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Europe 2026 – Day 10 Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt was our first tour stop, where our river boat could dock in town (new town, not old town), so we had a 15-minute walk along the Main to reach the old town entrance. Frankfurt has been nicknamed “Mainhattan” for its skyline resembling Manhattan’s. It is a major financial center and a rich hub of culture and architecture. Nine museums line the Main. In the Roman Hill, Frankfurt’s town hall spreads out over 11 houses. Emperors were crowned in the Gothic St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral; the remnants from Roman settlement are on exhibit in the city’s archaeological Garden. Frankfurt and its old town were heavily destroyed during WW2 and today’s old town is mainly reconstructed from the 50’s to the 70’s. The Romerberg square in the heart of Frankfurt’s Old Town (Altstadt) contains many of the reconstructed half-timber houses. Frankfurt Cathedral (Kaiserdom) is a stunning red-sandstone Gothic Church. Eiserner Steg (Iron Bridge) is a historic iron footbridge crossing the Main River. It’s famous for its thousands of “love locks” and great views of the city. Kleinmarkthalle is a large and lively indoor market where you can get all kinds of pork parts.

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Europe 2026 – Day 9, Baden-Baden, Germany

A UNESCO town renowned for its cultural splendor and its thermal baths. During the 19th century, the town was labeled “the Summer Capital of Europe”. The town is the quintessential European spa town, famous for its Belle Epoque Architecture and high-end culture. Three interesting thermal baths are viewed:

  • Roman Bath Ruins – these 2000-year-old excavations show exactly how the ancient Romans enjoyed the springs.
  • Friedrichsbad – A historic Roman-Irish bathhouse built in 1877. It features a unique 17-step bathing ritual under a frescoed dome. This is a textile-free (nude) facility.
  • Caracalla Spa – a modern wellness complex with over 4,000 square meters of indoor and outdoor pools, rock grottos, and saunas. (Swimsuits required).

Casino Baden-Baden: often called the most beautiful casino in the world, its interiors were inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Too bad it was closed when we got there. The casion owed by the town and funds it’s infrstruture.

Trinkhalle (Pump Room): A 19th-century corridor lined with frescos depicting local legends. We also sampled the very salty thermal water from its fountain.

For some exercise, we walked part of the 2.3 km Lichtentaler Alle along the Oos River, a park and arboretum.

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Europe 2026 – Day 8b, Alsace, France

The Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg, sometimes also Haut-Kœnigsbourg, is a medieval castle located in the commune of Orschwiller in the Bas-Rhin département of Alsace, France. This medieval castle is a symbol of Alsatian heritage it sits high atop a rocky promontory overlooking the region. From 1174, it guarded the Upper Rhine plain until its destruction during the 30 years’ war and for centuries it lay in ruins before extensive restoration in the 20th century. It was a long winding drive up the mountain to arrive at the base of the castle then ascending a gravel path to enter thru High Gate. The tour started in the lower courtyard before climbing a narrow spiral staircase to the lord’s furnished residence with the trappings of medieval life including weapons, furnishings and frescos.

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Europe 2026 – Day 8a, Strasbourg France

An early morning bus ride to Strasbourg, France started with a boat ride through picturesque Petite France district (the town is surrounded by the Ill River and crisscrossed by several canals).  We passed by the former tanner’s district which is home to the Old Customs house and bridges with their defensive towers. After disembarking we walk to Cathedral Square to see the restored Strasbourg Cathedral, one of Europe’s finest Gothic cathedrals.  The Cathedrals Astronomical clock was impressive, but we were there on the quarter hour for one ring and one movement missing the parade of figures that happens at 12:30. Strasbourg is also home to the European Union and the Council of Europe both of which are housed in very modern buildings. BTW in yesterday’s post I incorrectly stated that Colmar was in Germany – not really it is in France.

