Hank Schrader

December 7, 2023

Europe River Cruise Ports

Christmas Markets Port Pictures

Hank Schrader

December 7, 2023

Europe River Cruise Ports

Christmas Markets Port Pictures

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist

www.dreamdestinations.com

Christmas is a good time to celebrate joy and the beauty of the season.

So, I thought I’d provide you with some pictures of the many Christmas ports you can visit on river cruises. We all know pictures are the best way for us to really understand how we might get to experience these wonderful and colorful markets.

My hope is that these pictures might inspire to take a river cruise on one of these two rivers to experience the magic of the season in Europe next year or the coming years

We will start on the Rhine and then go to the Danube.

Cologne, Germany

The huge Cologne Cathedral, with its twin pointed towers, is the best-known landmark in Cologne. Construction of the cathedral begin in 1248 and took the next 600 years to complete.

Next door to the Cathedral Romano-Germanic Museum which has artifacts from the old Roman town, including part of an old Roman villa.

Hohenzollern Bridge--This is one of the 7 bridges that cross the Rhine in Cologne. About 1200 trains pass over this bridge daily in route to the main train station.

The old town square is also another good site to visit.

It is famous for its many Christmas markets—we have visited several times and love the hustle and bustle of the season. Our favorite is the area around the old town square. Please enjoy these pictures:

Rüdesheim, Germany

The town of Rüdesheim is a charming wine village.

It is famous for the great white wines grown in the region, along with a special coffee drink, aptly named Rüdesheimer coffee (Flambé Asbach brandy, sugar cube, coffee garnished with whipped cream).

A lively lane, the Drosselgasse, is lined with taverns and wine-cellars.

The Christmas Markets are small here but a lot of fun.

Ludwigshafen, Germany

You won’t really visit anything in Ludwigshafen because it is the gateway to two great tours—Heidelberg and Speyer.

Heidelberg is a historic university town. Top sights in Heidelberg include a visit to the red-walled Castle ruins, with its Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th century wine cask. There are beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below.

The old town area is a great area to explore. This is especially true during the Christmas Markets. Here are some great pictures of the wonderful Christmas Markets, which were even more fun when it snowed during one of our visits!

Speyer is a German town famous for its large Romanesque Cathedral. It is the largest in Europe. Speyer is part of the historic pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela.

This once walled city had 68 towers guarding it. The most important tower still remains and at 188 feet, is one of the tallest defensive watch towers in all of Germany.

The Christmas Market area is near the Cathedral, and we were especially impressed with the food booths.

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg’s old town is a wonderful stop but especially so for Christmas. After several visits to Strasbourg, it still beckons us back. Our first visit was on Bastille Day (14 July) and the floodlights on the Cathedral were breathtaking.

There are several main attractions. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame is massive and the Cathedral square always has lots of life.

Wander down to Petite France—the home of tanners, fishermen and other artisans—the half-timbered areas are just stunning.

Try some food here—the blend of German and French food results in dishes you won’t soon forget.

The Christmas decorations in Strasbourg are excellent in the old town area. The narrow lanes just add to the ambiance.

Breisach, Germany

Breisach is another gateway city—there are another two great options here—Freiburg, Germany and Riquewihr, France.

Freiburg, Germany (the official name is Freiburg-im-Breisgau) is a blend of old and new.

It is a university town (started in the 1400s), once was a walled city but its number one sight is the Freiburger Münster (Freiburg Cathedral) (started in the 1300s). The cathedral was completed in 1513.

We have visited several times and especially like the 3 Christmas Markets area here.

Riquewihr is a constant splash of colors, half-timbered buildings and wine shops jumbled together that just is so charming you will not know where to look next.

This medieval walled city still has most of its walls. There is a watch tower that today houses a museum about the defensive structures of the city, the people who manned the defensive structures and the weapons they used.

Don’t forget to shop, enjoy the food or a snack and sample the white wines this region is so famous for and brought wealth to this village.

This may be the most charming Christmas village you will ever see—maybe these pictures will convince you we’re right!

Basel, Switzerland

Basel is the 3rd largest city in Switzerland. The historic old town area, on the left bank of the Rhine, was once an old Roman citadel on the high ground. The Munsterplaz (cathedral square) hosts a large church and some wonderful Christmas Markets.

A short walk from this square leads to the other good Christmas Markets of Markplaz (Market Square).

Now, we are off to the Danube.

Nuremberg, Germany

The old walled city of Nuremberg is one of my favorite places in all Germany. It has an impressive castle, is crisscrossed by a river, and has some cool old buildings. The central market square, with its, beautiful fountain, is another great place to see and this square hosts one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany.

