(866) 466-6655
info@travelmodia.com
(610) 308-0205
Cruise The Rhine
One of the world's most popular river cruising destinations is the Rhine River which flows almost 870 miles to empty in the North Sea at Rotterdam, passing through six countries (Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands) as it meanders through Europe. Europe's longest and most important river begins with the melted snow from the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier high in the Swiss Alps. It first becomes the Rhine proper at Reichenau, Switzerland and flows northward to Lake Constance. From there it plunges 75 feet down in a spectacular torrent known as the Rheinfall until its waters become calm enough to navigate at Basel, Switzerland where many cruise ships embark.
The narrowest and deepest part of the Rhine and, therefore, the most difficult stretch to navigate is between St. Goar and St. Goarshausen, about 16 miles from Rudesheim giving rise to the source of the most famous tale, or legend of Lorelei, a beautiful maiden who drowned for love and became a mermaid. It is said that her seductive song have lured many a boatmen to their deaths and their vessels sinking down to the riverbed below. To search for Rhine River cruises, click here.
When taking a Rhine River cruise, it is an exhilerating cruise experience at best, however not all of the Rhine is filled with castles and whatnot along the way, even though the fabled castle of "Rapunzel" near the Rhine Gorge, is indeed spectacular, is along its borders. As a heads-up, although not all of the Rhine's scenery is pretty; much of it is, however, be prepared also to have the odd glimpse of a factory or power station, particularly around more industrialised places like Basel as the Rhine is a "hard working" river as well.
Additionally, the Rhine is also linked to other great European rivers including the Seine, Elbe, Rhone, and Saone via a network of canals like the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, which starts east of Frankfurt and links the Rhine with the Danube.
Otherwise, be prepared to explore winding streets of sleepy medieval villages, revel in the historic grandeur of lovely old cities like Strasbourg and Koblenz, enjoying the buzz of vibrant, modern cities such as Cologne and Basel in addition to seeing ancient castles and lush vineyards along its journey to the North Sea.
The narrowest and deepest part of the Rhine and, therefore, the most difficult stretch to navigate is between St. Goar and St. Goarshausen, about 16 miles from Rudesheim giving rise to the source of the most famous tale, or legend of Lorelei, a beautiful maiden who drowned for love and became a mermaid. It is said that her seductive song have lured many a boatmen to their deaths and their vessels sinking down to the riverbed below. To search for Rhine River cruises, click here.
When taking a Rhine River cruise, it is an exhilerating cruise experience at best, however not all of the Rhine is filled with castles and whatnot along the way, even though the fabled castle of "Rapunzel" near the Rhine Gorge, is indeed spectacular, is along its borders. As a heads-up, although not all of the Rhine's scenery is pretty; much of it is, however, be prepared also to have the odd glimpse of a factory or power station, particularly around more industrialised places like Basel as the Rhine is a "hard working" river as well.
Additionally, the Rhine is also linked to other great European rivers including the Seine, Elbe, Rhone, and Saone via a network of canals like the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, which starts east of Frankfurt and links the Rhine with the Danube.
Otherwise, be prepared to explore winding streets of sleepy medieval villages, revel in the historic grandeur of lovely old cities like Strasbourg and Koblenz, enjoying the buzz of vibrant, modern cities such as Cologne and Basel in addition to seeing ancient castles and lush vineyards along its journey to the North Sea.
When cruising the Rhine, you have your choice of trip lengths, from the short Rhine cruises with 3 - 5 nights longer cruises of 22 nights that encompasses the Danube as well. An extremely popular cruise along the Rhine is the Christmas markets cruise when thousands flock to the banks of the Rhine to enjoy the region's spectacular Christmas markets. If you choose to take a cruise during this time (November and December), make sure Cologne is on your cruise destination as it has seven markets to choose from, each with a different theme, the prettiest being, set around the Cologne Cathedral, just a 10 minute walk from the riverbank. To search for Rhine River cruises, click here.
The various ports (alphabetically) of call along the Rhine is what makes a Rhine River cruise very interesting. Below is just a sampling of some of those ports and some of the highlights they offer to experience when visiting their town or city.
