Read more about the article Eppstein and Diez – Germany
Eppstein and Diez - Germany

Eppstein and Diez – Germany

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German Fairy Tale Land

Leaving behind Heidelberd in the south of Germany which we visited during the morning and continuing our weekend road trip heading back direction towards Dusseldorf, we stop at a must see destination on the proximity of Frankfurt: Eppstein and Diez. This would be the second time for us here and also, unfortunately, another time where the time was quite rushed, not even an hour at each. I must remember for the next time to calculate a proper stay and in the entire region since everywhere you go it’s just full of such beautiful villages.

For me, small towns and villages like these are what comes to my mind when imagining Germany. Small timbered colourful houses and a castle on the hill, more typical of a Hansel and Gretel fairy tale. Well, they do exist almost everywhere in the region of Hesse, and all of them with a castle in a hill! Other such beautiful tows nearby are Idstein and Limburg for example.

The best (and I would say only) way to visit them is by planning these as a second part of a trip. This is, spending a day or two to explore Frankfurt as a good example, then using one more day to get to these small towns. Of course, without a car that would be challenging as you will need to invest a lot of time to commute between them. For us and as the first time we came here, being on the route between North West Germany and the South West, it was a big temptation passing by and not stopping for a little walk. It does not really take too much time and will surprise you for its beauty.

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Read more about the article The Ruhr Industrial Area – Germany
The Ruhr Industrial Area - Germany

The Ruhr Industrial Area – Germany

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Bauhaus and Modernist Coal Mines

Over the next 3 weekends spamming between March and April, all the trips to Dusseldorf in Germany had the very same purpose: visiting the Ruhr Valley Industrial Area, landmark in the European Route of Industrial Heritage, right in coincidence with the celebrations of the “European Capital of Culture 2010: Essen and the Ruhr area”. In total we would visit 3 iconic places, symbols of a bygone industrial era where this coal-rich region was once one of the most important high quality steel producers in the world.

Even nowadays steel production still strong, of course using much modern techniques without the use of coal for heating and melting, the coal era died at the beginning of 1990 leaving dozens of coal mines and industries abandoned. In many cases, their remains have been erased forever with the regeneration of their former sites back to nature or new constructions; but in other “lucky” cases, the most important for their architecture and engineering have been preserved and are now great museums.

One of them, the largest of its kind in Europe was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site for its engineering achievement and its incredible design; the largest Bauhaus style building ever created: the Zeche Zollverein. Another, the Zeche Zollern, is in the other hand a masterpiece in the Art-Nouveu style. Equally beautiful.

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Read more about the article Lubeck – Germany
Lubeck - Germany

Lubeck – Germany

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The Former Capital of the Hanseatic League

Coming to the second day for this weekend trip we headed towards Lubeck from Hamburg, this time to enjoy this incredibly beautiful city and also because my returning flight to London was departing from here. At only 65km one to another, it is not even one hour train ride centre to centre. Either if you fly to Hamburg or to smaller Lubeck airport for visiting Hamburg, you really must consider and plan some time for this Hanseatic jewel, often bypassed by the average tourist.

It won’t take you any longer than half day to visit the city if I am honest. Its small size and organisation of the streets plus the compact historical centre means any longer than half a day will already be too much. It’s perfect for a day trip from Hamburg where you don’t need to start your day very early nor return late at night; just have a perfect relaxing day, or as it was in my case, sightseeing and enjoying it before heading to the airport.

The city is an UNESCO World Heritage Site listed for it’s former importance as the capital of the Hanseatic League, and for having preserved it’s Medieval old town unaltered ever since, built between the 12th until the 16th centuries. The constructions in this city are among the finest and most incredible from any of the former Hanseatic cities. The stunning Brick Gothic architecture will captivate any visitor. Without any doubt and hesitation, it did to myself, although I do admit I am a fan lover of the Hanseatic Gothic architecture. (more…)

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