It is famous for its many Christmas markets—we have visited several times and love the hustle and bustle of the season.

Regensburg, Germany

The town of Regensburg is located on the northernmost point of the Danube River. It started out as a Roman town, has a medieval stone bridge the crusaders crossed on their way to the Holy Wars (which is guarded by an impressive watch tower), and has a good old town area. Anne’s favorite hat maker is here, so we find this one of our favorite Bavarian towns.

The Christmas markets are awesome—there are at least 3 or 4 but our favorite is the Thurn and Taxis—it is an old fashion market, with blazing fire pits and has an entrance fee which AmaWaterways includes in your voyage. It is romantic and has some very good quality goods for sale.

Passau, Germany

Built on a tapering peninsula of land, the old town portion of Passau is located right at the German and Austrian borders. Three rivers join here—the Danube, the Inn, and the Ilz. On the high left bank of the Danube (sailing downstream), a fortress dating back to the 1400’s, overlooks the old city center. There are several impressive churches worth a visit.

There is one really good Christmas market in the main square—Anne found some great gifts on a recent trip.

Melk & Dürnstein, Austria

Melk is famous for its impressive, huge abbey and collection of rare books and manuscripts. The abbey was initially built in the 11th century and has been updated several times, and the last major improvements to this baroque structure were completed from 1702 to 1736.

There is a small market in Melk, but we enjoyed it—we watched a blacksmith work on handmade gifts.

Later as you cruise through the one of the great scenic waterways of Europe, the Wachau Valley, you will arrive in the charming village of Dürnstein (about 600 population). The blue tower of the Abbey, the cute little shops, and the castle ruins on the hillside (where Richard Lionhearted was held in prison for ransom), make this a favorite of many river cruisers. It is so small there are not any real booths for Christmas, but the shops often have special Christmas items.

Vienna

Vienna is the capital city of Austria (it once the capital city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), is a city of impressive palaces, great museums, and good food. It is also known as home for the great composers of classical music, and many go to concerts in Vienna while on their cruise.

There are several great markets here but the two best are at the Rathaus (town hall) and the famous summer palace of the Hapsburgs—Schönbrunn Palace. There are lots of booths in each market—you won’t go away disappointed!

Bratislava

The capital city of Slovakia is a fun place to visit. Located at the border of Austria and Hungary, this is a newer country (it declared independence in 1993) in Europe.

For much of its history, it was in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then a part of the Czechoslovakia. The symbol of Bratislava is the fortress that overlooks the city. It is also known for its whimsical bronze figures, which delight cruisers in the old town area.

The old town area has a great Christmas market and there are also a good one in the new town area.

Budapest

By far the most impressive city on the Danube, Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a town we love to visit. It is really two towns—the high town of Buda that overlooks the banks of the Danube and Pest on the flat land. They are united by several bridges, but the Chain Bridge is the most important and is a symbol of the city.

Both sides have some awesome structures—among them Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion (Buda side) and the Parliament building (Pest side). Once you visit, you will want to come back.

The best Christmas markets are on the Pest side—a highlight is the food, especially the funnel cakes baked over a charcoal fire.

Two Great Side Trips

Along this route, there are two great cities that are optional trips on some lines or can be included. They are not actually on the Upper Danube but are easily accessible by coach (bus) during your Danube cruise. Both are awesome, so let’s see what it might be like to visit both Salzburg, Austria, and Cesky Krumlov.

Here are two great photos, which may make you want to include these two medieval towns as an addition to your cruise. Both have good Christmas markets but the Salzburg one is larger with more booths.

Our Final Thoughts

There are sure a lot to choose from among these two rivers. Each has their own character and charm. All I know is enjoying the season during the Christmas markets season is an experience you should go on and we would be glad to help you get there!

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise specialists, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.

When you are spending your hard-earned money for a vacation, you want an advisor who can match you with the right trip. You want someone who will understand your expectations and fuel your anticipation (or excitement) to get you the best possible trip experience. And, you want someone who can help you with the decision making process. We think we have all these qualities.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@visitdd.com . We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 29 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 52 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

October 28, 2021

Europe River Cruise Ports

Spooky River Cruise Ports and Places

Hank Schrader

October 28, 2021

Europe River Cruise Ports

Spooky River Cruise Ports

Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

Halloween is this Sunday 31 October 2021.

I thought you might enjoy some spooky places you could visit while on a river cruise.

So, let’s explore together and learn about Halloween—you won’t be disappointed!

The Origins of Halloween

According to the website of History.com, Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, in which folks would build huge bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.