Amsterdam: This city has so much to see and do that you should plan to spend at least 2 days before embarking or when returning to explore this great European city. Some of its most famous sites include the Rijksmuseum where Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" is perhaps, the most famous piece in the Rembrandt collection displayed. The Van Gogh Museum is not far from the Rijksmuseum and is dedicated to the works of Van Gogh as well as his contemporaries. The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam strives to be one of the most innovative and interesting museums of modern art in the entire world and has one of the richest modern art collections in the world. All in all, this city has more than 50 museums and offers a variety of unusual art from the kid's popular boat-shaped NEMO Science & Technology Museum to the more esoteric adult museums featuring sex and erotica (You can find out more about their museums before you visit here: http://www.amsterdam.info/museums). If history is your thing, plan on visiting the Ann Frank House, dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank who hid for more than 2 years during WWII and where she wrote her diary.
Basel: Basel is located in Switzerland on the border of France and Germany consequently the city offers a variety of European dishes from the many restaurants located within the city. The city is also home to 8 art museums, 19 specialty museums and 10 art galleries. It is a cosmopolitan city for connoisseurs of culture, history and food. Its medieval old town centre is full of boutiques, bookshops and eateries. While there explore the Cathedral on the left bank side of the Rhine which contains the tomb of the 16th-century Dutch scholar, Erasmus as well as the MaektPlatz, the focal point of the Old Town, lined with meandering alleys and unusual craft shops. The Old Town square is dominated by the 16th-century, red-sandstone Town Hall, Basel Rathaus. The clock dates from the building's origins, the work of the Master Wilhelms from 1511 to 1512. The Spalentor, a fortified gate marking the end of the old town dating from 1370 was once part of the old town walls. Also, set atop the highest point on Minster Hill, sits Basel's Minster (shown below) and is easily spotted by its prominent spires and brightly patterned roof tiles. The Minster houses the St. Gallus doorway in the north transept, with its many 12th-century Romanesque stone carvings - one of the oldest figured doorways in German-speaking Europe.
The various ports (alphabetically) of call along the Rhine is what makes a Rhine River cruise very interesting. Below is just a sampling of some of those ports and some of the highlights they offer to experience when visiting their town or city.
Amsterdam: This city has so much to see and do that you should plan to spend at least 2 days before embarking or when returning to explore this great European city. Some of its most famous sites include the Rijksmuseum where Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" is perhaps, the most famous piece in the Rembrandt collection displayed. The Van Gogh Museum is not far from the Rijksmuseum and is dedicated to the works of Van Gogh as well as his contemporaries. The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam strives to be one of the most innovative and interesting museums of modern art in the entire world and has one of the richest modern art collections in the world. All in all, this city has more than 50 museums and offers a variety of unusual art from the kid's popular boat-shaped NEMO Science & Technology Museum to the more esoteric adult museums featuring sex and erotica (You can find out more about their museums before you visit here: http://www.amsterdam.info/museums). If history is your thing, plan on visiting the Ann Frank House, dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank who hid for more than 2 years during WWII and where she wrote her diary.
Basel: Basel is located in Switzerland on the border of France and Germany consequently the city offers a variety of European dishes from the many restaurants located within the city. The city is also home to 8 art museums, 19 specialty museums and 10 art galleries. It is a cosmopolitan city for connoisseurs of culture, history and food. Its medieval old town centre is full of boutiques, bookshops and eateries. While there explore the Cathedral on the left bank side of the Rhine which contains the tomb of the 16th-century Dutch scholar, Erasmus as well as the MaektPlatz, the focal point of the Old Town, lined with meandering alleys and unusual craft shops. The Old Town square is dominated by the 16th-century, red-sandstone Town Hall, Basel Rathaus. The clock dates from the building's origins, the work of the Master Wilhelms from 1511 to 1512. The Spalentor, a fortified gate marking the end of the old town dating from 1370 was once part of the old town walls. Also, set atop the highest point on Minster Hill, sits Basel's Minster (shown below) and is easily spotted by its prominent spires and brightly patterned roof tiles. The Minster houses the St. Gallus doorway in the north transept, with its many 12th-century Romanesque stone carvings - one of the oldest figured doorways in German-speaking Europe.
Cologne: Known as one of Europe's most festive cities Cologne (pronounced Koln) holds a spectacular carnival, known locally as Fastelovend and Fasteleer, which starts at 11:11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, comprises more than 600 events and carries on all winter, through to Ash Wednesday.
