Description:
The “Live Like a German Travel Guide to Germany” suggests many special trips, unique activities, and vacation ideas, that you can’t find in a typical German travel guide.We focus on activities that are fun to undertake with your family, including sightseeing and cultural highlights, dining, entertainment, shopping, and sports. Sometimes on your special German trip, you’ll even experience small, but hidden gems, for example, an Italian ice cream parlor in a small village that sells the “world’s best ice cream”. All the locals know about this shop, but if you were just a “regular” tourist in Germany you might not ever find it and certainly not so easily.See our full list of wonderful things to do during your vacation, so that you are prepared when you travel to Germany. Then you’ll be able to truly “live like a German” during your vacation!
Contents:
A medieval Fortress in Koblenz
 Festung Ehrenbreitstein is a fortress on the same-named mountain on the right side of the Rhine opposite to the town of Koblenz in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
It was built as the backbone of the regional fortification system, Festung Koblenz, by Prussia between 1817 and 1832 and guarded the middle Rhine region, an area that had been invaded by French troops repeatedly before. The fortress was never attacked.
[ source: Wikipedia ]
It sits 118 meters above the Rhine river. To this day it is one of the best preserved fortresses in Germany.
To get there you take a ferry for the short trip across the Rhine river from the “Altstadt”. There the fort sits on top of a mountain overlooking the whole area. There is a lift that brings you up the hill to the fort.
Admission
Adults 1.10 Euro
Groups of 10 or more 0.60 Euro per person
Kids 6-14 0.60 Euro per person
Groups of 10 kids or more 0.50 Euro per person
Tours are available from March - November daily from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. hourly
Contact: info@festungehrenbreitstein.de
Related
Förderkreis Kulturzentrum Festung Ehrenbreitstein
Wikipedia: Ehrenbreitstein
Where to stay during your visit:
We recommend staying in Waldgirmes or Wetzlar, which is not that far away for a day trip. For example, Waldgirmes is located about 99 km (60 miles), which takes about 1 hours and 15 minutes from to go there by car (see details on Google maps.) We also have Live Like a German vacation apartments available directly in Koblenz and going to add them soon to the web site. Please drop us an email and we will help you finding a good vacation apartment during your Germany stay.
Author:
Bettina Kraft
Feedback, comments, questions?
If you have visited here please share your experiences with our readers. Or, if you have other cool trip suggestions and would like to contribute a travel guide here, please drop me an email...
Learning about Roman Culture and History in Trier
 We recommend a day to explore Trier and its Roman heritage. It’s a great day trip and there is lots to see. For example,
Visit the Porta Nigra in Trier
The Porta Nigra in Trier is a large city gate that dates back to the Roman times. It is also the largest city gate north of the Alps. Today it is part of the World Heritage Sites. The name Porta Nigra originated in the Middle Ages due to the gates dark color of stone. The orignial roman name has not been preserved and today locals refer to the gate simply as Porta.
Built in about 180-200 AD from grey sandstone, the orignial gate consisted of two four storied towers that were separated through a courtyart form eachother. Porta Nigra is one of four gates that were build around the city of Trier. Today, its the only one left out of the four (Porta Alba, Porta Media, Porta Inclyta). For unknown reasons, the construction of the gate remained unfinished. Nevertheless, the gate was used for centuries until the end of the Roman era in Trier..
[ source: Wikipedia ]
2. Visit St. Matthias Abbey Church in Trier
Another historic building is the St. Matthias church. Named after the relics of St. Matthias, that the church houses, the church is part of an active Benedictine abbey and is to this day still visited by many Catholic pilgrims.
The church overlooks a spacious plaza surounded by white buildings. The church itself is Romanesque style with a Baroque fascade that was added to the lower west front. On the center of the facade is a sculpture of St. Matthias holding an axe and an open book.
The church has a museum that displays a significant collection of artifacts, paintings and historical documents.
An annual festival is held on May 14th which is names St. Matthias day.
