Author Archives: Jan European Barging & River Cruises

Bastogne War Museum Opening in 2014

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The Bastogne War Museum is Expected to Open in the Spring of 2014.

You can travel by river cruise to visit this new innovative museum located next to the Bastogne Historical Center, one of the current WWII museums, and see other Belgium culture sites while you are there in the vicinity. Bastogne, a modern town in the Belgian Ardennes, is still primarily dedicated to the battles that were fought in the region and to preserving them in the local WWII museums.

743535_battle_of_the_bulgeThe new Bastogne War Museum will be a brand new modern building with unusual and bold architecture. There will be multi-sensory history scenes in 3D, three scenovisions, interactive activities, a cafe, a museum shop, a terrace and an area for temporary exhibitions and events. Visitors are able to go back in time and understand what the Battle of the Bulge and other skirmishes were all about. There will be a reconstruction of a German and an allied headquarters and also show what life was like for the soldiers and civilians.

The Bastogne War Museum Exhibits Battle of the Bulge

These sites mostly include those involved in the famous Battle of the Bulge, a German offensive which took place from December 1944 to January 1945 and where many thousands of civilians and soldiers died during that bloody time, as well as the Second World War in general. You can visit these important historical sites during your river cruise.

The current Bastogne Historical Center and adjoining American Memorial

At the Center you will find an amazing collection of items and exhibits from the Battle of the Bulge along with authentic uniforms and artifacts, an American M10 Tank Destroyer based on the M4 Sherman tank chassis, a tank gun turret and other vehicles. There is a film with shots taken during the battles between the Germans and Americans at the Bastogne War Museum. From the top of the Mardasson Memorial you get a good view of the battlegrounds. In the form of the five-pointed American star, the Memorial honors the 76,890 American soldiers who were killed, missing or wounded in the Battle of the Bulge.

For more information and to book your River Cruise, contact us today.

Majestic Jewel of the Mosel River Valley

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COCHEM’S Reichsburg Castle- Majestic Jewel of the Mosel River Valley 

There is perhaps no better way to tour the historically rich, scenic towns of Rhineland Germany than by river cruise. The cruises usually feature relatively small cruising vessels that have limited passenger capacity but are large on amenities, style, and service. ID-100163279Quaint villages and conspicuous German castles are thoroughly enjoyed by the 360 degree views provided on the sun decks of most river cruise ships and barges. A favorite tour among discerning travelers is the Mosel River cruise which meanders past beautiful Cochem Germany. These unique trips often climax with memorable shore excursions to popular attractions like those found on the Mosel bike and barge cruise.

Mosel River Cruise

The Mosel river or “Moselle” river as the French call it is a peaceful tributary of the Rhine River that flows from France to Germany. The area surrounding the Mosel River in Germany is known as the Mosel River Valley, and the towns located there are reminiscent of storybook tales of the medieval era. For those who find romantic villages complete with cobblestone streets surrounded by lush vineyards and Germany castles appealing, then a Mosel River cruise is an ideal choice for a holiday trip.

Cruising down the Mosel River gives holiday travelers the opportunity to see many of the oldest towns in the heart of Europe in grand style. Depending on the chosen itinerary, passengers get to view the cities of Koblenz, Cochem, and Bernkastel just to name a few.

The cities visited are not the only appeal of this type of holiday choice; the cruises themselves are absolutely exquisite. Many cruises are taken on luxury river or barge vessels that feature five-star dining and stellar service. The all-inclusive travel packages ensure that passengers completely relax while travelling from the time they board until disembarking at the end of the journey.

cochem germany

A popular river cruise itinerary includes a trip to the town of Cochem. The Mosel Bike and Barge cruise allows passengers to conduct a shore excursion that gives them the best of both worlds when it comes to scenic views. After leaving the river cruise barge, active passengers bike to Cochem to explore the popular town.

The town of Cochem holds a very interesting past as an imperial estate complete with a castle and fortifications that was eventually lost in its entirety to the French during the 1600’s. French troops razed the original Reichsburg Castle to the ground, and the castle was only rebuilt in its current neo-Gothic style architecture in 1868 by a wealthy Berlin business person who used the renovated castle as a summer home for his family. Since 1978, tourists have been able to take tours of the Reichsburg Castle. For more information about booking a cruise to the romantic Reichsburg Castle, contact us.

A Surprising Visit of Stuttgart Germany

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 Travel to Stuttgart Germany

Ludwigsburg_Palace_StuttgartOn a recent short visit to Stuttgart I was pleasantly surprised by all the city had to offer.  On my first day in Stuttgart I toured past the Old Palace and the New Palace, built in the 16th century for the Kings of Wurttemberg.  Stuttgart_New_PalaceThe New Palace is a magnificent Baroque palace complex with elaborate gardens and a Palace Square.  The next day I visited an even more splendid palace – Ludwigsburg Palace, known as the “Swabian Versailles”.  Ludwigsburg is Germany’s largest Baroque place complex preserved in its original form.  Our tour was hosted by guides in elaborate period costume.  The palace is fully furnished in beautiful period furnishings.

Then on to the spectacular MercedesBenzMuseum.  Nine levels of the spiral-shaped building featuring the history of Mercedes Benz from conception to now, as well as showing important historical events along the way.  The museum also showcases 127 years of automotive history from the first engines, transportation vehicles and over 160 cars from the beginning to now – with some really beautiful old classic roadsters and sedans.  Finished up the tour with a nice dinner in the museum restaurant.

