church, not realising that the towns Easter service was about to start. Oops. We waited until the choir boys and priests had entered before we snuck out. While we didn’t get to take our usual photos inside, we did get to experience part of a German church service.

    After a lovely stroll around town and despite the temperature not getting over four degrees, we decided we had to try a German gelato… and I have to say it rivalled some of the best from Italy. Although sitting in the car with the heater on was a change to our Italian experiences. It was a great way to end a great day. We opted for a night in as the snow started to fall again.    Weiterlesen

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    Our last day in Mittenwald, Germany

    8. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ 🌧 3 °C

    Our last day in Mittenwald was a very relaxing one, which was what I needed as I was not feeling the best. With the snow settling in for the rest of our time here it was easy to have a day in, catching up on some tv shows and just relaxing. We did venture out once more for a traditional afternoon tea back to Hotel Gröbl-Alm.

    For afternoon tea we both had Windbeutel aus Bayern erdbeeren, which translates to “cream puffs from Bavaria with strawberries”. They are a light choux pastry filled with ice cream, whipped cream and strawberries. Thankfully they were light as they were massive. We washed these down with a latte macchiato and a hot schokolade (hot chocolate). I couldn’t finish mine but thankfully Brad did the gentlemanly thing and finished mine as well.

    It was a nice outing for our last day in Mittenwald. While it would have been nice to explore some of the walks, staying in our warm apartment watching the snow fall was very relaxing.    Weiterlesen

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    Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

    9. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    We left Mittenwald this morning and on our way to Miltenberg we stopped to explore the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a German town in northern Bavaria known for its medieval architecture. Half-timbered houses line the cobblestone lanes of its old town and the town walls include many preserved gate houses and towers, plus a covered walkway on top. Today it is one of only three towns in Germany that still have completely intact city walls.

    It was a very pretty town but boy was it crowded, especially after the towns we had already been to. And with me not feeling very well it was hard to really enjoy it and embrace the business. It was surprising it was so busy as being Easter Sunday all the shops, excluding cafes and restaurants, were closed.

    We did find a very traditional restaurant to have a very traditional lunch before stopping to buy a Schneeballen (which means snow ball). This pastry treat is typical of the region and has been made for the past 400 years so we just had to try one. Not sure we would rush out to try another one - it was a deep-fried pastry made from shortcut pastry sprinkled with icing sugar or coated with chocolate for a more modern version. Interesting and great to try something that has such a long history.

    We did enjoy our stop here, admiring the beautiful buildings, the lovely Easter displays and the vibrant squares. It is a town that would be nice to visit after all the day tourist leave (and yes, I know we are day tourists and contributed to the crowds).    Weiterlesen

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    Mainbrucke, Miltenberg, Germany

    10. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We walked to the Wurzburger Tor, the eastern entrance to Miltenberg’s old town, once a heavily guarded gate back in Medieval times. We continued on to have a look at the town bridge, Mainbrucke Miltenberg. It wasn’t until 1900 that the town had its own bridge and with the original one detonated by retreating Germans in 1945, the current one wasn’t opened until 1950 and the design embraced Miltenberg’s Medieval heritage with a replica of a fortified sandstone gatehouse.

    After our morning stroll we stopped in our square a croissant and cappuccino for morning tea. One of the best croissants so far. The added bonus is that as today is a public holiday for Easter Monday it means there are not a lot of tourist around, but with that positive is the negative that the quaint little shops aren’t open for me to browse in (which Brad is happy about).    Weiterlesen

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    Gasthaus Zum Riesen, Miltenberg

    10. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Later in the afternoon we headed back out for a drink and early dinner at the oldest licenced pub in Germany, the Gasthaus zum Riesen. The hotel dates back to at least 1411. It is also famous as the oldest continuously operated hotel in the world, with many famous guests including The King, Elvis Presley. It even got warm enough for us to actually take our jackets off for a few minutes, the first time it has gotten past 10 degrees all trip. Sitting in the sunshine was lovely.

    On the walk back to our apartment we stopped off for a spaghettieis at Cortina Eiscafe. Spaghettieis is a German ice cream dish designed to resemble a plate of spaghetti. Very tasty, and served on a bed of whipped cream with chocolate sauce.

    We have really enjoyed our stay here, especially in our historic hotel with its gorgeous restaurant/breakfast room. Sadly it was only open for breakfast while we were here and as the chef was so good I’m sure the other meals he makes would be just as tasty. Originally a 16th century wine house, Hotel Schmuckkästchen was the perfect location for our two night stay in Miltenberg.

    Miltenberg is such a picturesque town and one we are happy to have included on our trip.    Weiterlesen

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    Mainz, Germany

    11. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We farewelled Miltenberg and hit the road to our next stop. Who knew an hour and fifteen minute drive would take almost double that time. With a large truck on fire on the autobahn and us taking the wrong ring roads three different times, it seemed like we had been driving forever by the time we made it to Mainz. We are just hoping there were no cameras for the red light Brad mistakenly drove through. It was not a fun driving day.