For more information please go to:
www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/trier-st-matthias.htm
3. Visit the Trier Cathedral (St. Peters Dom)
Though it might be mistaken for a fortress, Trier Cathedral (Dom St. Peter) houses an impressive collection of artworks, architecture and holy relics. It is also of considerable historical significance, as the oldest church in Germany. Today, Trier Cathedral remains a working Catholic cathedral and an important Catholic shrine that still receives pilgrims.
[ source: www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/trier-cathedral.htm ]
St. Bartholomä and Königssee (Kings Lake)
 The Königssee is located in the far southeast corner of Germany close to the German/Austrian border. The biggest town is Berchtesgaden and Schönau am Königssee. The lace was formed by glaciers during the last Ice Age. It is 7.7 km long and about 1.7 km wide. The entire lake is surrounded by steep rock formations (up to 2000 m) including the Watzmann, except for the area where its outlet is located: the Königsseer Ache at the village of Königssee.
The lake is famous for its clear waters and advertised as the cleanest lake Germanys. For this reason only electric driven boats, pedal or row boats are allowed on the lake since 1909.
"When I was a child we visited Königssee as a family. I can remember that the boat stopped at a certain point on the lake and the driver took out his trumpet to show us the echo at this point on the lake. Everyone on the boat was quietly listening to him play a tune and then it would echo back shortly after from the walls of the high rising flanks of the mountains. Absolutely beautiful!"
St. Batholomew / Bartholomä is a Catholic pilgrimage church located in Berchtesgaden named for St. Bartholomaeus the protector of the alpine farmers and milkmaids. It was founded by Prince Provosts of Berchtesgaden in 1134.
The church is located on the western edge of Königssee in the Hirschau Peninsula. The chapel was built in the 12th century and has been a Baroque style church since the 16th century. The floor plan of the church is based on the one of the Salzburg Cathedral and the interior features stucco work of the Salzburg artist Josef Schmidt.
Since the Romantic period, the church and its scenery of the Watzmann mountain have been source of inspiration fro numerous landscape painters.
The church is also suitable for weddings (catholic only.)
Information:
Bayer. Schlösserverwaltung ?Außenstelle Chiemsee ?Bernauer Straße 5 ?83209 Prien ?+49 (0)80 51- 9 66 58-0 ?Fax (0 80 51) 9 66 58-38 ? seeverwaltung.chiemsee@bsv.bayern.de
Opening hours:
The opening hours of St Bartholomew's Church are dependent on the timetable of the ferry service.
More information:?+49 (0) 86 52-96 36-0 ?zentrale@seenschifffahrt.de?www.seenschifffahrt.de
Admission is free, most visitors reach the church by boat. Open when ferries are running.
St. Bartholomä also has a restaurant:
Fischerstüberl?St. Bartholomä 3, 83471 Schönau?+49 (0) 86 52 - 31 19 ?www.fischervomkoenigssee.de
[ source: Wikipedia ]
The Castles of the Rhine River
 Most castles that dominate the beautiful landscape along the Rhine river date back to the Middle Ages where they were built with one simple goal in mind: to protect the lands from intruders and predatory neighbors. Today, we tend to visit the area for its beauty and for the romantic looks of these ancient castles as well as the stories behind them. Each is unique in its own way.
In the Middle Ages though, the Rhine Valley was of great strategic importance and a line of communication. Merchants would ship along the Rhine to get all the way to Italy and ship their goods back and forth on the river. To own a castle along the river was of immense importance to those who were powerful and got them in great positions. The owners of these castles were able to overlook their territory and regulate the traffic flow in their area as well as leverage tolls on merchants. Due to this there is a large number of castles between Mainz and Bonn along the Rhine river and particularly in the narrow gorge that connects Bingen and Koblenz were the river only has a length of 35 miles. Here you can find the largest cluster of castles in a river valley in the world.
[ source: www.mediaspec.com/castles/rhein/rheinmap.html ]
For more information please go to the above link and find out more about any castle in Germany!
