Freiburg is a well developed city at the feet of the Black Forest.
We did a scenic drive through a few small towns on the way. Once there, we made our way to the heart of the old city.
There was a very active farmer’s market and a few blocks away one of the many Christmas markets scattered throughout the town.
Part of the tour today was also an organ recital in the cathedral. A very unique experience.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freiburg_im_Breisgau
We did our own walking excursion to Breisach. All to go to the ‘champagne’ cellar. No tours, but we were at least able to do a tasting.
The history of Breisach reaches back over 4000 years. The Münsterberg (Minster Hill) was the seat of a Celtic principality then a Roman castle and, since the early Middle Ages, was the centre of the up-and-coming city with its market rights and right of coinage, with formidable city defences, of which some wall and a few gates are still visible, and which provided a home for many monasteries.
The city’s prosperity over many centuries, and its importance as a traffic hub and trading city, is due to its location on the Rhine, and the bridge across this river. In the 17th and 18th centuries Breisach, under Habsburg and French sovereignty, was one of Europe’s most important and strongest fortified cities.
The fortifications were razed in the mid-18th century, and the city itself was almost completely destroyed by French bombardment in 1793. 85% of Breisach was destroyed again at the end of the Second World War in 1945. In 1950, surrounded by rebuilding work, this was the first city whose citizens expressed their wish for the formation of a united Europe
Founded by the Romans, Speyer is one of the oldest towns in Germany.
Speyer Cathedral, a number of other churches, and the Altpörtel(“old gate”) dominate the Speyer landscape. In the cathedral, beneath the high altar, are the tombs Holy Roman Emperors and German Kings.
The city has a long and important history dating from 10BC.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speyer
Last night we had to pack up all our stuff in our suitcases since we were moving ships. The Rhine is flooding and we are not able to cruise between Cologne and Strasbourg.
Bummer, but rather safe than sorry.
It took about 90 minutes to bus us to Koblenz, which was the next city on our cruise.
Koblenz was originally a Roman military post on the largest of islands where the Mosel and Rhine rivers join together.
We took a walking tour with a very colorful guide and saw and heard some interesting tidbits about the city and its history.
After the tour we had a lunch of flamenkuche and grauburgunder (pizza and Pinot Grigio) in a nice German restaurant.
Then is was off to ride the cable car across the Rhine to the fortress on the other bank. Great views from there.
And then… the 4 hour bus ride down to Strasbourg. No comments about that, but we made it!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koblenz
We started our day in Kölsch, or rather Cologne, with a walking tour of the city.
Cologne was nearly completely destroyed during the war. Most of the buildings date from the 50’s onwards.
Still a great city with a lot of history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne
Kölsch is more than beer Read More »
On our way to Cologne you can see that even down here the river is at a historic high.
So much so that we can not dock at the regular place and ended up in the Viking winter storage harbour. Fascinating.
Down the river we go Read More »
The Cathedral Church of St. Peter, better known as the Cologne Cathedral, is an astonishing piece of gothic architecture.
And to think all of this was designed to house the reliquary of the Three Kings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne_Cathedral
A spire or two to aspire to Read More »
We saved our first Christmas market for the last ‘event’ of the day.
Fascinating, wonderful, crazy, amazing, and near the end way too people-y.
And yes, we had the quintessential Glühwein and of course, Bratwurst! It was really yummy!
It was a fun afternoon and evening cruising on the river.