In the 8th Century, when Pop Gregory declared that November 1st was All Saints Day, the time to honor and remember all the Saints.

Over time some of the traditions of Samhain were incorporated into the All Saints Day and the evening before was called All Hallows Eve.

Now, the celebration has become the traditions we observe today and we enjoy dressing up in costumes, kids and adults get to trick-or-treat and we all are reminded of scary places in the world.

Rhine River Spooky Places

Rheinfels Castle, in the Rhine River Gorge, was the largest castle in this wonderful collection of 40 castles. While most is in ruins today, it had an extensive maze works of tunnels that the defenders could use to make surprise attacks on any enemy forces if the castle was under attack.

Rheinfels Castle ruins has a series of tunnels and catacombs that legend says have perished soldiers ghosts haunting these ruins.

The spooky facts are many ghosts of these defenders are said to still roam these areas, as explosive accidents and actual seizes cause them to lose their lives. Paranormal investigators claim there are shadows and unexplained activity in the foundations, especially the catacombs area. You can actually stay here if desire or like me, just enjoy the view while sailing the Rhine River Gorge.

Further down the Gorge area Reichstein Castle is another haunted place.

Reichstein Castle is said to be haunted by a ghost of a previous lord of the castle who was beheaded

According to the legend, a headless ghost wanders the castle.

Here is the story—in the 16th century, the Holy Roman Emperor, ordered the lord of the castle and his 9 sons hanged. The lord of the castle, offered his executioners a deal—if they chopped of his head and he managed to walk past his 9 sons headless, then they were to be spared.

His head was cut off, but he managed to walk past all 9 sons before tumbling to the ground. He saved his sons, but still roams the grounds.

Mauseturn Toll Tower is another spooky place,

The legend of this tower is that the Archbishop of Mainz, Hatto, collected a corn tithe from the river barges. After one year of bad harvest, peasants came asking for grain.

He sent the peasants to the storage barn, locked then in and burned it down.

All died except the mice, who chased Hatto to the Mauseturn (mice tower) and ate him alive. It is empty today.

Lorelei Rock, a bend in the Rhine River south of St. Goarshausen, is another spooky place.

The legend is of a siren who lures sailors to their doom in this most dangerous part of the Rhine. Here is the story—a beautiful maiden fell in love with a sailor, they became lovers, and he promised to return for her. She waited faithfully for his return on a rock at the narrowest and shallowest point of this part of the Rhine River.

He never returned and she jumped off the rock to her death.

The legend now says her spirit sits on the rock, combing her beautiful hair, and softly singing. The spirit seeks revenge against her unfaithful lover. Sailors are so enchanted with her beauty, they become distracted and either crash or perish in these dangerous waters.

Moselle River Spooky Places

Reichsburg is another spooky place, but doesn’t look spooky.

The tower just in front of the big square tower keep, that is white stone and a pointed roof is the Witches Tower.

Standing on a hill 300 feet above the town of Cochem, this elaborately restored castle (it was destroyed by the French in 1689) is a fun and interesting visit. Many river cruise companies visit this castle.

The original castle, whose first purpose like many others on the rivers of Germany was to collect tolls, was rebuilt from 1868 to 1890.

While not authentic, it is still cool—great vistas, interesting rooms, perhaps most importantly, at first glance, it is an impressive structure and I enjoyed visiting it.

What makes it spooky, is the Witches Tower, the oldest part of the original castle. In medieval times it was used as a witchcraft trail place. The horrible way to determine if she was a witch or not was to throw the lady out of a window. If they died, they were given a Christian burial, since they were not a witch!

Harsh times, and very spooky!

Danube River Spooky Places

In Romania, Braun Castle guards the strategic pass between Transylvania and Wallachia and is renowned as home to Vlad the Impaler, or as most folks want to remember him, as Dracula’s castle.

Most of this legend comes from the novel of Dracula, but the castle is supposed to belong to Vlad, although he perhaps spent 2 months at best here. Not really his castle, but it’s good enough for me—it is still a cool castle!

We visited on a rainy day and after going in the strong castle doors, to get to the main floors, we had to go up the very tight, windy stairway that spiraled in a spooky fashion.

The castle rooms look quite lived in, since they have been remodeled several times, but with passage ways and small connecting rooms, it is a fun visit.

Next is the lonely Danube castle of Baba Vida in Bulgaria. This castle is named after Vida, the daughter of a wealthy Bulgarian boyar.

According to the legend, due to the unsuccessful marriages of her two sisters—Kula and Gamza, Vida rejected all proposals for marriage, built the castle and remained in it for the rest of her life as the protector of Vidin. It is said her ghost roams the castle and grounds, serving to ward of enemies and evil doers of the world and the world of spirits.