Experience Carnival in Germany
 Most people have experienced Halloween, Mardi Gras or maybe even Carnival in Rio. But Germany is a great and affordable way to experience “Fasching” (or also known as “Fastnacht”, “Karneval”), the German Carnival.
The biggest carnivals are in the cities along the rhine river, mainly though in Cologne and Mainz.
Every town and village has their festivities and votes their own Prince and Princess along with the royal family which contains a peasant (“Bauer”), his Craziness (seine “Tollität”) and the virgin (“Jungfrau”), which is usually portrayed by a male, along with other personalities of the royalties - in total, 11 people. This is a crazy time in Germany and lots of fun to join!
Fasching time starts on November 11th at 11:11 a.m. and ends on Ash Wednesday (in February of the following year.)
The Fasching in Cologne and Mainz involves thousands of spectators dressed up that yearly watch and cheer the famous parades with their colorful floats, dance groups,music groups, and of course the royalties. Most people take off from work during these crazy days, because everyone wants to be part of this. “Rosenmontag” is the main day of the carnival and the 42nd day before Easter. Thursday before is “Altweiberfastnacht” (for women only.) Women all over join parties and are allowed to cut every mans tie off they see and are free to kiss any man they want to. This day also signals the beginning of the five day festivities of Fasching that lead nearly 1.5 million people to see the parades all over Germany or watch them on TV. The whole party time ends by Tuesday night by some cities burning the “Nubbel” (which is the spirit of Fasching) to atone the sins committed during the carnival time. Ash Wednesday is the 1st normal day again and also the beginning of Lent.
If you’re interested in experiencing Fasching in 2009 in Germany please drop us an email so we can work with you on planning. We’re currently compiling a “Carnival in Germany” vacation package. Will be up shortly - stay tuned…
A Visit to Büdingen (Hesse)
 Büdingen is a town in the Wetteraukreis in Hesse known for its medieval stronghold that to this day is still in good condition as well as for its timber framed houses. The city is located about 40 km east of Frankfurt am Main in a valley.
Büdingen is well known for its famous castle and its old town. Both were build on century old oak planks set up on beech props because the city is located in a sometimes swampy and wet area. Therefore the water level has to be kept relatively high so that no air can reach the foundation.
Büdingen was first mentioned historically at 847, but its not clear if Büdingen in Hesse was meant. Officially the town was mentioned in 1206. After the deaths of the noblemen of Büdingen the noblemen of Hohnelohe-Brauneck, Isenburg-Kempenich, Trimberg, Hohenlohe and of Isenburg were the heirs. In 1330 Büdingen was granted the status of a market town by Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV. 5 years later, Burggraf Heinrich II granted freedom and some independence to the Büdinger people. In return, it was expected that the people of Büdingen defend their city. This is when the Marksmen's Society was founded. It exists to this day in Germany and is known for one of the oldest rifle associations in the country.
After a local war in 1442, enormous new defensive walls with 22 towers were built around the old stronghold. These walls are still nearly 100% intact and well know as an important landmark for medieval strongholds in Germany.
When allegedly Martin Luther passed through Büdingen in 1521, the city became Protestant and later Calvinist.
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Castle Büdingen
Located at the foot of the Vogelsberg, on the outskirts of the picturesque Old Town Büdingens, Castle Büdingen was built in as a water castle at the time of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Since 1258 the castle was inhabited by the family of Prince zu Ysenburg und Büdingen. You are cordially invited to visit and enjoy the special atmosphere of this old property with its rich history.
Weddings @ Schloss Büdingen
Ever wanted to get married in a real castle? This is your chance to do just that! Get married in the beautiful chapel and enjoy your reception in the historic rooms of the castle. Castle Büdingen also offers their rooms for other parties and events. For more information please see contact details below.
Restaurant and Cafe Schloss Büdingen
Open year round this great restaurant offers local and international cuisine as well as sausages, ham, salami, steaks and other mouthwatering foods from local deer. Part of the restaurant is also the Schloss Cafe. Enjoy a delicious meal on the garden terrace or in one of the restaurants beautiful rooms.
