England

Cologne

High-Speed Train
Cologne Cathedral
Roman Gate
St. Martin and Fishmarket

Koblenz

Around the Town
Deutsches Eck
Festung Ehernbreitstein
Weindorf

Mainz

Around the Town
Churches
Food
Kaiserdom

Koblenz - Deutsches Eck

We took the 2 and 1/2 hour high-speed train from Amsterdam to Cologne Germany. We had about 2 hours in Cologne to walk around and see the cathedral. After Cologne, we caught another 1.5 hour train to Koblenz Germany to catch our Rhine River cruise. We had another 2 hours in Koblenz to walk around and have a quick snack before our boat departed. The Rhine River photos are on the next page. After the cruise was complete, we arrived in Mainz to stay the night.

We had one small issue with our itinerary as the boat we were on stopped at Rudesheim and we had to disembark. Our original plan was to disembark in Bacharach, explore the town, then take the train to Mainz. We were enjoying the cruise so much that we decided to stay on to Mainz not knowing that the boat we were on ended in Rudesheim. When we left the boat, we check and there were no more trains to Mainz that evening, so we took a taxi. It actually worked out well as we would have been on the boat another few hours before Mainz and we were all ready to find out hotel and have some dinner.

Cologne

High-Speed Train: Our high-speed train from Amsterdam to Cologne.

Cologne Cathedral: The cathedral is a World Heritage Site, being one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany, and Cologne's most famous landmark. Cologne Cathedral is one of the world's largest churches, being the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. For four years, 1880-84, it was the tallest structure in the world, until the completion of the Washington Monument followed by the Eiffel Tower. It has the second-tallest church spires, only surpassed by the single spire of Ulm Cathedral, completed ten years later in 1890. Because of its enormous twin spires, it also presents the largest facade of any church in the world.

Exterior

Interior

Model of the top of the cathedral's spire, actual size is 9.5 meters high

Roman Gate: Next to the Cathedral, the side portal of the Roman North Gate of CCAA. The Roman North gate built when the colony was founded in 50 AD. The outer side of the central archway bore the city's name: CCAA Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. One of the side portals was rebuilt in 1971 above the visibly preserved remains of the Roman City gate and wall.

St. Martin and Fishmarket: The town houses built between the 14th and 17th centuries are located in and around the old market square and the Martinsviertel (historic centre) with the Romanesque church, St. Martin (1151-1240).

Koblenz

Around the Town: Walking from the train station to Deutsches Eck to catch our Rhine River Cruise. The walk from the train station to Deutsches Eck is approximately 1.5k and is a nice walk along the Rhine River path.

Deutsches Eck: Meaning 'German Corner' is the name of a headland in Koblenz where the river Moselle joins the Rhine. In 1897, nine years after the death of the German Emperor Wilhelm I. who was celebrated as the man who fought for the German union in several wars, he was honoured with a giant equestrian statue at the named headland. Under his reign the German Empire spanned also great parts of Eastern Europe including areas which are today parts of Poland, the Czech Republic, a small area of France and the Baltic States. German was spoken in all of these areas. The importance of this union was also underlined by an inscription quoting a German poem: “Nimmer wird das Reich zerstöret, wenn ihr einig seit und treu” (As long as you stand united and true the Empire will never be annihilated). The Empire never before and never afterwards stretched over an area of this size. Another inscription could be found at the statue dedicating it to “Wilhelm dem Großen” (Wilhelm the Great) demonstrating once more the respect for the deeds of Wilhelm I.

Festung Ehernbreitstein: This is a fortress on the same-named mountain on the right side of the Rhine opposite to the town of Koblenz. It was built as the backbone of the regional fortification system, Festung Koblenz, by Prussia between 1817 and 1832 and guarded the middle Rhine region, an area that had been invaded by French troops repeatedly before. The fortress was never attacked.

Weindorf: Before reaching our cruise, we stopped at the Weindorf to sample our first German beer and local white wine.

Mainz

Around the Town: Some photos of the old town and part of the city center market.

Church 1: A church we passed while walking around.

Church 2: Another church.

Food: A traditional German meal of sausage, rolls and white wine.

Kaiserdom: The red sandstone cathedral together with those in Speyer and Worms is one of the only 3 remaining Romanesque imperial cathedrals to have survived almost intact to this day. It's basic framework was laid in 1081-1137 and 1183-1239, but its oldest parts date from the early 11th century, with the rows of Gothic side chapels added during the 13th and 14th centuries. Although neither the Gothic alters nor the magnificent choir screen have survived to this day, it is still possible to see the large group of bishops' monuments from the 13th to the 19th century.

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