Cologne is also home to the Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum, the Chocolate Museum founded by Hans Imhoff on 31 October 1993. The tour of the nine exhibition areas is a fantastic and unforgettable journey of the culture and history of chocolate, starting at the old American cultures such as the Maya and the Aztecs, through the Baroque age and the industrialization up to the individual refinement of the noble chocolate of today. To search for Rhine River cruises, click here.
The Cologne Cathedral, now a UNESCO site and an international pilgrimage site has held the reliquary of the Three Kings since 1164 and the shrine draws the crowds. Its twin-towered Dom is one of Europe's largest churches and definitely stands out among Cologne's skyline as well as the Great St. Martin church in Old Town (both shown below).
The city of Cologne is, in fact, where Eau de Cologne was invented back in the 18th Century. Visit the Fragrance Museum where scents and perfumes were perfected back then and continue today. A captivating tour of the premises shows how the fragrances are created inside the oldest intact perfume factory in the world.
As mentioned above, the city centre of Cologne is touched by the magic of the festivities in the run-up to Christmas. Millions of visitors from around the world delight at the goods on sale at the quaintly designed huts filled with Christmas music, arts and crafts, toys, Christmas decorations and the scent of the Christmas bakeries creating a wonderful atmosphere. Probably the most attractive christmas market is the one on the Alter Markt in front of Cologne´s town hall in Old Town. The Village of St. Nicholas on the Rudolfplatz takes you to the world of Christmas. The festively decorated stalls give a convivial feeling of cosiness. Set against a historical backdrop, the Rudolfplatz Christmas market will get all visitors into the mood for the upcoming festivities. As stated above there are seven distinct Markets about the city where Chrismas is celebrated in its own unique way including other Markets in the Stadtgarten, Harbour, Angel's Christmas Market, Cathedral Market and the Heavenue Cologne - hte Gay Christmas Market.
Take a panoramic bird's-eye view from the Cologne Cable Car which is the first European cable car to cross a river, in this case straddling the Rhine River. The views are, of course, the big draw, where millions of passengers have viewed Cologne, particularly that of the Old Town and the Cologne Cathedral.
Like other European cities, Cologne is home to many museums of which art lovers will want to visit both the Wallraf-Richartz Museum and the Ludwig Museum when in Cologne. The Museum Ludwig is devoted to modern art from the beginning of the 20th century. Housed in one of the city's newer architectural structures, these two excellent galleries cover a wide range of European painting, with works by Rembrandt, Manet, Renoir, Leibl, Liebermann, and Slevogt. The Wallraf-Richartz Museum is particularly strong in the work of the Cologne with 700 hundred years of timeless art in one museum. In the same building is the Agfa-Foto-Historama with its displays of photographs and cameras dating back to 1840.
The nightlife in Cologne is pulsating to say the least and with more than 70 clubs and party hot spots it offers something for everybody, from jazz, reggae and R&B to techno. The countless number of bars, restaurants and brewhouses also invite visitors to their doors to party. No other German city has as many pubs per capita as Cologne.
There is so much to see and do in this city, it is no wonder why Cologne is a major stopping point in a cruise along the Rhine River.
Cologne is also home to the Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum, the Chocolate Museum founded by Hans Imhoff on 31 October 1993. The tour of the nine exhibition areas is a fantastic and unforgettable journey of the culture and history of chocolate, starting at the old American cultures such as the Maya and the Aztecs, through the Baroque age and the industrialization up to the individual refinement of the noble chocolate of today. To search for Rhine River cruises, click here.
The Cologne Cathedral, now a UNESCO site and an international pilgrimage site has held the reliquary of the Three Kings since 1164 and the shrine draws the crowds. Its twin-towered Dom is one of Europe's largest churches and definitely stands out among Cologne's skyline as well as the Great St. Martin church in Old Town (both shown below).
The city of Cologne is, in fact, where Eau de Cologne was invented back in the 18th Century. Visit the Fragrance Museum where scents and perfumes were perfected back then and continue today. A captivating tour of the premises shows how the fragrances are created inside the oldest intact perfume factory in the world.