Opening Hours:
11 a.m. -11 p.m.
Open for Lunch and Dinner:
11.30 a.m. - 2.30 p.m.
5.30 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Address:
Schloss Rundau,
Schlossplatz 1,
63654 Büdingen
Tel: +49 (0) 6042 - 88 92 40
Fax: +49 (0) 6042 - 88 92 46
schloss.buedingen@ysenburg.de
http://www.schloss-buedingen.de/
The Museum
Whether it be the rediscovered frescoes, the Gothic chapel with its unique choir, or the many medieval exhibits - They are all testimonies of the past. They all will give you an insight into the courtly life at Castle Büdingen in medieval times.
The castle offers guided tours in English, French or German from mid April to mid Oktober on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm and 5 pm.
On any other day and throughout the year tours are possible when reserved prior.
Cost:
- Foreign Language Tours are 1 Euro extra
- Cost per Tour and Person is 5 Euros for adults and 3.50 for kids. Groups of a minimum of 20 persons are 4.50 Euros for adults and 3 Euros for children.
Address:
?Das Gastliche Schloss?Schlossplatz 1 ?63654 Büdingen
Tel: +49 (0) 6042 - 9647- 0
Fax: +49 (0) 6042 - 9647-10
Reservations:
Please go to the link below and send a reservation form.
www.schloss-buedingen.de
Visit a 13th century old Castle: The Ronneburg Castle
 Ronneburg is the name of a town with a castle. Both have the same name and belong to the Main Kinzig Kreis in Hesse, Germany. The castle was built in the 13th century in the so called "Ronnerburger Hügelland" (the Ronnerburger Hill Country) and can be seen from all 3 villages that belong to the municipality: Neuwiedermuss, Altwiedermus and Hüttengesäss. It was built on a steep basalt cone overlooking the country side.
History of the castle:
The castle and its surrounding towns were mentioned as early as 1231. The castles earlier name Raneburg and also Roneburg probably derive from the High German word "Rone" which means a fallen tree and could also be a reference to the castles attached palisades.
Through history the castel has been mortgaged off or sold by many nobilties, archbishops, knights until it came into the possession of Philipp von Ysenburg-Büdingen. He founded the Ysenberg-Büdingen-Ronneburg family, later called simply Ysingen-Ronneburg family. Under their rule, that castle took on the appearance that it has today. In 1621 though, a fire destroyed a large part of the castle and later in about 1633 the castle suffered due to a plundering by Croatian troops.
In June 2004 the castle was sold by Prince Wolfgang Ernst II von Ysenburg-Büdingen to baron Joachim Benedikt von Herman auf Wain. Today it hosts a restaurant, museum, falconry centery, gift shop and regular medieval festivals (very popular around Christmas time). Daily tours with excellent views of Frankfurt with its skyline and the surrounding areas are offered.
Other things to do in the area:
The basalt rocks/cones surrounding the castle offer sites that are favorable to paragliding and other related activities. Nearby is a museum that features working Medieval catapults as well as other siege weapons. There is also a nearby falconry with falcons, owls, and other birds of prey to visit.
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Eating at the Ronneburg
Ronneburg has a beautiful restaurant that takes you back to medieval times while enjoying a variety of foods such as that are authentic to the area but also authentic to the dishes served in a castle. Buffets and "Knight Menus" are also offered for larger groups. The restaurant also features medieval dinners throughout the year with the next evenings scheduled for Sept. 15, Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. Cost is 52 Euros per person. The castle restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday starting at 11 a.m. Warm meals are served during those days from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Check out www.restaurant-ronneburg.de or call +49 (0) 6048-7130 for more information.
Admission and Opening Times:
The castle is open daily except Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 1 through Nov. 30. It is closed Dec. 1 to Feb. 28.
Ronneburg also offers a falconry exhibition featuring various hunting birds including falcons, hawks and owls. Shows are Tuesday to Friday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 5 p.m. For information about falconry and tours of Ronneburg call +49 (0) 6048-950 905.
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