Mercedes_Sedan_StuttgartMercedesMuseum

The Treats of Stuttgart

Had to sample a few to make sure of my favorite again – dark chocolate hazelnut or milk chocolate coated cookie – both as great as remembered.While in Stuttgart, I reacquainted myself with the Ritter Chocolate bars – and found that they are made just outside of Stuttgart.

I definitely need to go back for a longer visit.  There is the hop on hop off tour of the city – I always try to take one of these tours when I visit any new town as they give me a quick overview of where everything is and they are a great value for money as you can get on and off the bus as many times as you like in a 24 or 48 hour period.   I want to be sure and visit the Stuttgart market hall next time as it looks like a taster’s paradise.  Built in 1914, with 32,000 square feet, this art nouveau styled market is a must visit for “foodies”.  And then there is the wines from the Stuttgart Region.  The Stuttgart Wine Trail is just a short hop from the main train station in Stuttgart.

Stuttgart, is the only German city to have it’s own wine-growing estate.  The city hosts an annual wine festival to be held from August 28 – September 8 in 2013.

Christmas time might be a good time to return as they have 3 different themed Christmas Markets that are reachable by public transportation – Stuttgart Christmas, the Baroque Christmas Market at the Ludwigsburg Palace and the Medieval Market at Esslingen.

With Stuttgart having so much to offer with the many sites and festivals, any time is a good time to go.

Cruises on the Neckar River feature stops in Stuttgart.

Contact us to book your Neckar River Cruise and enjoy the Stuttgart sites when it stops in that remarkable city.

The Austrian City of Graz

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The Austrian City of GrazThe Austrian City of Graz is Quite The View

After Vienna, Graz is the second biggest city in Austria and is also the capital of Syria. The city is a symbol of southern beauty, which surprisingly remained undiscovered by the American tourists for a long time. It is located on the Mur River in the southeast of Austria and is about 200 km southwest of Vienna. It takes around an hour and a half from Vienna to reach the historical city of Graz, which offers some of the most remarkable architectural and cultural treasures of Austria.

Graz shows a clear Mediterranean influence from around southern Europe and presents a unique culinary fusion, lifestyle, and one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Graz enjoys an enviable reputation as a student city with six universities and more than 44,000 students. The students can relax and enjoy in many street cafes which impart the city a likely Mediterranean flair.

The “Old Town” Or the Austrian City of Graz

The “Old Town” of Graz is one of the best-preserved city centers in Central Europe. It is the soul of the city and presents many attractions such as the city mountain, former fortifications, charming alleyways, medieval building facades as well as a remarkable modern architecture. It would not be an exaggeration to call it a living museum with a modern twist. Regardless of whether it is summer or winter, the place is always full of activity.

One particular feature that makes Graz so special is an exciting combination of ancient treasures and modern architecture like the Kunsthaus Graz, which wonderfully mirrors the Old Town in its façade. The art galleries, great shopping opportunities, the excellent restaurants-both modern and traditional, and a busy event calendar make sure that the city is always bustling with activity and remains a happening place.

Graz is popularly called the capital of culinary delights, as it offers some great foods and wines. It’s no surprise that in 1999, Graz was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites, thanks to its countless sights and attractions.

With so much to offer, Graz is worth a visit. Many Danube River Cruises offer 2 days in Vienna while cruising. We can assist with train tickets and other travel arrangements so you can fully enjoy your time in the city of Graz and discover this amazing place for yourself!

A Visit to the Italian City of Adria from the 30 Passenger Ave Maria Barge

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The Italian City of Adria

JUNE 6Positioned between the mouths of the rivers Adige and Po, Adria is a town and commune in the province of Rovigo in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. It is believed that Adria gave the Adriatic Sea its name during earlier times when the two were connected through a number of waterways.

The ancient Adria was divided into two parts by the Canal Bianco, which was used for irrigation of the fields. The Etruscan city of Atria underlies the modern city, 3-4 meters below the current level. Situated 20 kilometres east of Rovigo, the small town was once positioned directly by the sea!

Adria has a rich history associated with it. The city was originally a small village named Hatria. Around 2500 years ago, Etruscan and Greek merchants inhabited this small farming village and turned it into the most important trading port in the whole region. The influence of the ancient port is visible even today and is evident in the name of a whole section of the sea – the Adriatic. The city slowly lost its connection to the sea because of the increasing deposits of the Po and thus, lost its importance in the region. The city of Adria is now located some 25 kilometers from the sea and can only feel nostalgic of it’s great history, looking back on a bygone past.

History of The Italian City of Adria

The city of Adria is full of great religious sites, architecture, and culture. The most spectacular of Italian churches are located here, such as the Church of Santa Maria and the Adria Cathedral. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta della Tomba (formerly the cathedral) dates back to medieval period but was rebuilt in 1718. It houses an octagonal baptismal font from the 7th or 8th century, with the carved name of the 3rd bishop of Adria, Bono. Other works of art include several 15th and 16th centuries’ paintings and in the chapel a beautiful terracotta relief depicting a Dormitio Virginis, attributed to Michele da Firenze. Adria Cathedral is the New Cathedral (Cattedrale Nuova dei Santi Petro i Paulo), that has been dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Adria is another must-see attraction for tourists visiting the region.

While traveling on a Casual Bike and Barge Cruise on the Ave Marie or Vita Pugna in Italy, you will make a stop at the Italian city of Adria where you get a chance to feel and imbibe the unforgettable Italian history and culture!