Tag Archives: european barging

Visit Cochem traveling along the Mosel River

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The Charm of Cochem and the Mosel River

cochemCochem is popularly known as the pearl of the River Mosel. An adorable gem of German culture, it is situated in the most idyllic part of the Mosel Valley where the river curls between Eifel and Hundsruck. Ranked as one of the most charming villages along the Mosel, Cochem inspired even the Romans to sing its praises. There are a handful of towns in Germany which are as beautiful and charming as Cochem. Its vivid and striking beauty attracts countless visitors who fall in love with the place at the very first sight. Wherever you go every nook and corner of this attractive village speaks volumes about its rich history, legend and folklore.

Cochem is encircled by towering elevations, steep vineyards and quintessential wine villages. You can enjoy wine tastings, festivals and authentic hospitality offered by these quaint wine villages.

Centuries of History in Cochem

Cochem, for centuries, has been steeped in beauty and culture and probably stays so even today. It takes pride in its several exquisite buildings, picturesque cottages, black and tan guild houses and meandering streets. One of the greatest attractions of the place is town square marked with its half-timbered houses. Another high point of the town is Cochem Castle or Schloss Reichsburg which spectacularly soars above the town. This German castle is more than a castle. It is the biggest hill-castle on the Mosel and looks like a typical fairy tale castle.

Cochem also boasts of being the heart of the Mosel wine trade. It is popularly renowned for its topical wines due to the existence of many vineyards and small family run wineries in the neighboring towns along Mosel.

As a tourist destination, Cochem got recognition first in the early 19th century when it received its first actual tourists. They were predominantly English artists who immortalized the beauty and allure of the Mosel Valley in their drawings and paintings. Cochem grew into the first genuine tourist spot on the Mosel during 1930s.

Mosel River Cruises

The pretty village of Cochem is a must see. Book your holiday on one of our Mosel River cruises and have an unforgettable experience of its beauty, history and wines!
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Schonbrunn Palace is Culture to the World

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The Beautiful Schonbrunn Palace

schonbrunn_palace_by_seelederzukunft-d58ruvuSchönbrunn Palace is a former imperial 1,441-room Rococo summer residence in modern Vienna, Austria. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. In addition to the Palace, there are beautiful gardens featuring formal flowerbeds, fountains and statues. In 1996, the Palace and Gardens were listed in the UNESCO World Culture Site.

Schonbrunn Palace, in additional to being a world famous culture site is also still used for political meetings and state dinners. The splendor of the Habsburgs property draws in tourist and keeps them coming back time after time.

During the summer, there are many concerts held at the Palace, including the Schonbrunn Palace Orchestra and the Schoenbrunn Palace Ensemble with concerts in the Orangerie. The Vienna Philharmonic Free Summer Night Concert will be held at Schonbrunn May 29, 2014 with special guest performer Lang Lang and conducted by Christoph Eschenbach.
In the winter, there is an Art and Christmas Market in front of the Palace, between Nov 22 – Dec 1, 2014. The Christmas Market will run from Dec 2 – Dec 26, 2014.

Bring the Kids to the Children’s Museum

The palace offers tours that take visitors through the original family rooms, showing the lifestyle of the past. The ceremonial and residential rooms are fully furnished within the palace giving off the feeling that someone could still reside in the monuments. The gardens feature a labyrinth and a maze. The palace also features a children’s museum that is a great experience for children.

Cruise to the Schonbrunn Palace

Many Danube River Cruises offer excursions to the Hapsburg Summer Palace – Schonbrunn. Known as the resident of Empress Sisi and Emperor Ferdinand II, the palace is one of Europe’s most impressive Baroque palace complexes. We offer 5 – 8 night Danube River Cruises, many of which offer an excursion to Schonbrunn Palace. If you are interested in exploring on your own, the Palace offers several tours themselves.

For more information contact: Europeanbarging, 888-869-7907, jan@europeanbarging.com

View The Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

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museum viennaCulinary Treats from the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the most eminent museums in the world. It is also known as the “Museum of Fine Arts.” The rich holdings of the museum include artworks from seven millennia – from Ancient Egypt to the late 18th century. Among all its treasures, the collections from the Renaissance and Baroque art periods are of particular significance. You can’t find a better place to view and understand Vienna art.

The museum was built by Emperor Franz Joseph to house the stupendous Habsburg collections. Around 120 years ago, Emperor Franz Joseph changed Vienna’s cultural landscape forever with the opening of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna.

View European Art History At Kunsthistorisches Museum

Kunsthistorisches Museum displays numerous major art works from European art history, such as Raphael’s “Madonna in the Meadow”, Vermeer’s “The Allegory of Painting”, the Infanta paintings by Velazquez, masterworks by Rubens, Rembrandt, Dürer, Titian and Tintoretto, which are housed in the paintings gallery. The Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection include captivating treasures from mysterious cultures of a bygone era. While going through this particular collection, you will stand in the shadows of ancient statues and reliefs, mummy-shaped coffins, and massive papyrus-stalk columns. On Ringstrasse, from the home of the museum, you can travel in time and space, from the Bronze Age to the Dark Ages, from Cyprus to Greece, Italy and finally back to Austria.