    However Mainz lifted our spirits. Being the largest and capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, it didn’t have that big town feel which was very surprising. Situated on the Rhine River, it is known for its old town, with half-timbered houses and medieval market squares.

    Mainz was founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC as a military fortress and is famous as the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of a movable-type printing press, who in the early 1450s manufactured his first books in the city, including the Gutenberg Bible. Mainz was heavily damaged in World War II; with more than 30 air raids destroying most of the historic buildings in the city centre, but many were rebuilt post war.

    This is one town we wish we had more time to explore. There was so much to see and such little time. We wandered the market square, admiring the decorative buildings, the spring time flowers and Easter displays, the historic buildings and soaring cathedral. Sadly the Cathedral was closed so we were unable to peak inside.    Weiterlesen

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    St. Stephen's Church, Mainz

    11. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    We did make sure to visit St. Stephan zu Mainz, a gothic church known for its windows created by Marc Chagall.

    St. Stephan was originally built in 990 and the current church building dates from the late medieval era; construction of the main area of the church began in about 1267 and was completed in 1340. St. Stephan is the oldest Gothic Hall church in the Upper Rhine district, and is (besides Mainz Cathedral) the most important church in the city of Mainz.

    The Chagall choir windows in St. Stephan are unique in Germany. Between 1978 and his death in 1985, Belorussian Jewish artist, Marc Chagall created nine stained-glass windows of scriptural figures in luminous blue. The figures depict scenes from the Old Testament. Chagall intended his work to be a contribution to Jewish-German reconciliation, made all the more poignant by the fact that Chagall himself fled France under Nazi occupation. Chagall's work has been continued after his death by his pupil Charles Marq and by others.

    Walking into this church is such a unique experience after the many, many churches we have visited before. The glow through the blue stained glass windows gives the interior a very calming feel. There is not a lot of adornment as the stained glass windows are the highlight. They are stunning and interesting and awe-inspiring. We were so glad we made the detour to visit this church as from the outside, it is nothing spectacular. What a wonderful surprise.    Weiterlesen

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    Schillerplatz, Mainz

    11. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    After exploring the church we made our way to Schillerplatz, one of the most beautiful squares in Mainz. Surrounded by protected buildings and a small oasis of green, it features a statue of Friedrich Schiller (German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright) that was erected in 1862, and Fasnachtsbrunnen, the Mainz Carnival fountain.

    The Mainz Carnival (Fasching) Fountain was erected in 1967.  Created by Blasius Spreng, the nine metre high bronze fountain has more than 200 figures on it. Fasching is known as the "Fifth Season", and it begins each year on 11 November at 11:11 a.m. at the Fasching Fountain, and finishes on Ash Wednesday with the main festivities happening around Rosenmontag.

    The fountain is fascinating, with so many different figures to look at and admire, and with water shooting out from so many different places, it is a very interesting centrepiece. We decided to sit in the square and enjoy a drink while admiring the fountain, before hitting the road again for Cochem.

    Mainz is a town I wish I knew more about when planning this trip as I would have made sure we had a couple of days to really enjoy it.    Weiterlesen

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    Cochem, Germany

    11. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Today's destination is Cochem and after a fun and windy drive we finally arrived. Even though the weather still isn’t the best, we checked in, dropped of our bags and headed out to check out the town. Even in the gloomy weather there are still a lot of people enjoying the promenade, sat enjoying a drink or two. This town has a very different feel, aimed more for holiday makers with numerous bars and restaurants along the river.

    Our reason for stopping here is to visit the Cochem Castle and we are hoping the weather will give us a break at some stage so we can check it out. We managed to get a couple of photos of the castle off in the distance and hope we get to see it tomorrow.

    Until then we had a walk, checked out St. Martins Church and then had an early dinner before calling it a day. Brad decided to try a typical meat sample tasting plate of pork knuckle, pork belly, blood sausage, liver sausage, mettwurst and mash for dinner and I decided not to be adventurous and had a hamburger, which I have to say is one of the best I have had in a very long time. We both enjoyed our meals, a glass of the local wine for me and a Wiest beer for Brad.    Weiterlesen

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    St Martin Kirche, Cochem

    11. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    St. Martin's Church origins date back as early as around 1130, with the “Old Choir” of the present church dating to 1456. It is the oldest part and survived the Second World War.

    The amazing stained glass windows of the church were quite a surprise upon entering, and like the windows in St. Stephens in Mainz, these ones are not your typical stained glass windows. These seem almost three-dimensional and the colours are more monochromic than the “standard” stain glass windows.

