Rhine River Cruise 06/2009

This day trip was one of the funnest trips we've had so far. Just kicked back on a river cruise ship on the deck in lawn chairs and watched the beautiful castles and manors houses slowly roll by.

This is a toll castle in the middle of the river. If you owned one of these during the middle ages you were set for life as long as you could keep it with your army.

The picture doesn't do this justice but the red sandstone in this region of Germany is used allot and this church was a mix and a really cool contrast.

We explored one of the most famous castles in this region with real labyrinths and dungeons.

An ancient toll gate.

A modern toll gate.

This region is famous for wine. Germany actually produces more wine than any other country in the world but the reason they are not famous for it is they drink most of it instead of export it, seriously.

King Louie IVX of France captured the Rhine land and destroyed most of the castles and strong holds during the 16th century. The Franco-Prussian War of 1870 is where the German states became united again and created the 2nd Reich. They won the war and this monument is called the Freedom monument celebrating the liberation of the Rhine land from France.

Kaiser Wilhelm was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire after Frederick III who was the hero of the war.