As mentioned above, the city centre of Cologne is touched by the magic of the festivities in the run-up to Christmas. Millions of visitors from around the world delight at the goods on sale at the quaintly designed huts filled with Christmas music, arts and crafts, toys, Christmas decorations and the scent of the Christmas bakeries creating a wonderful atmosphere. Probably the most attractive christmas market is the one on the Alter Markt in front of Cologne´s town hall in Old Town. The Village of St. Nicholas on the Rudolfplatz takes you to the world of Christmas. The festively decorated stalls give a convivial feeling of cosiness. Set against a historical backdrop, the Rudolfplatz Christmas market will get all visitors into the mood for the upcoming festivities. As stated above there are seven distinct Markets about the city where Chrismas is celebrated in its own unique way including other Markets in the Stadtgarten, Harbour, Angel's Christmas Market, Cathedral Market and the Heavenue Cologne - hte Gay Christmas Market.
Take a panoramic bird's-eye view from the Cologne Cable Car which is the first European cable car to cross a river, in this case straddling the Rhine River. The views are, of course, the big draw, where millions of passengers have viewed Cologne, particularly that of the Old Town and the Cologne Cathedral.
Like other European cities, Cologne is home to many museums of which art lovers will want to visit both the Wallraf-Richartz Museum and the Ludwig Museum when in Cologne. The Museum Ludwig is devoted to modern art from the beginning of the 20th century. Housed in one of the city's newer architectural structures, these two excellent galleries cover a wide range of European painting, with works by Rembrandt, Manet, Renoir, Leibl, Liebermann, and Slevogt. The Wallraf-Richartz Museum is particularly strong in the work of the Cologne with 700 hundred years of timeless art in one museum. In the same building is the Agfa-Foto-Historama with its displays of photographs and cameras dating back to 1840.
The nightlife in Cologne is pulsating to say the least and with more than 70 clubs and party hot spots it offers something for everybody, from jazz, reggae and R&B to techno. The countless number of bars, restaurants and brewhouses also invite visitors to their doors to party. No other German city has as many pubs per capita as Cologne.
There is so much to see and do in this city, it is no wonder why Cologne is a major stopping point in a cruise along the Rhine River.
Mainz: Mainz is a port on the left bank of the Rhine River going north opposite Wiesbaden. Mainz is the wine capital of Germany; outside the city is the largest German wine-growing area, Rheinhessen, with a number of award-winning vintners producing the German favorites of Riesling and Silvaner. It’s known for its old town, with half-timbered Baroque and Rococo façades, where jewelery and clothing boutiques, little studios, typical Mainz wine taverns and restaurants invite you on a journey of discovery. To search for Rhine River cruises, click here.
Mainz is the home of Johannes Gutenberg, the greatest son of the city, and inventor of the printing press with moveable type. More than one hundred years ago, a whole museum was dedicated to him. The Gutenberg Museum honors the inventor of the printing press with exhibits, including two of Gutenberg's famous bibles, the first printed books in the world.
In 2011, Mainz was named the “City of Science” – this has given fresh momentum to the scientific location and the regional economy to this day as some 40,000+ students at the various universities, and a number of smart minds in teaching and research shapes the city today.
Mainz's history dates back over 2,000 years with its real highlight of the Old Town being the magnificent Mainz Dom, which dominates the skyline. The 1,000-year-old Cathedral of St. Martin is an architectural wonder, with Gothic, Romanesque, and Baroque styles all on display in one building. A distinctive octagonal tower tops the Romanesque Mainz Cathedral, built of deep red sandstone.
Like Cologne and Dusseldorf, Mainz is one of the carnival capitals of Germany, with its annual celebrations spanning many months of the year. The festivities come to its peak in spring at 'Fassenacht', the famous fifth season celebration, which means day-long parties and all-nighters held throughout the city. Expect extravagant dinners, drinking in beer halls, costume balls, and a wonderful parade known as 'Rosenmontag'.
Mainz enjoys the enviable best of both worlds being located where the Rhine and the Main rivers meet. The banks of the rivers are built up and elegant to enjoy to stroll along them taking in some of the most breath-taking sceneries of Germany. About 45 miles to west of Mainz is the town of Mespelbrunn in the Rhine Gorge where writers, Johann Wolfgang Goethe and the Brothers Grimm visited a castle (seen below) there. Apparently while the Grimms were guests of the castle, they were inspired to write the the fairy tale of Rapunzel. Today, this castle is still privately owned, but open to the public for tours, weddings, or renting out a room in the tower. It’s small and cozy, but very peaceful and beautiful.