    With many historical pieces within the church, the windows are a new addition, being installed in 2009. It is not often we get to see such a wonderful mix of the old and new.    Weiterlesen

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    Cochem, Germany

    12. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Today was a bit of a veg day with the weather being so unpredictable we were unable to visit the castle. The shuttle bus is currently not operating and the rain didn’t hold off long enough for us to do the walk up there.

    We made the most of our down day, both still recuperating and trying to get better for the months of travel ahead.

    We headed out for dinner to Weinhaus Grafen, just across from where we are staying, before dodging the rain to get a few more photos from the bridge overlooking the town. It hasn’t been the best weather for our stay here in Cochem and it has been disappointing that we have not been able to visit the castle, especially when that was the reason we chose to stop here. However it has given us time to get better.    Weiterlesen

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    Museum Ludwig, Cologne

    13. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    We left Cochem without being able to see the castle but these things can’t be helped and travel plans don't always go to plan. Today’s destination was Cologne so we could drop the hire car off before leaving Germany. I have to say the drivers over here are amazing. If they aren’t overtaking then they are in the right hand lane (the slow lane over here). What amazes me though is the speeds they can go on the autobahn. I’m sure Brad is over my “passenger seat driving” and I am over being anxious about driving so fast.

    It has been great having a car though, as we have been able to see a lot of the beautiful German countryside which has been lush and green. Germany really has some picturesque places and I am so glad we have managed to see a few.

    Anyway with a sigh of relief we handed over our hire car, found our accommodation for the night and finally got to sit and relax over a very late breakfast /early lunch before checking out Cologne. Cologne is the largest city of the German western state of North Rhine-Westphalia and is situated on the Rhine River. It is certainly a lot bigger than any of the small German towns we have visited so far, being the fourth-most populous city of Germany.

    Once we were refreshed and refuelled we hit the streets to explore with the Museum Ludwig being our first stop for the afternoon. The museum is famous for the art of the 20th and 21st century and is one of the most important art museums in Europe. It houses the largest pop art collection in Europe, the third largest Picasso collection in the world, and a collection on the history of photography with approximately 70 000 works.

    Today there was an exhibition of the works of Ursula Schultze-Bluhm, one of the most important German artists of the 20th century. I must admit that I just don’t get it. While I am intrigued by her methods and her colour combinations can be quite striking, the themes and styles feel like something our boys created in preschool. There is a lot about modern art I love but equally, there is so much I just don’t understand.

    The Museum Ludwig is such a well laid out museum with every piece given space to “breath”. It was fabulous to see so many of Picasso’s pieces, some Andy Warhol pop art and so many more amazing art works. I would love to be so talented to create such beautiful pieces of art.    Weiterlesen

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    Cologne Cathedral, Cologne

    13. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Next to the museum is the city’s medieval Catholic Cologne Cathedral, the third-tallest church and tallest cathedral in the world. At 157 metres the ceiling just soared above us. Photos cannot capture the sheer sense of height and size in this amazing building. I don’t think we have seen so many amazing stained glass windows in a church before. They go all the way to the ceiling and there are so many different styles and patterns, it is breath-taking.

    Constructed to house the Shrine of the Three Kings, it is a globally recognised landmark and one of the most visited sights and pilgrimage destinations in Europe. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996 and there are so many amazing shrines, sarcophagus, altars and statues to admire. One piece is the Crucifix of Bishop Gero from the 10th century, it is the oldest known large crucifix. There is just so much to look at and be fascinated by. The history is something that is hard to get our heads around.

    The original cathedral dates back to 818 which burnt down in 1248. Construction started on the rebuild in 1248 but was not finished until 1880! While the cathedral does need a good clean, restoration has been ongoing and will be for some time. With over 20 000 visitors a day, hopefully they have the funds to complete the task.    Weiterlesen

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    Old Town Cologne

    13. April 2023 in Deutschland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Once we had finished admiring the cathedral we made our way to Cologne’s Old Town. This area now seems to be mainly bars and pubs with a few restaurants thrown in. I do love the old decorative building signs displaying the businesses within and the crooked buildings packed closely together. The narrow cobbled streets certainly retain the feeling of walking in history.

    We ended our day with an early dinner sat at what looked like a lovely outdoor eating area, only to discover that we have now become smokers - passive smokers. We could not eat without inhaling smoke from the majority of diners sat around us. It was disgusting. So unless you want to smoke, you need to sit inside to eat which is so disappointing when you are sat overlooking the river and lush gardens and parks. Smoking is probably one of the main memories we will take away from Cologne which sadly, says a lot.

    We were happy to finish our meal (Brad finally got his pork knuckle and he loved it) and call it a day as we have a very early start tomorrow. Brad did managed to take some early morning photos on our way to the train station.    Weiterlesen

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