Somehow, knowing the legend, and seeing this small but well-constructed castle, I could easily see her spirit standing in defense of the invading Turks.

Baba Vida castle is a common stop by many river cruise lines while sailing the lower Danube, and Braun Castle is a common post cruise land extension.

Nile River Spooky Places

Last, but not least, is the “Curse of the Nile.” King Tut’s tomb was discovered untouched in the Valley of the Kings. The leader of the expedition, late in 1922, the British archaeologist Howard Carter, discovered the tomb, along with the 5th Lord of Carnarvon, who financed the project. It was full of treasures and an amazing discovery.

The news of the discovery quickly became a worldwide press sensation. As one sensational story followed another, some writers began to tell of the Curse of the Pharaohs.

New York World magazine published the best-selling novelist Marie Corelli’s speculations that “the most dire punishment follows any rash intruder into a sealed tomb”

Then It was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous author of Sherlock Holmes fame who started the speculation when he told the American press that ‘an evil elemental’ spirit created by priests to protect the mummy” and thus was born the legend of the curse of the Nile.

When first the Lord died suddenly and then Howard Carter died next, the legend now persists to today and has been the source for many horror movies.

Visits to the Egyptian Museum and the Valley of the Kings are common on many Nile River Cruises

My Final Thoughts

Wow—Spooky Places

We hope you enjoyed this report—but be careful out there this Halloween and during your various river cruise trips—we don’t want and ghost or spirits spooky you!.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

December 3, 2020

Europe River Cruise Ports

6 Historic Cities in Germany You Can Visit on AmaWaterways

Hank Schrader

December 3, 2020

Europe River Cruise Ports

6 Historic Cities in Germany You can Visit on AmaWaterways

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

I have strong German roots on my father’s side of our family—my grandfather came to the US from Germany on 23 August 1893 at the age of 18 with his brother Carl. He became a naturalized citizen on 31 March 1902 (thanks Anne for her research on Ancestry.com!). My grandmother arrived in the US from Germany 13 February 1904 at age 22. My Dad was born on 5 January 1918 in Chicago.

So, it stands to reason, I have a real interest in Germany and its history.

There is a lot to learn about Germany, so I thought I’d tell you briefly about the key historic periods in Germany history and then tell you about our visits to 6 historic cities in Germany.

There are many lists of historic cities and their importance in history, culture and food, beer and wine, but I have selected just 6 for today’s blog, since we have or could have visited all on an AmaWaterways cruise.

So, let’s learn about 6 of the historic cities of Germany after a brief history lesson about the significant ages of Germany history.

Key Periods in German History

German history can be divided into the following time periods:

• The First Reich 843-1806—was established by Charlemagne during his reign as the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. In this period of history, Germany was a true feudal system—it was said the nobles were to protect, the clergy to pray, and the peasants were to work. Charlemagne is recognized by most as the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire but some historians claim it started after Charlemagne. The Empire controlled most of what was to become the German state and lasted until 1806 but never was able to unify the country as in other European countries like France.

The Emperor was elected by the 7 most important nobles, called prince-electors, and several of the historic cities below played an important role in the Holy Roman Empire structure and governance.

By 1789 there were over 1700 kingdoms, duchies and principalities. Germany never became a unified country until 1871. Religion played a central role during most of this period—the belief system was that “one’s role was determined by God and could not change”.

But change came with the Protestant Reformation (1571-1648). Martin Luther began this with his differing religious views. Along the way, there was the Peace of Augsburg (1555) that granted religious legal status to the Lutheran Religion (“Whose realm, his religion”); there was a counter reformation to imprison and discourage heretics (non-Catholics); and the 30 years’ War from 1618 to 1648 (one of the most destructive wars in all of Europe’s history caused by the struggles between the Catholics and the Protestants and their rights to worship).

Then came the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). Later the Prussian Empire, led by Fredrick the Great, emerged around the Protestant Berlin and Potsdam region and ther were more battles. The Industrial Revolution started slowly in Germany in the 1830’s. Change was slowly coming.

• The Second Reich 1871-1918—is often defined from the unification of Germany following the Franco-Prussian War (1870 - 1871) and crowning of Wilhelm I as German Emperor at the Palace of Versailles. The other key leader was Otto von Bismarck as the first Reichskanzler (chancellor—the head of the government). It was a period of German Imperialism and a rise of German military strength—the army was the best in world according to many observers and the navy second only to Great Britain.