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Europe 2026 – Day 7b, Colmar, Germany

This afternoons excursion was to stroll the medeviel lanes and squares of Colmar and to explore its “Little Venice”. The original Old Town was laid out in the 9th century and its Gothic churches were from the 13th Century. The city overflows with intact Alsatian homes and a mix of French and German Renaissance archeticture.

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Europe 2026 – Day 7a, Freiburg, Germany

This morning  we took a trip to the southwestern corner of Germany visiting Freiburg and the Kaiserstuhl region. Along the way we passed terraced vineyards set on steep hillsides. In Freiburg we walked through the city’s old town with its cobble stone streets and half-timber houses. Highlights of the town included the Freiburg Cathedral, the Munsterplatz, a farmer and craft market, and it’s two remaining medieval gates, the Swabian and Martin’s gates. Also, the Historisches Kaufhaus (merchant hall) a bright red building with ornate bay windows.

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Europe 2026 – Day 6, Basel, Switzerland

Near our dock, there is a monument to the friendship and to the meeting point of Switzerland, Germany, and France – too bad it hasn’t been kept up; a lot of weeds, no flowers, and tagged. (looks like a rocket ship) We headed to Basel, Switzerland’s Old Town, a cluster of medieval buildings on a hilly riverbank. We started our tour by visiting the Markplatz, or Market Square, which is surrounded by many old guild halls built in the late Gothic, Renaissance, or Baroque styles. The Rathaus, or town hall, has some ornate spires but does not match the ornate towers of the 13th-century red-sandstone Münster or Cathedral. Behind the cathedral is an open terrace providing excellent views of the Rhine River and the cable ferries that cross it using the water flow to follow a guideline from old town to new town. Having about an hour and a half of free time, we walked around the city’s botanical garden, the old city walls from the Spalentor Gate in the west to The Tinguely fountain and it’s mechanical water displays back through the city center over the Middle Bridge to the Basel Papermill Museum and St. Albans Gate in the east – finally back to Kuntsmuseum to catch our bus back to the ship.

BTW, we were informed that we will need to switch boats before Frankfurt because Rhine water levels are too low – fortunately, it will be a 3-hour bus ride to get to our next ship, and we will be able to complete the remainder of our cruise after the transfer.

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Europe 2026 – Day 5, Lucerne & Basel, Switzerland

Today was primarily a travel day out of the Alps and down to the Rhine River in Basel. We left Grindelwald by train at 8:47, arrived in Interlaken at 9:24, boarded the Interlaken – Lucerne express at 10:04, and arrived at Lucerne at 11:55. You know what – we hit those times exactly – not like the Central Railroad of New Jersey! Arriving in Lucerne, we did a walking tour of the city – a lakeside town with views of the Alps and the towering Mount Pilatus. We walked by half-timbered burgher houses and crossed the Chapel Bridge – a famous covered pedestrian walkway built in the 14th century. Viewed the stately Jesuit Church, consecrated in 1677. Finally, we wandered through the old town admiring the historic buildings. The “Lion Monument,” a ten-by-six-metre work, was created in honour of the Swiss Guards who died in the Storming of the Tuileries in Paris in 1792. But how did this come about? It’s 10th August 1792: on this day, some 1,000 Swiss guardsmen were protecting the life of King Louis XVI of France with unconditional loyalty and bravery. The revolutionaries stormed the King’s residence, which the Swiss were defending, leading to the virtual annihilation of the Swiss Guard. The Lion Monument, a powerful memorial, pays homage to the selfless heroes of these men. Then, a 1.5-hour bus trip to our ship docked in Basel.

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Europe 2026 – Day 4, Jungfrau Region, Switzerland

Restful start today- a 10:20 cog railway train to Klein Schweitzer to view the Eiger, Monch, and the Jungfru mountains at 2061 meters. Followed by another cog rail to Eigergletscher station at 2320 meters. There we switch to a gondola for our return to Grindelwald. The pictures speak for themselves – a wonderful day of high-altitude travel.

BTW, see the end of this blog for a picture I left of Montreux Day 2.

And Yesterdays missing picture:

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