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Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Happy Wednesday Friends! I hope that your week is off to a wonderful start! I am taking a brief break today from sharing about my Alaska trip to share one of a few remaining posts that I have from the Rhine River Cruise that my mom and I took in December and January. Today I am so excited to share a little bit about the beautiful and amazing exterior of the Cologne Cathedral (or Kolner Dom as it is called in German) that we visited on our 5th day of our River Cruise.
Back in June I shared that on our 5th day of our Rhine River cruise we had the amazing opportunity to spend the morning cruising the Middle Rhine River. (You can read about the first part of our scenic cruising HERE and the second part HERE!) Then we spent the afternoon and early evening exploring the beautiful city of Cologne, Germany before spending the rest of the day at the Cologne Cathedral. (You can read more about a walk through historic cologne HERE.)
As a quick background the Cologne Cathedral is a renowned monument with a ton of amazing history that spans several centuries and was declared a world heritage site in 1996. It is Germany's most visited landmark of all time with the average number of visitors being nearly 20,000 people each day! It is also the tallest twin-spired church (515 feet tall) in the world.
Construction of the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248, but was stopped in 1473 leaving it unfinished. Nearly four hundred years went by before work was resumed on this beautiful cathedral and it was finally completed (according to the original plan from the 13th century) in 1880.
The Cologne Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe and has the largest facade of any church in the world. The only word that I can think of when we walked up and approached the cathedral is absolutely stunning. We simply stood there in awe of the building and also the way the cathedral has withstood the test of many things over its existence.
Interestingly when the cathedral was being built, it was found that the site had been the site of many previous churches and from as early as the 4th century it has been occupied by christian buildings.
One of the most interesting parts of the Cathedral's history for me was the history of its World War II survival. (I am sure this is not a huge surprise with my love of 20th century and the recent start up of Twenty History Lane. *smiles*)
For those who may not be familiar with the history of the cathedral in World War II, the cathedral suffered fourteen direct hits by bombs during the war. While the structure was badly damaged, it amazingly stayed standing and structurally sound, amidst the decimated city it is in.
During World War II the cathedral and the immediate area of Cologne were the site of intense ariel bombs and also the site of numerous tank combats between the Americans (3rd Armored Division) and Germans (Panther Ausf. A). After the Americans destroyed a Panther it was actually put on display at the base of the Cathedral for the remainder of the War.
In 1944 the cathedral needed an emergency repair on the Northwest Tower's base so this was carried out at that time. The brick that was used was taken from a nearby ruined building and was quite visible. For decades though this was left on purpose as a reminder of the war. In 2005 the decision was made to restore the section to its original appearance, but a few photographs in the museum still show the repairs done in 1944.
I hope you enjoyed these pictures and a brief explanation of the exterior architecture of the Cologne Cathedral! In my next post from our Europe trip I can't wait to share more about the inside of the Cologne Cathedral and its unique treasures it holds! If you are interested in reading more about our Basel to Amsterdam cruise on Viking, you can click on the links below:
// Viking River Cruises: Answers to Your Most FAQ's //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// The Cologne Cathedral (Exterior) // A Walk Through Historic Cologne // Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) // A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
// 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter //
// A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas //
// Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle //
// A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest //
// A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// The Cologne Cathedral (Exterior) // A Walk Through Historic Cologne // Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) // A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
// 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter //
// A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas //
// Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle //
// A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest //
// A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
Happy Tuesday friends! I hope that your week has started off well! Back in June I shared that on our 5th day of our Rhine River cruise we had the amazing opportunity to spend the morning cruising the Middle Rhine River. (You can read about the first part of our scenic cruising HERE and the second part HERE!) Then we spent the afternoon and early evening exploring the beautiful city of Cologne, Germany. (You can read more about a walk through historic cologne HERE.)
As we made our way to the Cathedral we walked through cologne square where our tour guide spent some time sharing about the different buildings.
One of the things that I never tired of on our trip was all of the amazing architecture that had been preserved throughout the different centuries.
Isn't the architecture so unique?
I loved seeing this area of Cologne and learning more about the history of the buildings and hearing the stories of this city on this tour. It was truly fascinating!
I hope you enjoyed this brief tour of a walk through Historic Cologne! In my next post I can't wait to share more about the Cologne Cathedral and its unique survival during the bombing of World War II. The Cathedral was absolutely magnificent! If you are interested in reading more about our Basel to Amsterdam cruise on Viking, you can click on the links below:
// Viking River Cruises: Answers to Your Most FAQ's //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// A Walk Through Historic Cologne // Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) // A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
// 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter //
// A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas //
// Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle //
// A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest //
// A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// A Walk Through Historic Cologne // Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) // A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
// 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter //
// A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas //
// Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle //
// A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest //
// A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
If you love Europe and the continental weather, why not go on a hiking, biking, and camping trip in Germany? The famous Black Forest is easily approachable, and there are plenty of clean, well-equipped, modern campsites accommodating outdoor lovers. Explore the small villages in the mountains, check out a beer festival, or simply explore the natural beauty of the Black Forest
Flights to Stuttgart
The first thing you will need is booking a flight to Stuttgart Airport. As this is a large international hub, you will need to make sure that you have your transport from Stuttgart to the Black Forest arranged ahead. You might book a car rental ahead, so your vehicle can wait for you when you arrive, or jump on the train, depending on how much luggage you have. Most airlines will allow you to take sport and camping goods as a hold luggage on international flights, but make sure that you are complying with the airport regulations.
Car Hire
Germany has a great road network, and the easiest way of getting out of Stuttgart and going camping is by car. You can get an economic small VW SUV for less than you would think, with built in navigation. Avoid traveling during the rush hour, as big cities and surrounding motorways can be crowded, and you might be stuck in traffic.