Prussian dominance was evident—over 2/3 of the population lived in the Prussian principality and almost all key military leaders were Prussian. It was a period of complex European alliances, aimed at keeping the balance of power from tipping too much in the favor of one country over another.

Sadly, in 1914 war erupted and ended 4 years later. This period lasted until the end of WW I with the abdication of Wilhelm II in 1919 following the German defeat in the Great War.

• The Weimar Republic 1919-1933—after their defeat in WW I, the Weimar Republic was Germany’s attempt to establish democracy and end the out-sized influence of the nobility and the military. But the crushing war debt, hyperinflation and more than 3 million out of work caused this government to ultimately collapse.

• The Third Reich 1933-1945—the austere conditions in during the Weimar Republic in Germany led to the rise of the Dictatorship of Adolf Hitler and WW II. He managed to conquer most of the continent of Europe but ultimately was defeated by the allies in WW II. His leadership resulted in the murder of millions, countless war dead, and the utter destruction of almost all of Germany.

• Post World War II and the Reunification of Germany 1945-1990-Present—while there is a lot of relevant items such as the Cold War conflict, with Germany divided into East and West Germany after WW II, I just cannot escape two personal facts here.

As a LTC at the end of WW II, my Dad was the occupation commander of the northern region of Germany that our family immigrated from to the US. All our relatives except one died during the war. It was sad yet uplifting that after all the carnage, there was hope and rebuilding.

I remember one night, talking about our German roots right after the fall of the Berlin Wall and my Dad told me he never thought he would see unification of Germany in his lifetime. He told me a little about reconstruction efforts, the Marshall Plan to rebuild Germany and joy to see the resilience of the German people. Germany has once again become a world power and a leader in the democratic world.

Now, on to the 6 cities that are part of the historical eras of Germany you can visit on an AmaWaterways river cruise.

Freiburg (Freiburg-im-Breisgau)

This city among other claims to fame is said to the sunniest city in all of Germany. Located on the southern edge of the Black Forest, and near the Rhine River, it was a good trade location and rich burghers and the mercantile guilds were the original political force in the city. It is a university town (started in the 1400s), once was a walled city but its number one sight is the Freiburger Münster (Freiburg Cathedral) (started in the 1300s). The cathedral was completed in 1513. Here are some pictures of Freiburg:

Pictured below is the Schwabentor Watch Tower Gate. It is one of 2 remaining towers in the city. The other, the Martinstor is a 13 century gate tower. The city walls are long gone.

A special feature of Freiburg is its numerous Bächle (little waterways) that are unique in Germany.

Heidelberg

The old bridge over the Neckar River and the huge palace ruins have a romantic effect on this town. Heidelberg is a historic university town, considered by many the home of Romantic Germany due to its poets and philosophers—it is not surprising one of the best ways to experience Heidelberg is to hike the Philosopher’s Path on the north bank of the Neckar—you can think about all the scholars looking for inspiration while you walk (it is an optional tour if you take an AmaWaterways cruise on some routes).

Top sights in Heidelberg, include a visit the red-walled Castle ruins (it is often more interesting than restored castles due to the detail still remaining on the walls), with its Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th century wine cask. There are beautiful views of the Neckar Valley and Heidelberg below.

Another great site is the Church of the Holy Ghost, where you can see the tombstone of Prince-elector Rupert (King of Germany from 1400 to 1410) from the First Reich era.

The old town area is a great area to explore.

Koblenz

Located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Rhine, this city is a symbol of German unification during the Second Reich. 80% of the town was destroyed during WW II during the Third Reich. Here are some key sights (from one of our 50 European city guides):

1. Deutsches Eck—is a monument on the point of land where the Rhine and Moselle join. Kaiser Wilhelm I statue is featured here. It was erected in 1897 to honor Kaiser William I but was damaged during WW II during the Third Reich and later replaced. St Castor’s Basilica is on the backside of the triangular Deutsches Eck and has the tomb of two Trier Prince-Archbishops electors from the First Reich.

2. Old Town Koblenz—one of the oldest towns in Germany, the old town area is the charming and romantic streets between the St. Castor’s Basilica and "Liebfrauenkirche" (Church of Our Beloved Lady).

3. Goerresplaz Square—known today as Goerres Square, it is the central square of the old town. The fountain in the middle of the square with its 10m high historical columns is worth seeing. The artist Jürgen Weber tells the story of the town of Koblenz in 10 overlapping scenes presented in this three dimensional work of art.

4. Liebfrauenkirche—is a beautiful Baroque church with onion shaped domes. This basilica with five-axis pillars was built between 1180 and 1250. The new construction of the Gothic chancel had begun in 1404 while the baroque onion towers date back to 1693.

