Germany - Black Forest

 

Lake Titisee was today's outing. The town is very touristy - not as peaceful as many other German towns. The clouds started looming but we opted for a lake ride anyway. The average depth is approx 20m, the length is 2km with width 700m. It's the largest natural lake in the Black Forest. 

The lake dates back to the last Ice Age!

Legends and stories abound but who knows what is true or false! 

In summer the water temperature can reach a very pleasant 24Degrees yet the lake freezes over in winter so that skating, curling etc can be enjoyed. Mind blowing really. 

There are fish in the lake - Pike, Trout, Roach, Carp, and Tench plus home to Grey Heron.

Sadly, the food was not great at a popular cafe but I don't suppose they care when the town receives 2 million visitors per annum. 

The day ended on a bad note with a 20 Euro Parking ticket. The parking areas are all paid, even in the most obscure places. We put in 4 Euros for 2 hours thinking that would be enough - 30 minutes over time as the heavens opened and the rain came down, we saw a " female cop" dashing away! She vanished into the  air before James could catch her! 

Booms like in SA would be fairer and less stressful as then you pay for the time spent. 20 Euros for 30 minutes is a total rip off! 

Triberg:

Triberg Falls Germany 

Triberg in the Black Forest area of Germany boasts the most cuckoo clocks plus a steep walk up to the falls. The gradient is fairly gentle so we made it!

Triberg Falls Germany

The falls are the highest in Germany. The Gutach falls 160m down via 7 cascades to the town below. 

The squirrels live up to 10 years in the safety of this forest. The Obervogt-Huber-Pine is actually a spruce - they were called "Red Pines" previously.

Triberg Falls Hike Germany

The most common bird in this area is called the "Nutcracker". Their diet is seeds and nuts from the spruce and others and they will store seeds and nuts for winter. We think we saw one but it flew away to fast to capture. 

Ernest Hemingway visited the Triberg Falls in August 1922 - a long way in those days! 

Triberg Falls Germany

The town of Triberg used water power as far back as 1884. There are now 2 turbines - one at the top and another at the bottom. The difference in altitude is over 100m. 

Cuckoo clock shops are fascinating - I did restrain myself as they are very delicate and incredible diverse. Just browsing was pretty awesome! 

Cuckoo Clock Triberg Germany

A fun day!

The Black Forest area in Germany is very pretty and a stunning location for hikers.

We drove thru pretty villages on our way to Kniebis for a hike to the Ellbachseeblink. 

This is in the Ski Lift area and offers numerous hiking paths. 

Next stop was the wolf and bear park. The animals have been rescued and are now living in spacious, forest areas. The area is large and forested. We only saw 1 bear and 1 lynx but it is enough that these animals are now safe and well cared for. 

Further along we stopped at a sawmill to watch a guy picking up logs and then dropping them into the water. From there they would enter the mill. Fun to watch! There are a number of mills around the Black Forest.

The scenery is beautiful, the buildings are gorgeous and we wish we could stay longer!

And so the annual holiday is nearing it's end! We had a rather stressful journey from Hornberg (for me anyway!) on the Autobahn. Traffic was extremely heavy on both north and south routes.

And then we discovered the hotel booked is in an industrial area! However, the positive is the walk along the River Main - 525km long, this tributary starts in Bavaria and joins up with the Rhine. So walks are possible and there is a brewery on site! What more could we wish for? Plus close to Frankfurt airport for flight tomorrow night. For every negative, there is always a positive.

Bye Bye Germany!

Blankenheim Germany

St Goar Rhine Valley Germany

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

    For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

 www.bradclin.com

France - Bitche and Strasbourg

 

Off the beaten track today towards Strasbourg - we kept seeing signs for Bitche! So we took the  exit and entered the town. And there we found the Citadel of Bitche. Going under ground into the dark, cold fortress we watched the story of the siege of 1870. Creepy stuff and it certainly brought to life the battles of long ago. The tour is exceptional well done while walking underground and is not to be missed when visiting the Citadel of Bitche.

"The town is known for its large citadel originating from a castle built at the beginning of the 13th century. The fortress is noted for its resistance during the Franco-Prussian War. Louis-Casimir Teyssier, its commander and chief, held the place for about eight months with 3,000 men against about 20,000 Prussian and Bavarian soldiers until the French government ordered him to surrender after the ceasefire in 1871. The town became part of Germany after that date until the end of the First World War, when it was given back to France. During the Second World War it was annexed by the Third German Reich (1940–1944)" 

Although Bitche was hotly contested by the Germans after the Battle of Wörth during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, it held out until the war's end. A large part of the fortification is built into the red sandstone rock, and was rendered bomb-proof; a supply of water was secured to the garrison by a deep well in the interior.^[2] Commander of the fortress of Bitche was Louis-Casimir Teyssier.^{[citation needed]} After the war, it was given to the German Empire as part of Alsace-Lorraine. It was given back to France in 1918"

On March 19, 2021, the official page of Bitche on Facebook was removed without explanation.^[6] After the incident was reported by media, Facebook restored the page and apologized to the town.^[7]

Source - Wikipedia..