Mainz is the home of Johannes Gutenberg, the greatest son of the city, and inventor of the printing press with moveable type. More than one hundred years ago, a whole museum was dedicated to him. The Gutenberg Museum honors the inventor of the printing press with exhibits, including two of Gutenberg's famous bibles, the first printed books in the world.
In 2011, Mainz was named the “City of Science” – this has given fresh momentum to the scientific location and the regional economy to this day as some 40,000+ students at the various universities, and a number of smart minds in teaching and research shapes the city today.
Mainz's history dates back over 2,000 years with its real highlight of the Old Town being the magnificent Mainz Dom, which dominates the skyline. The 1,000-year-old Cathedral of St. Martin is an architectural wonder, with Gothic, Romanesque, and Baroque styles all on display in one building. A distinctive octagonal tower tops the Romanesque Mainz Cathedral, built of deep red sandstone.
Like Cologne and Dusseldorf, Mainz is one of the carnival capitals of Germany, with its annual celebrations spanning many months of the year. The festivities come to its peak in spring at 'Fassenacht', the famous fifth season celebration, which means day-long parties and all-nighters held throughout the city. Expect extravagant dinners, drinking in beer halls, costume balls, and a wonderful parade known as 'Rosenmontag'.
Mainz enjoys the enviable best of both worlds being located where the Rhine and the Main rivers meet. The banks of the rivers are built up and elegant to enjoy to stroll along them taking in some of the most breath-taking sceneries of Germany. About 45 miles to west of Mainz is the town of Mespelbrunn in the Rhine Gorge where writers, Johann Wolfgang Goethe and the Brothers Grimm visited a castle (seen below) there. Apparently while the Grimms were guests of the castle, they were inspired to write the the fairy tale of Rapunzel. Today, this castle is still privately owned, but open to the public for tours, weddings, or renting out a room in the tower. It’s small and cozy, but very peaceful and beautiful.
Rüdesheim: Rüdesheim am Rhein is a town in the Rhine Valley and is the gateway to the lovely Rhine Gorge where it is known for winemaking, especially of Riesling wines. Its sprawling hillside vineyards dot the countryside along the banks of the Rhine. The Medieval Brömserburg Castle is home to the Rheingau Wine Museum, exhibiting wine paraphernalia from ancient times to the present and is located near the banks of the Rhine. Its original structure was probably one of the first stone castles in the Rhine Gorge, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are several castles with vineyards and wine tasing in this area. To search for Rhine River cruises, click here.
The Asbach Besucher Center is famous for its Asbach brandy. It dates back to 1892 when the Cologne native Hugo Asbach brought the secrets of brandy distillation back from a trip to Cognac in France. Since “Cognac” could only be applied to French products, Hugo Asbach came up with the German word “Weinbrand” since in those days, Asbach brandy was known as “Rüdesheim Cognac”which was in violation of the use of the word "Cognac". If brandy is your drink of choice during the dinner hour or at leisure you might want to stop in at the shop, selling Asbach’s award-winning Privatbrand, aged eight years on your whirlwind tour of the distillery.
The heart of Rüdesheim's old town is Drosselgasse, a meeting place for locals and visitors from all over the world. Only two metres wide and 144 metres long, Drosselgasse is one of the six parallel streets rolling down the slope perpendicular to the Rhine. Today, the street is quaint as can be, lined with half-timbered houses with souvenir shops, artisan specialty shops and wine taverns often wreathed with vines. This is where the music is and where it never stops! Whether you're after something lively or classical, romantic or groovy, from brass bands to string quartets, from dusk until dawn.
There are two cable cars in the region; one takes you to the Niederwald Monument, erected in the wake of the German defeat of France in the Franco-PrussianWar in 1871. High on a pedestal and visible from some distance is the allegorical figure of Germania, on her throne and raising the Holy Roman crown in her right hand, and holding the Imperial Sword in her left. The second is the Assmannshausen chairlift (seen below) from the village of Assmannshausen around the bend on the Rhine, that was incorporated into Rüdesheim in 1977. The chairlift will carry you from the riverside up to Jagdschloss Niederwald, a former hunting lodge, now a hotel bordering a wildlife reserve where you can hike through the forest for 30 minutes to reach the Niederwald Monument on the way back to Rüdesheim. On your way in either of these open-air, two-seater gondolas there are dreamy views over the Rhine and the string of narrow, wooded islands in the river in front of Rüdesheim.
