I have long been fascinated by the mighty Danube river. Maybe my interest comes from its passing through more countries than any other river in the world, ten in total. Or maybe I’m intrigued by its history, including the long period when it formed the north-eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. Or maybe I’m attracted […]
Dortmund does not immediately spring to mind as a short break destination. The largest city in the Ruhr industrial area lacks an attractive Altstadt (old town) and has no river passing through it, both major tourist features in many German cities like Frankfurt and Nurnberg. But when I tell you that Dortmund is now known as the ‘green metropolis’, with almost half its municipal […]
Berchtesgaden is a small Alpine town hidden away in the south-east corner of Germany. It sits on the shores of Königssee below rocky peaks that rise to almost 9,000 ft. The earliest records of the town date back to 1102 and from 1517 onwards it amassed wealth from salt-mines. However the area gained notoriety in 1933 when a large tract of land above the town, known […]
The confluence of the Rhine with the Moselle gives the historic city of Koblenz its name. Its strategic position was recognised by the Romans, who established a military outpost in 8 BC on the rocky outcrop overlooking where the rivers merge. The Latin ‘confluentes’, subsequently became Covelenz and finally Koblenz. I’d often driven through central […]
I’d visited Heidelberg once before, almost exactly 50 years ago. I remember being very impressed by the panoramic view over the Old Town and the River Neckar from the Castle’s grey, granite parapets. Of course one’s memory can play tricks. But even so I was surprised when I arrived in Heidelberg, to see the distinctly […]
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Top Ten German Cities: Cologne to Passau via Dresden, Hanover and Leipzig
There are many attractive German cities, often with impressive Old Towns faithfully rebuilt after the destruction of the World War II, and most with pleasant gardens and river or lakeside walks. As the coronavirus pandemic eases, travel by car to Europe may well appeal to those of us, who are a bit wary of air […]