Nestled into the countryside and hidden from streetview is the storybook Burg Eltz…read more To start, visiting Burg Eltz takes a bit of planning. You'll want to either hire a tour company to drive you there from a bigger city like Frankfurt (about an hour drive), or rent a car. We went on a small tour and while it was really fun to hear the guide talk to us about the countryside and what we were seeing etc. I do think we could have handled the drive had we decided to rent a car. Once you arrive, if you are American and familiar with the National Parks here in the states, it's going to remind you a lot of US National Park Service parking lots. It's not a massive lot, but in general big enough for tourists and busses to offload people as they arrive. I'm not sure if it costs anything to park but my gut says it probably does as I think I saw some euros exchanged from our driver to the parking attendant. Once you are parked, you have two choices: to either walk directly to the castle along a street, or take the hiking path. I cannot stress how much I encourage everyone to take the hiking path. It's a very easy hike through meandering forest and once you can get the castle into view it's breathtaking. Kind of like how I imagine the castle from Beauty and the Beast to be hidden in the film, is how this is tucked away. It takes a while before it will come into view which adds to the general charm and mystique of the place. All of this being said, the road is great for the walk back if you don't want to hike uphill, there is a shuttle bus that will take you up the road if you are tired, and because of the shuttle and the fairly even path of the road, it makes this castle much more accessible to those who have mobility needs. While at the actual castle there are two lines for tours - one for a German speaking tour, and one for an English speaking tour. This is important to note because we were there on a German holiday and the German speaking line was over an hour wait, while the English speaking line was only about 20 minutes. So, make sure you inquire about which line you are in! The tour itself is very good. The tour guide we had clearly took his job very seriously and had a lot of interesting information to share. My biggest takeaways were that this is one of the most intact medieval castles in Europe, largely due to its remote location as it avoided many bombs that impacted other parts of the continent, and that it is still occupied by descendants of the original owners. Knowing that this is still in the family was really remarkable and added to the general uniqueness of this historic location. Overall, it was a gorgeous castle to visit, and as many others have noted it's well nestled into wine country, so make a day of it and sample some riesling at one of the nearby villages on your way back to the city!

Wish I'd read more about the castle prior to the trip, because I was not expecting such a hike! The…read moreBurg Eltz castle is hidden deep in the hills, surrounded by miles of woods. Off of the street is a large, dirt parking lot with ample parking. From there is a trail head, that begins the hike to the castle. It's muddy, so bring good shoes... and probably water, too. Keep in mind that this castle doubles as somebody's home. It's pretty quiet, and many spots are blocked off from tourists. We paid for a guided tour, which ended up being a lot of fun! The little section we walked through was actually big. It's hard to imagine just how big the rest of the castle is. They, fortunately for me, hold tours in English. It was very educational and kept my interest. Not my favorite castle, not my favorite hike, but it was a good experience nonetheless!

One of the Mosel's gems! No matter how many times we've visited here we still enjoy coming back…read more We brought a friend from the US for a walk through. He too loved this beautiful village. Lots of shops (mostly touristy, but still), restaurants, cafes, and hotels to stroll around/through. For a look at a wonderful, touristy but beautiful, 1/2 timbered village, it's hard to beat Bernkastel.

What a great historical landmark! The directions to the castle led us the wrong way, but we…read moreultimately figured it out. Once we got to the top, we walked around, took some photos and admired the view of the town from the top of the castle ruins.

Fantastic true Frankenstein Castle with the graveyard located at the base of the mountain on top of…read morewhich the castle arises from a natural rocky outcropping. You can see the black scorch marks where the castle burned and Frankenstein fell five stories when the floors collapsed inside the main castle structure. Wild approach through a tiny tunnel. Easy to miss the access point. Looks like you can't get up there but you can! Long healthy hike up hill that will make you feel great when you reach the castle on top. Goats run out to greet you as you walk up the hill. Park at the front of the church. Then start walking. One of the most exciting experiences you will ever have!

What an undiscovered gem! Unconquered citadel in the Franco Prussian war of 1870. The self guided…read moretour with headphones starts in an unassuming building with mini theaters throughout. You head down into the various bays and rooms of the citadel where the story of the siege occurred projected in mini screens. It's very nicely paced and comfortable temperature down below grounds. It would be extremely difficult for handicapped visitors as there's no ramps, just deep stairs in places. But the whole tour (1hr) is informative and well done. Time flew!

Impressive fort built in 1700s but history of fortification goes back to 1200s. Saw action in 1793…read moreand again in the Franco Prussian War in 1870. Majestic views. Entrance until 5PM on weekdays and 6PM but can walk around grounds for an hour after although cafe closes at 6.

The Kurfurstliches Palais was the former residence of the Archbishops and Electors of Trier from…read morethe 16th-18th centuries. The building was originally part of the Ancient Imperial Palace that was used by Constantine the Great in around AD 310. The palace is still attached to the Basilica of Constantine which also dates to (AD 310). Today the palace houses various offices of the federal government and occasionally held classical music concerts. The concerts are performed in the Grand Chamber of the rococo south wing. Entrance is not permitted into the Palace, although the attached Basilica of Constantine is open and free to the public. Although the palace is not open, you are permitted to walk about outside and into the gardens since the early 20th century. The south wing of the palace boasts Rococo architecture designed by Johannes Seiz. The palace is fundamentally pink in color with gilded gold adornments and trim. There are numerous statues by Ferdinand Tietz displaying figures of Greek mythology, cherubs, and some strikingly out of place figures mostly females. The gardens are enclosed by clipped hedges. A pebbled walkway cuts through the gardens. The gardens are most attractive during the summer when flower arrangements are in full bloom and the garden fountain is in operation. The Furfurstliches Palais is close to the Roman Imperial Baths and Stern Street will take you to Hauptmarket and Porto Nigra (an ancient Roman Gate). The Palais is a nice side attraction to your visit to Old Town Trier but not a major focal point, .and thus a 3 star rating.

Hübsches kleines Barockschloss in der Trierer Altstadt, das man leider nicht besichtigen kann…read more Freier Zugang besteht allerdings zu dem netten Schlossgarten mit Springbrunnen, Steinfiguren etc. Der "Hinterhof" des Schlosses dient auch Musik- und anderen Veranstaltungen, wie zB bei meinem Besuch. Leider verschandelten die Zelte für ein LGBTQI+ Festival den Blick auf die schöne Schlossfassade.