5. Schängel Fountain--The Schängel fountain is a monument to the city’s eternal “bad boy” who spits water from his mouth. Designed by Carl Burger in 1941, the fountain stands between the Renaissance and Baroque structures of the present Town Hall and the former Jesuit monastery.

6. Electoral palace--The Elector Clemens Wenzeslaus built this palace from 1777-1786 during the end of the First Reich. Prince Wilhelm, later known as German Emperor Wilhelm I (from the second Reich), officiated here as the Prussian military governor from 1850 – 1857. The palace now houses administrative offices and is not open to the public.

7. Bundesgartenschau--The “Empress-Augusta-Gardens “are located on the Rhine banks and they are some of the most beautiful gardens between Basel and Rotterdam. On the tree-lined, grassy bank you will find the monument of Joseph Görres, as well as little treasures such as the Luise Temple.

8. Fort Ehrenbreitstein--The Fortress rises 118 meters above the Rhine and dates back to the year 1000. Over the centuries the fortress buildings and fortifications were extended by the Electors of Trier. After its destruction by the French, the Prussians rebuilt the fortifications and it became one of Germany's strongest fortresses. It is today open to the public and is directly across the Rhine from Koblenz.

Regensburg

The town has a strong historical past. The town of Regensburg is located on the northern most point of the Danube River. It started out as a Roman town, has a medieval stone bridge the crusaders crossed on their way to the Holy Wars (which is guarded by an impressive watch tower), and has a good old town area.

During the 2nd and 3rd Crusades, the stone bridge was the crossing site for Crusaders off to do battle in the Holy Land and is the oldest surviving stone bridge in Germany.

There is an impressive cathedral here—please enjoy this picture!

The Old Town Hall once was the meeting place of the Parliament of the Holy Roman Empire during the First Reich. Regensburg managed to escape WW II without any real damage during the Third Reich.

Anne’s favorite hat maker is here, so we find this one of our favorite Bavarian towns.

Trier

The oldest city in Germany, established by the Romans, has always played a part in the development of Germany through the ages. Trier was an old Roman outpost which was first settled by the Roman in 17 BC. It is very near the Luxembourg border—in fact, one side of the Moselle River is Trier, Germany and the opposite other side is the tiny country of Luxembourg. Anne & I first visited here in 1989 on our own.

Important Roman sights include the Roman Baths, an amphitheater, the Basilica of Constantine (it was the throne room of Emperor Constantine), and the huge city gate, the Porta Nigra gate, that dates back to 180 A.D. It has earned the nickname of “the Rome of the North.”

Other sights are the Trier Cathedral (it is the oldest Cathedral in Germany) and the ornate Trier Electoral Palace and gardens (part of the First Reich).

Also worth a visit is the old town area of the main market (Hauptmarkt)—besides people watching, the backdrop is the Porta Nigra and the large square is lined with a variety of architectural styles and is quite colorful.

Würzburg

There is a lot to like about Würzburg. As you approach the city, two key sights emerge—the Marienberg Citadel, a Renaissance fortress and the old bridge that reminds us of the famous St. Charles Bridge in Prague.

But the star here is the Residenz Palace, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Along with the impressive palace (which can be toured on an AmaWaterways cruise), the gardens here are whimsical, and colorful. These gardens were built when the Residenz was fortified, so all the gardens had to be inside the walls. There are 2 gardens here. The first is the Court Garden, a Baroque, formal garden. The central feature of this garden are 8 large yews that shaped in perfect cone shapes.

The second garden is an English garden of meadows and small forests.

Würzburg is in the Franconia wine region is less well known producer of dry white wines made from Silvaner grapes. The official name is Grüner Silvaner. A lot of this wine is grown around Würzburg. One unique feature of this wine is its special bottle—it is in a bottle called a Bocksbeutel (in German)—a distinctive green oval shaped bottle.

One feature of wine cruises on the Main River on AmaWaterways is a special wine tasting in Würzburg’s baroque Residenz Palace. Wine in a palace—how cool is that!

My Final Thoughts

Just one more fascinating reason to visit Europe—German Historic Cities! There is a lot here that relates to the key periods of Germany history—I hope this blog helps you understand the significance of these 6 historic cities in Germany history.

Let AmaWaterways take you there—it is the right cruise line for you among many other good choices—great people on a great river cruise line with awesome food and wine—we highly recommend it!

