Tag Archives: Chocolate Bars

Cologne Chocolate Museum- Taste Greatness

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Cologne Chocolate MuseumA Variety of Chocolate to be found at Cologne Chocolate Museum

Anyone who loves chocolate is sure to fall in love with Germany. Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city is Germany’s chocolate capital as it is the proud home of the world famous Imhoff-Stollwerck Museum or Chocolate Museum. The museum, founded just 25 years ago, has attained a worldwide fame and reputation. As the Visitors step into the cologne museum,  they overwhelmingly smell  the chocolate fragrance. Your visit is sure to keep getting better after that first step.

The Chocolate Museum, located on the Rhine River, is shaped in a wonderful ship shaped building of glass and metal. The museum is spacious, well aerated and modern inside. The chocolate museum started as an exhibit aimed at celebrating the 150th anniversary of Stollwerk. The event was so successful that the idea of creating a full-scale chocolate museum automatically originated and the chocolate museum opened its doors on October 31st, 1993.

The Cologne Chocolate Museum is A Great Attraction for Many Visitors

More than five million visitors come to the Cologne Chocolate Museum every year. They come to have a look at the grand museum; Also, to see the process of shaping the chocolate through various stages. This self-financed museum was established as an interactive experience. Here, visitors can learn about the history of chocolate starting with Mayan’s chocolate “drink of the gods” to today’s chocolate commercials.

The greenhouse of the Cologne Chocolate Museum is a delightful experience as travelers stroll through it, looking at the cocoa trees. In the mini-production unit of the museum, visitors can see the incredible transformation of cocoa beans into chocolate bars through various stages.

Kids Enjoy Interactive Activities at The Chocolate Factory

The Chocolate Museum hosts several interactive activities for kids. The most attractive feature of the museum is a 10-feet high chocolate fountain: The employees at the museum will happily dip waffles into the warm chocolate to give visitors a generous try.

Many take home delicious chocolates from the shop inside the museum where visitors can choose from a wide range of German and Swiss chocolate.  There is a big assortment of imported chocolates as well as fresh made chocolates on premisses.

Be sure to check out the decadent chocolate desserts in their cafe.

Cafe in the Cologne Chocolate Museum

Your visit to the Chocolate Museum will be an exciting, delightful and knowledgeable experience. People who love to travel should not miss the opportunity to book their holiday on Europeanbarging’s Rhine river cruise. Do not forget to make a visit to the marvelous Chocolate Museum in Cologne!

Rhine River Cruises with stops in Cologne include short 4 – 7 day river cruises on Arosa and  Croisi Europe as well as 7 – 15 days cruise on AmaWaterways.

Contact Europeanbarging so they assist you in finding the perfect cruise for you.  info@europeanbarging.com  or 888.869-7907

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.