Kunsthistorisches Museum remains a crowning achievement of 19th century architects Gottfried Semper and Karl Hasenauer. It stands as a great symbol of Austria art and culture.

Enjoy The Museum Amenities

There is a lot to see and do at the museum, as well. It’s devoted to indulging your senses. After an elaborate tour of the fabulous collection, you can take a break at the café in the museum’s amazing Cupola Hall. As you relax in its awe-inspiring architectural setting, the café presents a menu of traditional savory specialties, as well as different varieties of tea and coffee, and popular Viennese pastries.

Thursday evenings are particularly special as visitors can enjoy a gourmet dinner in the elegant setting of the restaurant in Cupola Hall and then take an after-hours tour of the Picture Gallery. Sundays at the museum are equally exciting, when visitors can start with a leisurely brunch and then enjoy a stroll through the incomparable collections.

The Kunstkammer Museum Vienna has the most important collection of art of its kind in the world. After being closed for over 20 tears, this unique collection is now again open to the public since March 1, 2013.

Our Danube River cruise is the right choice for visiting Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna. Call us for more information! Europeanbarging.com 888-869-7907

Pre Douro River Cruise City of Madrid

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Pre Duoro River CruisePre Douro River Cruise Is A City of Madrid

Madrid is not only the capital of Spain, but is also the largest city in the country. It’s also the capital of the autonomous community of the same name (Comunidad de Madrid) and is located on the Manzanares River in the center of both the country and the Community of Madrid. Madrid is a globally important city with a great reputation for having the most modern infrastructures and is an economic, financial, administrative, and service center of the country. Madrid provides a multitude of opportunities for sightseeing and boasts of some world-class restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.

Madrid is renowned throughout the world for its great cultural and artistic heritage and has many Spain Culture Sites. The culture of this city is deeply influenced by its Royal history as the center of the Spanish Empire. Madrid has several landmark sites dating back to the times of Spanish Monarchy such as the Royal Palace, enormous cathedrals, and churches. The city boasts a rare level of medieval architecture and has a unique blend of historical and modern blends, comparable to what’s seen in London and Berlin.

Attractions in Madrid include Prado Museum Royal, Palace Plaza Mayor Sun Gate, Parque del Retiro, Torres KIO (Puerta de Europa) Cibeles, Plaza Santiago, Bernabeu Stadium and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Galería 57.

Explore A Spectacular Pre Douro River Cruise

Madrid also takes pride in being one of the top European art destinations, including the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado.
The Thyssen Bornemisza Museum is another great museum which was established from a mixed private collection of artwork. Reina Sofía Museum is a one of a kind display where Pablo Picasso’s Guernica hangs, returning to Spain from New York after more than two decades.

An abode of history, art, and culture, Madrid is a must visit location. Our Pre Douro River cruise offers an optional 3 night land program in Madrid! Book your holiday on one of our Douro River cruises and make a trip to the amazing city of Madrid!

Cruising Northern Italy by luxury barge cruise, casual bike and barge cruise or River cruise

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Being one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Italy is an ideal place for hotel barging. Its beautiful canals and rivers roll through diverse landscapes, from picturesque lagoon islands with their colorful houses, to wild beach dunes and pine woods with an abundance of birdlife. These waterways were once used for trade by Romans and early Mediterranean settlers before them and are ideal for gaining knowledge about many cultures, including Roman, Etruscan, Istrian, Byzantine and of course Renaissance, that have influenced the arts, architecture and history of the region over many centuries.

If you want to explore the beautiful landscapes and get an insight into the ancient culture of Italy, an Italy Cruise is the perfect choice. Aboard the Italy Cruise, you can enjoy exploring Northern Italy in a royal and relaxing way.

Venice is the highlight of any Italian cruise. The lagoon surrounding Venice, the Venice Lido beach, Hemingway’s influence and the fabulous waterside Villas; all add to the attractions of Venice. Delicious seafood, local culinary specialities, fine wines and attentive service complete the picture of this fairytale adventure. You can cruise between the romance and architecture of Venice, to the captivating lakeside setting of the Renaissance city of Mantua. Mantua is in central northern Italy, and has been a hub of art, culture and music for centuries. The route inland takes you along the River Po and the Bianco Canal through the Po Valley.

European Barging offers different cruise options and you can choose according to your interest and convenience. Our Venice cruise offers barges overnight with free time for you to explore the city. It is very enjoyable and affordable at great hotel rates. Our Michelangelo offers a winter cruise in the Venice lagoon and often cruises at the Carnival. Like Venice, Michelangelo is also quite affordable as it offers reasonable hotel rates including the meals. We also offer casual bike and barge cruises for active people. Such types of cruises are a good value and appeal to people who love adventure and exploration. Cycle enthusiasts can mingle their passion for cycling with sailing aboard our fantastic cruises.

Our Ave Maria cruise offers yet another innovative program. Here one of the passengers in a cabin can enjoy the bike and barge while the other has excursions by mini-coach at additional costs. Ave Maria is, therefore, suitable for both active and non-active couples.

So, get ready to explore enchanting Italy aboard our marvelous Italy cruises. Here you get best possible enjoyment, comfort and convenience at reasonable rates. We keep in mind the interests and tendencies of different people and design our programs accordingly. Get aboard our cruises and have the most enjoyable and unforgettable experience of your life!