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 49 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

December 8, 2019

Europe River Cruise Ports

The 10 Best Quaint Villages to See on a European River Cruise

Hank Schrader

December 8, 2019

Europe River Cruise Ports

The 10 Best Quaint Villages to See on a European River Cruise

By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert

www.dreamdestinations.com

I write all the time about Europe river cruising and its value. One of best aspect of a river cruise, in my opinion, is the chance to see the small places you wouldn’t otherwise know about. With the exception of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, we probably would not have visited these sights listed in this blog on our own because we didn’t know they existed. So, after 17 Europe River Cruises, here are my 10 favorite.

Now, let me defend my thoughts—are these the 10 best? Please let my descriptions and our pictures help you decide if these are the 10 best!

Please feel free to reach out to us and offer you own suggestions if we might have missed your favorite quaint village that you saw or could see while on a river cruise in Europe.

Overview

I have a rather complicated definition of what a quaint village or town is—some dictionaries list quaint as meaning “attractive because of being unusual and especially old-fashioned” and that just is way too simple for me.

Here is my definition of quaint. It must be small or feel small; must have preserved in some form old buildings (perhaps best described as looking back to the past history with pride); it must have a somewhat peaceful feel and invites you to explore; it must have real character (something unique); it usually is so interesting you want to take pictures even if you don’t like to take pictures and it has a soul—perhaps beauty, or a sense of history, or a unique, dramatic location. Usually it is protected from further development to retain and keep alive its charm. Most of these places are pedestrian only zones or limit vehicles to help preserve their charm. Often, these places were once wealthy but got bypassed. They also often were once walled cities—this natural restriction boundary helps them keep their charm. Sometimes, these place served as inspiration for fairy-tales, have legends of deeds that add to their allure and have a castle nearby.

In short, you want to linger, visit and explore at a slower pace for a glimpse back in time.

On the Rhine River

There are 2 here—Rüdesheim and Riquewihr--that make my list.

Rüdesheim, Germany is a charming wine village. It is famous for the great white wines grown in the region, along with a special coffee drink, aptly named Rüdesheimer coffee. A lively lane, the Drosselgasse, is lined with taverns and wine-cellars. We have been to a wine tasting here and watched and tasted Rüdesheimer coffee during a coffee making presentation—it was fun and dramatic as they light the Asbach brandy! This is a festive place, famous for Rieslings, and reconstructed half-timbered buildings, replacing the originals that were destroyed in WW II. It is not as authentic as some others on this list, but still fun!

**The crowded streets of the Drosselgasse**

**Hank & Jim enjoy a Rudesheimer coffee**

Riquewihr, France is a constant splash of colors, half-timbered buildings and wine shops jumbled together that just is so charming you will not know where to look next. This medieval walled city, with a tiny population of 1000, still has most of its walls. There is a watch tower that today houses a museum about the defensive structures of the city, the people who manned the defensive structures and the weapons they used. Don’t forget to shop, enjoy the food or a snack and sample the white wines this region is so famous for and brought wealth to this village. I recently wrote a blog about Riquewihr—here is the link: Read More About Riquewihr

On the Main River

Miltenberg and Rothenburg make my list.

The old town of Miltenberg, Germany is about 150 meters wide but about 2.5 Km long from to banks of the Main River up the hillside. There are over 100 original half-timbered houses in this scenic town. This is a place time seems to have stood still—almost all the older buildings have survived. Its market square is often cited as one of the most attractive in all of Germany. And, to just round out the fairly-tale feel of the city, there is a castle perched on a hillside. This is a great, picturesque place.

Rothenburg, Germany (the correct name is Rothenburg ob der Tauber), ob means above the Tauber River, is one of the most visited towns in German. This walled city has all its ramparts intact, has massive gates, and many folks walk the walls or part of the walls as I did during our visit. Its medieval past is everywhere—the impressive town hall, half-timbered buildings, a criminal museum, a carved wooden altarpiece masterpiece in St. Jacobs Church, are surrounded by massive fortifications. It is very touristy but still fun.

**One of the massive gates of Rothenburg**

**One of the most photographed sites in all of Germany in Rothemburg**

**Dunking Cage outside the Medieval Criminal Museum**

On the Mosel River

Cochem, BernKastel and Zell make my list.

Cochem, Germany, on the Mosel River, is a former walled city. It has a population of about 5,800 and is a traditional old German town. The town has many fine buildings, quaint cottages, guild houses, and winding cobblestone streets. The town square, lined with half-timbered houses, is a wonderful, scenic area of this small town. Cochem Castle (the correct name is Schloss Reichsburg) is perched over the town and is toured by several river cruise companies.