Consider Long Term Camping
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| Image via Chang Duong |
The good thing about camping sites in the Black Forest is that you have all the comfort and safety you need. You can move from one place to the next choosing a tent that is easier to set up, or stay put and set up your base to go exploring. You can visit Alpirsbach and visit the surrounding trails, try yourself at rock climbing, paragliding, or mountain biking. You can spend a lot of time in the same area, seeing old monasteries, visiting zoos, museums, and small rural villages.
Hire a Bike to Get Around
Germany’s Schwarzwald is famous for its bike trails, and you can explore the areas by bike or try one of the mountain biking trails. Check out the detailed map of the area’s bike routes and plan your trips. Tackle a mountain bike hiking trail but just make sure that you do the research on what trails are suitable for your skill level. No matter the outcome, at the end of a hike you will feel refreshed and invigorated by all the beauty nature has to offer. Take some time to enjoy it and you'll be ready to conquer anything that comes next. So grab your bike and mountain biking gear and hit the trails - it may be an adventure like no other you've done. Who knows, maybe instead of just getting physically fit, you might find yourself finding a new hobby to get rid of all those stress-related issues.
Eco-friendly Attitude
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| Image via Sonja Guina |
Even if you rent a log cabin in the forest instead of setting up your tent, you will need to change your attitude. In Germany, everything is strictly recycled, and you will find selective waste bins all around the campsite. If you happen to drop something by accident, German people will remind you to pick it up, so it might be a good idea to change your habits before you arrive. Germans try very hard to keep the Black Forest clean and tidy.
If you would like to discover where the river Danube starts off in the mountains, there’s no better way of exploring the Black Forest than by going on a long haul camping trip. Find a family-friendly, clean, and modern campsite that will serve as your base for a few days, so you can go hiking, biking, and try rock climbing if you feel like.
Happy Tuesday friends! I hope that your week has started off well! Back in April I shared that on our 5th day of our Rhine River cruise we had the amazing opportunity to spend the morning cruising the Middle Rhine River. (You can read about the first part of our scenic cruising HERE and the second part HERE!)
The 5th day of our cruise turned out to be one of my favorites. The morning cruising the Rhine was a beautiful experience and definitely one of our favorite parts of the trip (even if we did freeze! hahaha!) and then the afternoon and early evening were spent exploring the beautiful city of Cologne, Germany.
After a yummy lunch we headed into our afternoon tours that strolled through Old town Cologne before we went and spent time at the Kolner Dom, Germany's largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I will be dedicating an entire post to the Cathedral (it was simply amazing!) but today I wanted to share pictures from our walk through historic Cologne.
Cologne (or Koln in German), which is located northwest of Bonn, is the largest city in the German federal state of the North Rhine-Westphalia. It is one of Europe's most major metropolitan areas and most cultural cities (with over 30 museums!) and is the fourth most populated city (following Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich).
Side note- aren't these colorful houses absolutely adorable? I took so many pictures of them because I just loved the color against the church!
Founded in the 1st century AD, Cologne functioned as the capital of the Roman province and was the headquarters of the Roman military until 462. Cologne thrived during the Middle Ages as one of the most critical and important trade routes- serving as a conduit between the east and west in Europe.
Although the city had gone through several different occupations by the French and the British in the decades prior to World War II, the city gained unfortunate notoriety in World War II as one of the most heavily bombed cities during the war.
During World War II the Royal Air Force dropped more than 34,711 tons of bombs on Cologne alone. This number is absolutely staggering if you consider the amount that this is and the fact that it was all leveled in this one area.
This intense bombing reduced the Cologne population by nearly 95% during World War II... mainly due to the evacuation as it destroyed the entire city. To give a glimpse of what things looked like I have included a few pictures below that I found while researching about Cologne:
These pictures above are not my property- they were found on the internet.
Due to the severity of the destruction there is a unique landscape that has emerged in Cologne. The intention during the rebuilding phase was to save and restore as many historic buildings as possible and in doing so there is an eclectic mix of the days gone by amidst the new.
The rich history of Cologne added to the depth of what we were seeing.
In many ways, this time through Historic Cologne reminded me of our time in Colmar, France.
There is a beauty that can only come from having endured so much destruction and living to tell the story. I was quieted by this and the way that so much history had survived despite the harsh encounters and decimation.
There is a beauty that comes from everything when you face difficulties and still manage to persevere. Perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons that I took away from our entire trip.
I hope you enjoyed this brief tour of a walk through Historic Cologne! In my next post I can't wait to share more about the Cologne Cathedral and its unique survival during the bombing of World War II. The Cathedral was absolutely magnificent! If you are interested in reading more about our Basel to Amsterdam cruise on Viking, you can click on the links below:
// Viking River Cruises: Answers to Your Most FAQ's //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) //
// A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
// 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter //
// A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas //
// Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle //
// A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest //
// A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
// Viking Eir Ship Review // Viking Eir Stateroom 203 Review // Viking Eir Food and Dining Review //
// Cruising the Middle Rhine (Part One) // Cruising the Middle Rhine River (Part Two) //
// A Brief History of Old Town Colmar // Saint Martin's Collegiate Church (Place de la Cathedrale)//
// 7 Things You Must See When You Visit Old Town Colmar in the Winter //
// A Brief History of Beautiful Strasbourg // A Walk through Historic Strasbourg //Place Saint Thomas //
// Strasbourg Cathedral (Cathedrale Notre Dame of Strasbourg) // Heidelberg Castle //
// A Walk Through Old Town Heidelberg // Hofgut Sternen in the Black Forest //
// A Walk through Historic Downtown Basel // Basel Cathedral (Basel Munster) //
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