Easter gardens in Bacharach.
Our first stay in Germany was along the Rhein. The train from Amsterdam followed the river all the way to Bacharach – a very small town in western Germany, at the same latitude as Luxembourg. This area of the Rhein is in quite a valley and there are many small villages, each with its own castle, perched on the river banks. Bacharach is medieval half-timbered houses, a medieval castle (Burg Stahleck), vineyards and of course riesling. As it was almost Easter, the town and gardens near our accommodation were filled with bright Easter decorations.
Bacharach gave us the opportunity to eat traditional German food prepared by the locals, including pork knuckle, venison stew with spaetzel, sauerkraut, schnitzel and apple strudel. We spent all three afternoons here with a glass or two (once, a ‘tasting’ (almost a bottle) of six local wines) of riesling, just sitting in town and relaxing.
Prost!
Just north of Bacharach is St. Goar, home to Burg (Castle) Rheinfels, which we visited by a 45 minute boat ride along the Rhein. It was Good Friday and warm and sunny so St. Goar was inundated with locals making a day trip to the cafes and souvenir shops along the waterfront. Burg Rheinfels was once the biggest castle on the Rhein until it was destroyed by the French in 1797 (only after 28,000 French troops failed to take the castle in 1692). It was quite warm by the time we finished the 20 minute steep walk up to the castle from the town, but the views of the Rhein made it worth it. Not a bad place to stick a castle and watch for the enemy, I’d say.
Pfalz Castle (in the water) and Gutenfels Castle on the Rhein
St Goar and Rheinfels Castle
Pension im Malerwinkel, our B&B in Bacharach
Altes Haus (1368), Bacharach
Great to read of all these adventures. You are doing a super job of it. Cheers K