Like other towns along the Rhine, Rüdesheim is home to several museums; one in particular is the Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, a museum of automated musical instruments in many shapes and forms. These date from the 18th century to the 20th century and range from music boxes to organs on wheels, to a small orchestra of 15 instruments.
Included in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the Eibingen Abbey which still has a community of Benedictine nuns to this day. The nuns have been here since the abbey was founded by Hildegard of Bingen in 1165. She was really well-educated for her day, as a writer, composer, philosopher and early natural scientist. Today, the nuns run, what else but of course, a vineyard and sell the wine alongside other artisanal items at the abbey’s shop. Not only that, there are also concerts at the abbey for the Rheingau Music Festival in the summer.
The Asbach Besucher Center is famous for its Asbach brandy. It dates back to 1892 when the Cologne native Hugo Asbach brought the secrets of brandy distillation back from a trip to Cognac in France. Since “Cognac” could only be applied to French products, Hugo Asbach came up with the German word “Weinbrand” since in those days, Asbach brandy was known as “Rüdesheim Cognac”which was in violation of the use of the word "Cognac". If brandy is your drink of choice during the dinner hour or at leisure you might want to stop in at the shop, selling Asbach’s award-winning Privatbrand, aged eight years on your whirlwind tour of the distillery.
The heart of Rüdesheim's old town is Drosselgasse, a meeting place for locals and visitors from all over the world. Only two metres wide and 144 metres long, Drosselgasse is one of the six parallel streets rolling down the slope perpendicular to the Rhine. Today, the street is quaint as can be, lined with half-timbered houses with souvenir shops, artisan specialty shops and wine taverns often wreathed with vines. This is where the music is and where it never stops! Whether you're after something lively or classical, romantic or groovy, from brass bands to string quartets, from dusk until dawn.
There are two cable cars in the region; one takes you to the Niederwald Monument, erected in the wake of the German defeat of France in the Franco-PrussianWar in 1871. High on a pedestal and visible from some distance is the allegorical figure of Germania, on her throne and raising the Holy Roman crown in her right hand, and holding the Imperial Sword in her left. The second is the Assmannshausen chairlift (seen below) from the village of Assmannshausen around the bend on the Rhine, that was incorporated into Rüdesheim in 1977. The chairlift will carry you from the riverside up to Jagdschloss Niederwald, a former hunting lodge, now a hotel bordering a wildlife reserve where you can hike through the forest for 30 minutes to reach the Niederwald Monument on the way back to Rüdesheim. On your way in either of these open-air, two-seater gondolas there are dreamy views over the Rhine and the string of narrow, wooded islands in the river in front of Rüdesheim.
Like other towns along the Rhine, Rüdesheim is home to several museums; one in particular is the Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet, a museum of automated musical instruments in many shapes and forms. These date from the 18th century to the 20th century and range from music boxes to organs on wheels, to a small orchestra of 15 instruments.
Included in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the Eibingen Abbey which still has a community of Benedictine nuns to this day. The nuns have been here since the abbey was founded by Hildegard of Bingen in 1165. She was really well-educated for her day, as a writer, composer, philosopher and early natural scientist. Today, the nuns run, what else but of course, a vineyard and sell the wine alongside other artisanal items at the abbey’s shop. Not only that, there are also concerts at the abbey for the Rheingau Music Festival in the summer.
Strasbourg: Strasbourg is the capital city of the Grand Est region, formerly Alsace, in northeastern France. Strasbourg is one of the loveliest and most fascinating cities in France (and that's saying something). It's also the formal seat of the European Parliament and sits near the German border, with culture and architecture blending German and French influences. Its Gothic Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, not to be confused with Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris which recently succumbed to fire, is its top attraction dating back to1190 AD, features daily shows from its astronomical clock and sweeping views of the Rhine River. At 142 meters (466 feet), it is easily medieval Europe's tallest building (seen below) and towers over the rest of the city's buildings. To search for Rhine River cruises, click here.
The Petite France area of Strasbourg is the city's lively tourist hub, known for cobblestone streets, laced with canals, and well-preserved half-timbered homes like the Tanners’ House, built in 1572. A terrace atop the 17th-century Barrage Vauban or Vauban Dam, is a covered bridge and dam, offering panoramic views. Alsatian eateries dot the area, while shops on and around Grand’Rue sell clothing and souvenirs such as crockery, wine, and specialty teas.
