By Train or Car to Great Hotels and Restaurants in the Lahn Cathedral Town Fast trains and autobahns make Limburg an der Lahn with its Romanesque cathedral, magnificent medieval old town, and cheap hotels an interesting day trip or overnight stop from Cologne or Frankfurt Airport. Fast transportation links (autobahns and ICE trains) make Limburg an der Lahn an easy … [Read more...]
Top Castles to Visit in Europe: Burg Eltz near the Rhine in Germany
Burg Eltz, near Koblenz at the confluence of the Mosel and Rhine Rivers, is one of the most romantic medieval castles in Germany and all of Europe. Burg Eltz is an authentic medieval castle romantically located in an isolated valley in the Rhinelands off the Mosel River near Koblenz in Germany. In contrast to other castles in the Rhine area, Burg Eltz has never been … [Read more...]
Visit Romantic Burg Eltz Castle near the Mosel and Rhine Rivers
Romantic, medieval Burg Eltz Castle near Koblenz in Germany is open daily during the summer season. Tickets for the treasury and guided tours are sold at the fortress. Burg Eltz is considered by many to be the most romantic of Germany’s around 20,000 castles and castle ruins. Despite its somewhat isolated location, it is absolutely worth the effort needed to get there. … [Read more...]
Easy Public Transportation to Burg Eltz Castle near the Mosel, Germany
Getting to romantic, medieval Burg Eltz Castle in Germany is possible by train, bus, and boat from Koblenz or by car as a day trip from Frankfurt, Mainz, or Cologne. Some hiking is usually required too. Burg Eltz - © Dominik Ketz / Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus GmbH Burg Eltz, one of Germany’s most romantic medieval castles, is in a somewhat isolated valley just off the Mosel … [Read more...]
Visit the Bayeux Cathedral in Normandy
Notre Dame de Bayeux is an interesting Gothic cathedral with an 11th-century Norman-Romanesque core dating from the times of William the Conqueror. The Romanesque-Gothic cathedral of Bayeux is not the oldest, largest, or most impressive cathedral in France but it has a beautiful interior and a history that makes it well worth seeing. Most of the visible parts of the … [Read more...]
See the Bayeux Tapestry and Museum in Normandy
The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the greatest medieval artworks. It depicts the story of Harold, William the Conqueror, and the Norman conquest of England in 1066. One of the greatest artworks of the Middle Ages is the Bayeux Tapestry. This 70-m long embroidered cloth is a political statement par excellence. It tells the story of Harold, earl of Wessex and briefly king of … [Read more...]
Visit Schloss Thun Castle in Switzerland
Schloss Thun, an authentic medieval castle, towers over the old town high above the Aare River and the Thuner See. Visiting Schloss Thun is fun. Visiting the castle requires more of a physical than mental workout with many stairs, prime views, and only a few exhibitions. The white, square castle dates from the late twelfth century and towers over the old town and Lake Thun … [Read more...]
Visit Rouen Cathedral – Gothic at its Best in Normandy
The magnificent Gothic Rouen Cathedral has the tallest church spire in France and a wealth of art, history, and architectural details. Rouen Cathedral (La cathédrale primatiale Notre-Dame de l'Assomption de Rouen) is one of the most impressive Gothic churches ever built. Construction dragged on for three centuries allowing all forms of the Gothic spectrum from early to … [Read more...]
Visit Aachen Cathedral to See Charlemagne’s Throne and Shrine
The imperial throne and tomb of Charlemagne in a gilded shrine are top attractions to see in the Carolingian Aachener Dom in Germany. Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) is one of the most famous and most interesting historic buildings in Germany. It was originally the palatine chapel of Charlemagne and for almost six centuries the church where German kings were crowned. … [Read more...]
The Building and Exterior of Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral’s core was built by Charlemagne but later additions enlarged the palatine chapel that became the coronation church of German kings. Aachen Cathedral (Aachener Dom) in western Germany is one of the oldest continuously in use buildings in Germany. The octagonal core of the church was built by Charlemagne as a Mary chapel attached to his palace in … [Read more...]
The Interior of Aachen Cathedral
Aachen Cathedral blends original Carolingian elements with later mostly Gothic decorations and additions as well as modern Byzantine-style mosaics. Aachen Cathedral is one of the shiniest cathedrals in Germany. The interior shows an unusual amount of gold while the Byzantine-style mosaics add color and bling to what is in part a fairly dark building. The core of the … [Read more...]
See the Throne of Charlemagne (Karlsthron) in Aachen Cathedral
The marble throne and shrine of Charlemagne in the Aachener Dom can only be seen when on a guided tour of the historic Aachen Cathedral. The marble throne of Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse / Charles the Great), where 30 German kings were crowned, can be seen only on a guided tour of the Aachener Dom in Germany. Similarly, only visitors on the guided tour may enter the … [Read more...]