#Transee river germany windows#

#Transee river germany windows#

Nearby was the Roman Ship Museum, with its beautiful stained glass windows painted by Marc Chagall. Mainz is a city of 200,000 inhabitants in which 85% of the city was destroyed in World War II. Mainz and Heidelberg The ship docked in Mainz in the early morning. From 1562 to 1792, the elections and coronations took place in St. A short tour of this magnificent Cathedral took us from the entrance hall to the Cloisters House with its Cathedral Treasures dating from the 15th to 19th century. Although Frankfurt doesn’t have the monuments or the museums, it has the Bartholomew Cathedral. Today it is the financial and transportation center of Germany. Post war reconstruction took place in a simple modern style, which changed the architectural face of Frankfort. Frankfurt, the largest medieval city in Germany was severely bombed during World War II. Frankfurt We arrived in Frankfurt, the largest city along the Main River. The second gate opens and the ship exits at the higher water level of the lock. The lock is then filled with water until it reaches the same water level as the higher side of the chamber. Then the ship enters the lock chamber until it is completely inside. Going upstream the ship approaches a lock and a gate opens up. On the Main River medium-size vessels (110m x 11.45m) navigate the total length of the river. The Main River Sailing down the Rhine River we entered the Main River (pronounced “Mine”). Our ship continued to glided through the wine-growing villages and vineyards, the numerous medieval castles and stylish palaces that once belonged to nobility.

A few of the most beautiful castles along the Rhine Gorge were: Stolzenfels Castle, rebuilt in 1842 as the summer residence of King Frederick William IV The King Klopp Castle, erected upon the foundations of a Roman fortress the Sooneck Castle, rebuilt in 1834 in a pseudo-Gothic style by Crown Prince Frederick Wilheim of Prussia. Our cameras were always ready to view the steep slope vineyards, castles and picturesque villages from the ship. No other river in the world has a greater concentration of castles or castle ruins than the Rhine Gorge. The German poet, Heinrick Heine, made the Lorelei Rock folklore famous through his poem.

It is said her song had lured fisherman to destruction. The story is: a maiden on the Lorelei Rock threw herself into the Rhine River in despair over an unfaithful lover. The Lorelei Rock is associated with several legendary tales originating in German folklore. The Rhine Gorge The following morning we passed through the Rhine Gorge and cruised past the famous Lorelei Rock. We continued our tour to the Schnutgen Museum, which houses Roman and gothic art. The highlight in the cathedral was the gold Shrine of the Three Kings. The cathedral was very impressive with its stained glass windows and its many forms of art. A 13th century gothic cathedral was one of the few buildings left standing. During World War II, 95% of the city had been destroyed in bombing raids. It is famous for its perfume, Eau du Cologne, and its Koelsch beer. Cologne is the oldest and the largest city along the Rhine. In the afternoon our cruise took us down the Rhine to Cologne. The shopping area runs parallel to the Rhine River, making it an easy walk back to our ship.

A walking tour took us to the town hall, the marketplace and the shopping area. Old Town has narrow lanes with the original beautiful cobblestones and town houses with peaked roofs. We were within walking distance from the center of the old town as we docked on the waterfront. Dusseldorf and Cologne Dusseldorf was discovered more than 700 years ago. These Rivers provide excellent conditions for vineyard agriculture and produce world famous wines. The three most important tributaries, the Moselle, Main and Neckar Rivers drain the waters, keeping water level high all year long. The Rhine has been used for shipping since Roman times and is the most important river in Germany for commerce. The Rhine River The Rhine River begins in the Swiss Alps and flows in a northerly direction until it reaches the North Sea in the Netherlands about 815 miles. Our cruise began along Germany’s famous Rhine River on the Amadeus Waterways MS Amadagio. Cruising through the Rhine, Main and Moselle Rivers brought to mind quaint villages, picturesque vineyards and a rich history of medieval fortresses and palaces. By Terri and Martin Hirsch The historic highlights of Germany offered us a chance to embark on a fascinating journey to discover Germany’s past and present eras.