There are lovely views of the town of Bitche from high above. How this huge citadel was built so very long ago is incredible. Thick walls, a church, the underground caverns where 800 loaves of bread had to be baked daily, where 2 men had to move the huge wheel to get buckets of water and all in the cold and dark! Scary stuff!  And the outside toilets!!

Don't forget to visit the Peace Gardens situated at the bottom of the Citadel.

 Great for both kids and adults with lots to see and do! Play games, get wet, play some music - all in the day's fun.

All in all a great "off the beaten track" experience with incredible history of a bygone era.

Strasbourg:

A fun Sunday in Strasbourg France and an unexpected visit back to Germany! 

We started off trying to buy a Tram ticket - simple when you know how but at least 3 trams went past before we managed to get tickets! 

Our first walk was from the main centre to Petit   France through rather deserted city streets. We found the area easily. Very beautiful half-timbered houses all along the canal. 

We walked for ages along the canal and then decided to do some Tram hopping. We stopped  at a tented avenue of around 80 artists, All displaying their art. They sit in the middle of the lane keeping a beady eye out for customers! We didn't fancy being shouted at so we're rather reluctant to take photos. Managed a few grab shots. An incredible display of art work. 

We then rode the tram again and were just about to head back when the last tram stop was in Kehl. Unbeknown to us this town is in Germany and there was a festival happening! 

"The pedestrian or foot bridge over the Rhine River connects the towns of Kehl, Germany and Strasbourg, France. The architecturally beautiful bridge is a lasting symbol of friendship between the two towns that were at war for centuries"

So off we hopped, wandered around, enjoyed some lunch and listened to a German orchestra. They were excellent and made for a fun Sunday. 

So feeling tired and weary, we rode the tram back to our hotel! 

All in all, a great Sunday in Strasbourg.

Day 2:

Strasbourg is a great city! We enjoyed another fun day First a boat ride - thru the lock - yeah! and further afield. The history of Strasbourg is fascinating - German, French, German and eventually French again. 

Boat Trip Strasbourg France

Then another wander around Petite France and lunch in a cool spot for people watching. 

After lunch we endeavoured to find the correct tram to LOrangerie. We got there eventually after getting off the tram 2 stops too early! A long walk eventually got us there. 

This Parc le Orangerie was established as a promenade in the late 17th Century as a place for strolling in the open air. Pavilion Josephine was built in 1807 to store the orange trees confiscated from their aristocratic owner! Today this park remains a favourite with locals, an oasis in the city. 

Boating L'Orangerie Strasbourg France

L'Orangerie Strasbourg France

Stork L'Orangerie Strasbourg France

So many storks - good to see that they have returned to this area to breed again.

"It was here that the stork, (once threatened with extinction), was successfully reintroduced. More than 800 young storks have been born since 1971. This beautiful bird which is also the symbol of Alsace can today be admired whatever the time of year. The lake with its romantic waterfall provides a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some excellent boating".

And so our short stay in Strasbourg, France comes to an end. It's a beautiful city, full of stunning architecture, hundreds of students, vibey street cafes for people watching, an efficient tram system and much more. 

Lock in Petit France Strasbourg 

Swan Strasbourg France

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

    For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

 www.bradclin.com

Germany - Eifel Region

 

Wilder Kermeter Eifel National Park

After our wonderful days along the Middle Rhine Valley, our next stop was the Eifel National Park amd surrounding areas. A blissful 2 weeks were spent in this area - truly pristine and calming piece of Germany. 

Our first walk in the Eifel National Park was at the Wilder Kermeter area. This area is specifically suited to those with handicaps although there were lots of couples with prams as the paths are very smooth and flat. The park has 240 km of hiking trails, 110 km of cycle paths and is extremely popular. The board walk area had some fascinating info on the various mushrooms (10 species) found in the forest - all different shapes and sizes. 

Next was a drive to Heimbach. Our first stop was at Abbey Mariawald for their famous pea soup! Filling and delicious! The road winds up the mountain and appears a favourite with bikers. There were many out today, being Sunday. It is well worth the stop, no matter what the weather. 

Abbey Mariawald Heimbach Germany

Castle Hengebach is perched above the Rur river in Heimbach and the narrow, winding stairs go up and up in the dark! Built in the 11th Century it is among one the oldest buildings in the Eifel region. We did not climb right to the top but the views would be worth it, looking over the town and valley. 

Castle Hengebach Heimbach Germany

River Rur Heimbach Germany

Heimbach is very pretty with a number of half-timbered houses, plenty of pavement cafes and a peaceful river walk (Rur)

All in all a very pleasant day of exploring.

Thunderstorms expected tomorrow! 

Weather so far has been exceptional with temperatures ranging from 28 degrees to coolest 22 degrees.

Day 2:

Deer Park Hellenthal Germany

Today the forecast was thunderstorms and rain. So we opted to visit the Deer Park in Hellenthal. There are various deer - Red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, sika deer plus wild boar. The bird of prey flight show has falcons, buzzards and eagles flying high!  It is a must see.

Deer Park Hellenthal Germany

The area is huge and offers many picnic tables. Ideal for families - the children will be enthralled.

