The Moselle Valley
Oct. 19th, 2014 04:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitFirstly, I've added the pictures to yesterday's post on Bruges. From Bruges we travelled to Cochem, which is on the side of the Moselle River, between Trier and Koblenz. It's a pleasant little town, with a castle above it. The castle, like a number in the region was at least partially destroyed by Louis XIV, so it was been refurnished in the nineteenth century and is therefore, to my mind, not quite as exciting as a proper medieval castle. Nevertheless it looks very pretty at night. The hill up to it is very steep.
On our first full day we took the boat up river to Bildstein, which has another ruined castle, some glorious views over the river and an interesting church. It's fascinating to see the way the hills on either side of the river are covered in vines. Some are really small areas and the whole affect from a distance is an amazing patchwork.
The next day was a trip to Trier. We've been there once before and in fact looked round at the same places - the Dom (cathedral), St Gangolf's Church (the second oldest church in Trier after the cathedral) and which I prefer - it seems much friendlier, and we took a turn round the gardens. We travelled back along the Moselle, stopping in Bernkastel-Kues on the way.
On our last day we went to Koblenz. The city is at the meeting point of the Moselle and the Rhine, so we walked up to see the two rivers coming together. We also took the ferry across the Rhine to go to the RheinMuseum, which was very interesting since I knew little of the history of the river, and see the house where Beethoven's mother was born (it was shut). On our return we looked inside the Basilica and listened to the organist practising. The acoustics were very good - his mobile rang part way through and everyone could hear his conversation. We stopped for a glass of wine and a slice of cake before catching the train back to Cochem.
It was only three days, but we both felt that we learnt a lot and saw so many things, that it felt longer.
On our first full day we took the boat up river to Bildstein, which has another ruined castle, some glorious views over the river and an interesting church. It's fascinating to see the way the hills on either side of the river are covered in vines. Some are really small areas and the whole affect from a distance is an amazing patchwork.
The next day was a trip to Trier. We've been there once before and in fact looked round at the same places - the Dom (cathedral), St Gangolf's Church (the second oldest church in Trier after the cathedral) and which I prefer - it seems much friendlier, and we took a turn round the gardens. We travelled back along the Moselle, stopping in Bernkastel-Kues on the way.
On our last day we went to Koblenz. The city is at the meeting point of the Moselle and the Rhine, so we walked up to see the two rivers coming together. We also took the ferry across the Rhine to go to the RheinMuseum, which was very interesting since I knew little of the history of the river, and see the house where Beethoven's mother was born (it was shut). On our return we looked inside the Basilica and listened to the organist practising. The acoustics were very good - his mobile rang part way through and everyone could hear his conversation. We stopped for a glass of wine and a slice of cake before catching the train back to Cochem.
It was only three days, but we both felt that we learnt a lot and saw so many things, that it felt longer.
