The One with Bacharach, Germany

One thing we've wanted to do since living in Germany is a Rhine River cruise to see and explore this very historic part of the country. Rick Steves recommended focusing on the section of the river between Bacharach and St. Goar so we drove the almost four hours from our house to Bacharach to catch the K-D Line boat from there.

The darling town of Bacharach was once a prosperous wine and wood trade town. Now it is a pleasant half-timbered village of 2,000 people that remains time-capsule quaint.

Looking out to the Rhine through the riverfront park. The Rhine used to lap against the town wall and to this day, every few years, the river floods and covers this area and the highway with several feet of water. 

This park was laid out in 1910 in the English style so that the trees framed fine town views.

An old, neglected war memorial with panels honoring the sons of Bacharach who died for the Kaiser in 1864 against Denmark, 1866 against Austria, 1870 against France, and in 1914 in WWI.

So cute! The castle up on the hill is now a youth hostel.

Walking from the riverfront park into town. Lovely back alley.

A 17th century well, one of 40 such wells that provided water to the townsfolk until about 1900. 

Walking along the old town wall that now has hotels and cafes built on it. Looking into a restaurant.

Hidden garden escape.

The posthof with a golden postal horn that symbolizes mail service throughout Europe. In olden days when the postman blew this traffic stopped and the mail sped through. Now this post station is home to the TI but the building dates from 1724. When stagecoaches ran from Cologne to Frankfurt they would change horses here, Pony Express style.

Inside a nearby courtyard there is still a Nazi eagle painted on the wall. Dated from 1936, the swastika that once was in the center has since been removed.

The main intersection of Bacharach. I love these little German villages.

The Altes Haus built in the 14th century | A tool used to measure flood water levels. The old mint is marked with a coin hanging on its sign.

Half-timbered, but full-cute.

Take time to stop and smell the roses.

In the dental clinic on post there are dozens of photos of German towns and countryside, one of them that Chris always walks by is this view of Bacharach. Check!

Don't see many bank signs like this back home!

Jane being Jane.

Vineyards. In the middle ages Bacharach was the largest wine-trading town on the Rhine. A riverfront crane used to hoist huge kegs of prestigious Bacharach wine on and off boats navigating the river. Along this field was a path to what we had been looking forward to, the classic romantic Rhine view!

We found the view Rick Steves uses on the cover of his Germany 2013 travel guide woohoo!

The castle, Burg Stahleck, overlooking the town.

The church on the right is a Protestant church. Ruins of the Wernerkapelle, an old Gothic church.  Our family in Bacharach Germany on Friday May 22nd 2015.

Next travel post: the Rhine River cruise!