European Discovery Tour start, April 27

Clients Bill, Gail, Tom and Lil are on their 2nd trip with me. The last one was in France in 2017, Bruce, Gail's brother joined them on this one. I arranged a private transfer for them from Frankfurt airport to meet me in Cochem on the Mosel river.

Cohem

Cochem is an incredibly gorgeous German city that straddles the Mosel or Moselle River. It’s the most populous town in the Cochem-Zell district of the Rhineland Palatinate state of Germany. The city has a must-see castle, beautiful half-timbered buildings and cobble-stoned streets. The medieval city gates date back to 1332. This romantic city is full of quaint cafes along the most picturesque portion of the Mosel River valley. There are so many things to do in Cochem and each one provides a reason to visit this unassuming hidden gem in Germany. The castle we see today towering above the scenic town of Cochem on the Moselle River is not the castle that originally stood there in the 12th century. That castle had a long and colorful history until French King Louis XIV had his troops obliterate it in 1689.

Town of Valwig, where our hotel is Landgasthof Winzerscheune

Visit of Burg Eltz

Eltz Castle, Burg Eltz is a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the Moselle between Koblenz and Trier, Germany. It is still owned by a branch of the same family (the Eltz family) that lived there in the 12th century, thirty-three generations ago.

Restaurant Mosella Schinkenstube

First day lunch after walking around Cochem. The white in season asparagus paired with a great wiener schnitzer (one of the best). They are not only a restaurant, but also a butcher shop, and a smoke house. BUTCHER'S SHOP Meat culture needs to change. That's why we pay attention to regional slaughtering and cutting of the meat. Fresh and artisanal preparation are our priorities. Animal welfare is a very important aspect for us. SMOKEHOUSE House salami, various Mettwurst sausages, smoked bacon and many other smoked specialties are smoked slowly and gently in our beech smoker, which gives the meat a pleasantly mild taste. Germans, however, prefer the white variety that is harvested from about mid-April to the end of June. (Traditionally season's end is June 24, St. John the Baptist Day.) They've given this harvest season it's own name — Spargelzeit, and celebrate it with passion.

Weingüter Mönchhof & Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben

The opulent Renaissance façade of the Mönchhof offers a superb example. Its gables and windows are richly adorned with curving ornamentation. There is even a “Salve” inscribed under its entry portal, officially welcoming each visitor to the premises. The estate is among the oldest anywhere on the Mosel. It was founded in 1177 as part of Himmerod Abbey. During those early days the monks built its vaulted cellars; the estate building, while updated in the 19th century by one of the forefathers of the Eymael family, is believed to date back to 1509. After secularization the estate was auctioned off and remained in the family's hands for over 200 years. In the late 1980s, the property served as the backdrop for “Moselbrück” — a hugely popular German TV drama set on the Mosel. Nostalgic fans can follow in the footsteps of the show’s protagonists by sleeping in one of the elegant guest rooms or sipping wines in the tasting room.

Town of Ürzig

Time for wine tasting after lunch and visit of Burg Etlz......clients changed their minds on the German Riesling and bought a case to enjoy while on tour in the evenings.

Here in the old cellar, built by monks in 1177

Worms

A stop along the way between Cochem and Rothenburg ob der Tauber for Bill whose father was part of the operation to cross the river in March of 1945.

Hotel in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Christmas shopping

Many of our Christmas traditions are from Germany and they really do make exquisite decorations.

The cafes have set up their tables on the Market Square of Rotenburg, surroubded by buildings from the 13th and 14th C. The town hall combines Gothic and Renaissance styles.

The most beautiful view in Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Rothenburg’s Castle Garden – A park for taking a break Where is the castle (or “Burg”) in Rothenburg ob der Tauber? You often hear this question and just as often get disappointed faces in return. Because there hasn’t been a castle in Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a long time – the former Stauferburg was destroyed. However, the disappointment soon vanishes, because in the castle’s location is Rothenburg’s green oasis, the Castle Garden. What’s so special about the Castle Garden? And where in the Castle Garden do you get the best views? Approaching Castle Garden via the Burgtor, you will have beautiful views of the Tauber Valley at the observation platforms to the left and right. Towards the north, visitors see the Detwang district, in whose church is a wooden altar by Tilman Riemenschneider. Rothenburg was first mentioned in the records here in 960

Right behind the former gardener’s house is a plot with statues, which draws many photographers in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Next to the burbling fountain, you find statues of the four seasons in the flowering, fragrant flower bed. The walls and towers of the Spital quarter fill the background as a setting for the perfect snapshot. The German postal service appreciated this as well and dedicated a double stamp to this view in 2019, as part of the series “Germany’s most beautiful panoramas”.

Dinner at a favorite, Altfraenkische Weinstube

Spätzle