No city along the Rhine would be complete without it palace of nobility and Strasbourg is no different with its Palais Rohan. The Palais Rohan is the former residence of the prince-bishops and cardinals of the House of Rohan, an ancient French noble family originally from Brittany and where Marie Antoinette once stayed. Its origins is a major architectural, historical, and cultural landmark in the city. The Palais Rohan also houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg since 1898 on the first and second floors and is the old masters paintings collection of the city of Strasbourg.
Like the other cities along the Rhine and Europe in general, Strasbourg is home to many museums dedicated to all different things in life from the Historical Museum of Strasbourg to the Musée Vodou which showcases a collection of more than 1,000 voodoo artifacts and their very own Chocolate Museum as well. There is even an astronomical observatory, the Observatory Astronomical De Strasbourg located at the University of Strasbourg in the Neustadt district.
In addition to the University of Strasbourg, there is the Palais Universitaire in Strasbourg is a large, neo-Renaissance style building, constructed between 1879 and 1884 and was inaugurated in 1884 by Wilhelm I, Emperor of Germany. Located along the Avenue de la Liberté, it faces the equally monumental former imperial palace.
The Parlement Européen de Strasbourg, otherwise known as the "House of Europe", replacing the Palace of Europe, the seat of the Council of Europe since 1977, was completed in 1999, and is the official seat of the European Parliament offering tours & interactive exhibits. Strasbourg is also home to the European Court of Human Rights established by the European Convention on Human Rights. The jurisdiction of the Court has been recognized to date by all 47 member states of the Council of Europe and hears applications alleging that a contracting state has breached one or more of the human rights provisions concerning civil and political rights set out in the Convention and its protocols.
There is much more to Strasbourg than meets the eye, that is why a stop-over in Strasbourg provides so many interesting sites to experience.
The Petite France area of Strasbourg is the city's lively tourist hub, known for cobblestone streets, laced with canals, and well-preserved half-timbered homes like the Tanners’ House, built in 1572. A terrace atop the 17th-century Barrage Vauban or Vauban Dam, is a covered bridge and dam, offering panoramic views. Alsatian eateries dot the area, while shops on and around Grand’Rue sell clothing and souvenirs such as crockery, wine, and specialty teas.
No city along the Rhine would be complete without it palace of nobility and Strasbourg is no different with its Palais Rohan. The Palais Rohan is the former residence of the prince-bishops and cardinals of the House of Rohan, an ancient French noble family originally from Brittany and where Marie Antoinette once stayed. Its origins is a major architectural, historical, and cultural landmark in the city. The Palais Rohan also houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg since 1898 on the first and second floors and is the old masters paintings collection of the city of Strasbourg.
Like the other cities along the Rhine and Europe in general, Strasbourg is home to many museums dedicated to all different things in life from the Historical Museum of Strasbourg to the Musée Vodou which showcases a collection of more than 1,000 voodoo artifacts and their very own Chocolate Museum as well. There is even an astronomical observatory, the Observatory Astronomical De Strasbourg located at the University of Strasbourg in the Neustadt district.
In addition to the University of Strasbourg, there is the Palais Universitaire in Strasbourg is a large, neo-Renaissance style building, constructed between 1879 and 1884 and was inaugurated in 1884 by Wilhelm I, Emperor of Germany. Located along the Avenue de la Liberté, it faces the equally monumental former imperial palace.
The Parlement Européen de Strasbourg, otherwise known as the "House of Europe", replacing the Palace of Europe, the seat of the Council of Europe since 1977, was completed in 1999, and is the official seat of the European Parliament offering tours & interactive exhibits. Strasbourg is also home to the European Court of Human Rights established by the European Convention on Human Rights. The jurisdiction of the Court has been recognized to date by all 47 member states of the Council of Europe and hears applications alleging that a contracting state has breached one or more of the human rights provisions concerning civil and political rights set out in the Convention and its protocols.
There is much more to Strasbourg than meets the eye, that is why a stop-over in Strasbourg provides so many interesting sites to experience.
There are many more towns and cities along the Rhine offering more of the things mentioned above. These towns and cities mentioned above are just a sampling of the riches you will experience on a Rhine River cruise. Plan yours today!
Where Do You Want To Go?
Call Travelmodia now to help you get there!
(866) 466-6655
Call Travelmodia now to help you get there!
(866) 466-6655
|
