German Castles and Palaces


Book Description

This is the first book to explore scores of castles & palaces in Germany.




Schloss in Bavaria


Book Description

Schloss is the German word for castle or palace. This book visits twenty-five beautiful schlosser (the plural of schloss) in Bavaria and tells the colourful stories of historical royal characters connected with them. The history of Bavaria is closely linked with the glamourous Wittelsbach royal family, who produced such well-known celebrities as Mad King Ludwig II. This book tells their enthralling story. It also discovers other Bavarian dynasties - which got fabulously rich from inventing the postal service; specialised in being elected as church princes; or whose smart marriage policy brought them numerous thrones... Bavaria is a beautiful part of Germany and a real joy to visit. In the days of the monarchy, Bavaria was a kaleidoscope of sovereign territories ruled by dukes, princes, and bishops. From Franconia in the north to the Alps in the south, the Bavarian countryside teems with their fascinating castles and palaces. The stories include the prince who sold his country and its people to Prussia; the princess who was expected to marry an emperor until he saw her little sister; the king of Bavaria who reigned the longest but who hardly ever appears in the history books; and the duke who has been called the Bavarian Henry VIII. The fairy-tale castles built by Ludwig II are visited by tourists from around the world, but other schlosser rarely see an English speaker. This book might encourage you to get off the beaten track and see these wonderful places yourself. Schloss in Bavaria is the author's fourth book about The Fascinating Royal History of German Castles. With over 100 illustrations and 14 family trees; it should appeal to anyone who likes history, sightseeing, or is interested in people's personal stories. The author's first three books, called Schloss, Schloss II, and Schloss III, are also available on Amazon.







For the Love of Europe


Book Description

After 40+ years of writing about Europe, Rick Steves has gathered 100 of his favorite memories together into one inspiring, award-winning collection: For the Love of Europe: My Favorite Places, People, and Stories. Join Rick as he's swept away by a fado singer in Lisbon, learns the dangers of falling in love with a gondolier in Venice, and savors a cheese course in the Loire Valley. Contemplate the mysteries of centuries-old stone circles in England, dangle from a cliff in the Swiss Alps, and hear a French farmer's defense of foie gras. With a brand-new, original introduction from Rick reflecting on his decades of travel, For the Love of Europe features 100 of the best stories published throughout his career. Covering his adventures through England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and more, these are stories only Rick Steves could tell. Wry, personal, and full of Rick's signature humor, For the Love of Europe is a fond and inspirational look at a lifetime of travel. Winner of the 2022 Society of American Travel Writers' Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award: Best Travel Book, Silver




Germany's Romantic Road & the Bavarian Alps


Book Description

We travel to grow -- our Adventure Guides show you how. Experience the places you visit more directly, freshly, intensely than you would otherwise -- sometimes best done on foot, in a canoe, or through cultural adventures like art courses, cooking classes, learning the language, meeting the people, joining in the festivals and celebrations. This can make your trip life-changing, unforgettable. All of the detailed information you need is here about the hotels, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing. But we also lead you to new discoveries, turning corners you haven't turned before, helping you to interact with the world in new ways. That's what makes our Adventure Guides unique. This is a must have volume for anyone really wanting to make the most of their German holiday. Color photos throughout. The author is a resident of Munich so he knows his subject well. "Of the three Germany guidebooks I used, this one was the most useful and not only because it covers so many places that the others simply ignored. Although you never get 10% off for showing this book, it has enough sensible advice on how to shave unnecessary expenses off the budget without ever feeling or acting like a cheapskate. The accommodation lists are very useful.--Jane S., Amazon.com Great to see a guidebook on Germany in English by an author who realizes that Germany is more than Berlin, the Rhine, and Bavaria. Not that the well-known areas are neglected but I particularly enjoyed the wide coverage on the former East German regions.--Steven, Amazon.com. The Romantische Strase (Romantic Road) is the most popular of Germany's roughly 150 themed vacation routes. It connects several romantic sights along a 210-mile route from Wurzburg on the Main to Fussen at the foot of the Bavaria Alps. En route, it passes romantic towns, hamlets, castles, and churches. This section describes some of the stops along the way; some are worth stopping over for a few hours, while others can literally be seen in minutes




The Swan King


Book Description

"The Swan King" is the biography of one of the most enigmatic figures of the 19th century, described by Verlaine as 'the only true king of his century'. A man of wildly eccentric temperament and touched by a rare, imaginative genius, Ludwig II of Bavaria is remembered both for his patronage of Richard Wagner and for the fabulous palaces which he created as part of a dream-world to escape the responsibilities of state. In realization of his fantasies, he created a ferment of creativity among artists and craftsmen, while his neglect of Bavaria's political interests made powerful enemies among those critical of his self-indulgence and excesses. At the age of 40, declared insane in a plot to depose him, Ludwig died in mysterious circumstances.




Neuschwanstein Castle


Book Description




Journey Through Germany


Book Description

Stretching from the coast of the North and Baltic seas to the precipitous peaks of the Alps, this guide journeys from north to south, traversing the many different natural and cultural landscapes of Germany. From the unique environment of the coastal mudflats and the popular islands of Sylt and Rügen, across the plains of northern Germany and the midlands hills to the highest point in the land, the Zugspitze, this illustrated volume depicts the country's geographical diversity in all its glory. Churches, castles, and palaces are captured, bearing witness to a rich and turbulent past, from the Romanesque cathedrals of the German emperors to the fairytale castles of Ludwig II of Bavaria. Medieval cities, such as Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Lübeck, and Wernigerode and modern metropolises boasting up-to-the-minute architectural constructions--with the new capital of Berlin firmly to the fore--harbor many highlights of Germany's artistic and cultural history. Showcasing this country in the very heart of Europe, this guide also comments on the castles on the Rhine and Saale, the making of wine, and the great writers of Classical Weimar, Goethe and Schiller.




Adventure Guide Germany


Book Description

Bavaria, the Mosel Valley, the Rhine region, the Black Forest, Dresden, Berlin, Hamburg - this highly detailed guide covers every part of the country in depth. The author, a German native and resident, shows you how to experience the best, through town walks, drives in the countryside and immersing yourself in the entertainment, the sights, the history and culture. Hundreds of hotel and restaurant reviews. Comprehensive background information - history, culture, geography and climate - gives you a solid knowledge of each destination and its people. Regional chapters take you on an introductory tour, with stops at museums, historic sites and local attractions. Places to stay and eat; transportation to, from and around your destination; practical concerns; tourism contacts - it's all here! Detailed regional and town maps feature walking and driving tours.




The Pinakothek Museums in Bavaria


Book Description

Poussin resides in the palace of Schleissheim, Hans Holbein in St Catherine's Church in Augsburg and Peter Paul Rubens in Neuburg an der Donau. But even the locations of the galleries'; ancient castles and magnificent palaces; make attractive destinations for excursions. From medieval altarpieces to media installations, from Albrecht Dürer to Andy Warhol, from Ansbach 0to Würzburg: lavishly illustrated and in the words of the people who look after them, this volume tells of famous masterpieces, reveals hidden treasures and invites you to embark upon a journey through the past history and present day of the Pinakotheken in Bavaria.