**2 suits of Armor inside the castle—the one on the right is about 7 feet tall!**

BernKastel is a wonderful town of around 8000. It is located about halfway between Cochem and Trier on the Mosel River. There are many half-timbered buildings, especially around market square. St Michael’s church, built in the 14th century, had a dual purpose—it served as a house of worship and its tall bell tower served as a watch tower in the old city ramparts. The city has some wonderful fountains—they include St. Michael's fountain on the Market Square, the bear's fountain and the doctor's fountain. Overlooking the town is the Landshut Castle ruins. It was first built in 1277 but was ruined by fire in 1692.

**Half Timbered Buildings in BernKastel. In the background, you can see the Tower of St. Micheal’s Church which served as a watchtower.**

Zell is famous for its white wine zellerschwartzkatz (Zell’s black cat). It is a small town of about 4,300 people. It has an interesting market square and the town hall has a wine museum. According to legend, a large quantity of local wine was being stored in barrels in a regional cellar. When people approached, a black cat jumped on the barrel from Zell and started hissing to protect its contents. Seeing the hissing, caused the wine merchants to believe the wine from Zell was special and better quality than the other wines stored in the wine cellar building. Today the black cat is the symbol of this town. It too was a walled city but not much of the old walls remain.

**Zell Festival onboard the AmaLyra 2009**

On the Danube River

Dürnstein and Český Krumlov make my list on the Danube

Dürnstein This small village of about 600 is a true gem. Two key sites immediately catch your eye at first glance. First, the castle ruins above the village on the steep hillside loom above the former walled village. Some hike to the castle ruins, about a 20-30 minute hike. Richard the Lionheart was held for ransom in this castle on his return from one of the crusades. The other stand out is the blue and white tower of the Abbey. We also like just walking and exploring this small village.

The area is famous for apricots and white wine. Please try both while you port here.

Český Krumlov, roughly translated means “Czech Bend in the River”. The best thing to do here is wander—the castle, the old town area, and cobblestone streets are just fun to view. It really looks like the town is in a time warp. It also has a pretty good puppet museum that allows children to try and pull the attached strings on puppets.

The large castle complex requires a tour to see the interior. It features the living and dining spaces of the royals who lived there. You can visit the bear pits and outside courtyards for free. Perhaps the most unique tour is the Baroque Theater tour—only 2 remain that can be seen in Europe that are in reasonably good shape (most of the others burned down from the extensive use of candles and fireworks for special effects). There is a strict limit of 25 per tour and it is often sold out in advance and of limited value if you can’t get one of the tours in English but still it is a rare chance to see a historical entertainment venue and learn about their use of their use of special effects during the plays.

The Round Tower of the castle in Cesky Krumlov

On the Rhone River

Les Baux is a hilltop town of Les Baux occupies a spectacular position in the Alpilles Mountains. This medieval town, set atop a rocky outcrop that is crowned with a ruined castle, overlooks the plains to the south. Les Baux’s name refers to its site—a bauc is a rocky spur. This is a gem of a place—go if you get the chance. It is a place of stark stone buildings but is small, has winding lanes and is fun to explore. Another plus is that the town founder was the Magus King Balthazar, one of the 3 wise men of the Bible.

**Plaque honoring the founder of Les Baux Bavtezar, one of the 3 Wise Men from the Bible**

My Final Thoughts

Small, quaint villages and towns are part of the charm of Europe. It was fun writing this—I hope it inspires you to want to visit some or all of these places!

As always, we are here to help as needed!

We are travel experts, ocean and river cruise experts, and Europe destination experts. We have first-hand knowledge of almost anywhere you want to visit in Europe. We know our products and the vendors who sell them to you. We have designed special tours for dozens of clients, led several and will continue to find just the right vacation that will exceed your expectations.

Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!

HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 48 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:

AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent

Hank Schrader

October 31, 2019

Europe River Cruise Ports

European River Cruise Ports

Hank Schrader

October 31, 2019

Europe River Cruise Ports

We have just added a new section to our website and it has great value for you in your search for accurate and useful travel information. It is called European River Cruise Ports and provides you an easy way to get specific information about the many ports you can see while on a river cruise in Europe.

So, why should trust us to provide you a guide about European River Cruise Ports?

We have been on 18 European River Cruises; between the both of us we have been traveling to Europe for 48 years; and we both have been in the travel industry for 23+ years of experience and helped dozens of satisfied clients, so we do have some very good credentials to let you know what you will see in a specific port.

As you can imagine, this is a huge undertaking, so we are rolling it out first on the two most popular routes, the Upper Danube and the Rhine River routes.

Are your ready to learn more?—okay, let’s go!

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