Privately owned. 

The birds of prey are bred and trained by the falconers. 

Deer Park Hellenthal Germany

Driving back we saw beautiful fields of canola ( or whatever it is called in Germany) 

Germany is very green, roads go every which way so without "Betsy" we would be totally lost! 

#TomTom rules! 

Day 3

Bad Munstereifel Germany

Today we visited the town of Bad Munstereifel. As most will remember this area of Germany was devastated by floods July 14th and 15th 2021. The town is beautiful and one can hardly believe that the trickle currently in the River Erft could cause such huge damage. Construction is ongoing nearly 10 months later. Only the odd shop or 2 open in the main historical area. The buildings are stunning so it was very sad to see the devastation. 

Bad Munstereifel Germany

Even in Gemund where we are staying there was flood damage -folk ate still trying to rebuild with partial assistance from the German government. 

But life goes on in Bad Munstereifel - kids chatter on their way home from school but mostly it is quite eerie in the main drag where the noise is quite ear-splitting from the rocks being thrown into skips and the grinding of the many construction machines. 

Bad Munstereifel Germany

 Bringing the memories back of those devastating floods in International TV was rather sobering.

And now the sun is out again!

Day 4

Monshau Germany

Today we set off to visit Monschou, a former cloth making city of the 18th century. The town achieved worldwide fame thru the work of Johann Heinrich Scheibler. We visited the huge Rotes Haus ( Red House)  Museum which shows the history of the cloth making era. The house was built around 1760 and the rooms are furnished as they were for this family residence.

Monshau Germany

This is a town in the Rur Valley and offers quaint streets, pavement cafes, historic buildings and even a house perched right next to the river!  

Monshau Germany

The Protestant Church is built in the middle of the town at the confluence of the Rur and Laufenbach rivers. The first service was held in 1789. 

Despite our hold up at the beginning of the trip due to a previous accident where the officials were measuring from all angles, we enjoyed our day in this historical Town. 

We did a short drive into Belgium - straight road and lots of logging activity. Just to say we were in Belgium!!

Day 5

Lake Rursee Germany

Our cruise on Lake Rursee was magical today. We started off at Schwammenauel. The parking area here is huge - it was nearly empty when we arrived and very full when we left! The boat goes along this beautiful lake with trees on all sides. Yachts, paddle boats, SUP, guys fishing from boats etc. Next stop was Eschauel then Woffelsback (beautiful from the water) then Rurgberg where we turned around for the return journey. All in all a sunny, cheerful day.

Lake Rursee Germany

 

Only problem was that the supermarkets are not open Sundays so we spent some time looking for petrol stations to get some rolls as the fridge is empty! Thank goodness for "Betsy" 

This drive took us thru an area not yet visited so it was all good! 

I find it fascinating that the fields are right next to the roads - no fences in sight. Cycle paths everywhere. 

Eifel Area Germany

Roads are very narrow - single lane in some places. The drivers are pretty good so no hassles. 

Day 6

Fishing on Lake Frielingen Germany

Today we first did the circuit of Lake Freilingen (near Blankenheim). A pretty lake and an area that allows visitors to fish, swim, barbeque or just relax. The lake is fed from a fresh water spring and covers an area of 11 hectares. The deepest part is 10 metres. 

Lake Freilingen Germany

Sadly, there was a plaque for a little 8 yr old with 3 teddies. Presumably she drowned.

Lots of walkers out, swimmers in the lake - yikes in the cold! And a lone guy paddling a boat and fishing. A lovely walk in the fresh air.

Lake Freilingen Germany

Next we visited the lovely historic centre of Blankenheim. Featuring numerous half-timbered buildings, a beautiful old hotel, city gateways, the water mill that was part of the medieval system to supply water to Castle Grafenburg and cobbled streets. 

Blankenheim Germany

The river Ahr runs through the cellar of a house in the town apparently. Not sure if I would fancy owning that building! 

We walked up to the castle - it is apparently now either a guest house or something similar. 

The views of the town from above were worth the many steps.

Blankenheim Germany

"Betsy" took us via villages, agricultural fields, a highway and much round and about to get us to Lake Freilingen. Nobody knows how her mind works! Thankfully the way back to Gemund was quick and easy. 

A great outing and a wonderful walk.

Day 7

Our accommodation in Gemund Germany

We left Gemund this morning in the rain! The receptionist has a brother in Goodwood, Cape Town so maybe will will see her in the future. 

Our walking trail in Gemund Germany

The rain carried on for most of the trip, at times just a drizzle and other times a downpour with poor visibility. The last part of the journey to Saarbrucken was on the Autobahn. Traffic was fairly heavy. Road works in places. 

Thailand is known as " The Land of Smiles" - Germany should be "The Land of Trees" The trees are incredible and everywhere just so green. 

The area all around the Eifel is so pristine that's its been a wonderful experience.

Ideal for hikers, bikers, those looking for colourful villages and interesting history - The Eifel has it all!

Hiking Path Gemund

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

    For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

 www.bradclin.com

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-9633331669633754"
     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>