Siegfried’s Music Museum

 

 

Have you ever dreamed of visiting an enchanting land of castles and rolling countryside?  If so, Rudesheim, Germany is the place for you to visit.  It lies along the Rhine River, it’s decorated with an abundance of castles and it is one of the most romantic cities you will visit in Germany.  A Rhine River cruise will take you to this amazing land and where you can indulge in its wonders.

Rudesheim is one of the Rhineland’s best known wine villages and offers many sightseeing attractions to its visitors. This fascinating village is on the route of many Rhine river cruises.

History of Rudesheim

The original name of Rudesheim is Rudesheim am Rhein. It is situated in the Rheingau region at the foot of the Taunus Mountains and is a primary center of the Rhine wine industry. It was first mentioned in 864. The Brömserburg, an early castle of the archbishops of Mainz, was rebuilt as a residence around 1200 and later belonged to the knights of Rudesheim. Now, it is home to amazing historical collections and a wine museum. Half-timber houses, narrow streets, and old inns give the town its medieval look.

What to see in Rudesheim

One of the attractions in this riverside town is Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum. This is the first museum collection of automated musical instruments in Germany. You will be mesmerized as you look at this impressive collection.

Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum is housed in Brömserhof, a noble court built in 1542.  It covers an exhibition space of more than 400 square meters and has one of the largest and most beautiful collections of mechanical music boxes. There are around 350 exhibits of mechanical instruments dating back to the 18th to the 20th century – from delicate musical boxes to a huge piano-orchestrion. The museum also collects tools and machines for manufacturing barrel organs, cardboard music, piano rolls and musical box plates.

Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum displays music boxes of the past as well as traditional techniques in making the musical boxes and music rolls.  It’s interesting to learn how these instruments work and how their place in society has evolved.   The museum is located above the river front area of shops and tasting rooms.  Near the museum you will find more shops, tasting rooms and restaurants.

“I had no idea such musical instruments existed in the past – this was my highlight in one of my visits to Rudesheim.  Jan Baumgartner”

The village of Drosselgasse is another sightseeing attraction in Rudesheim. Here you can stroll along the cobble-stone streets and enjoy the village atmosphere. Drosselgasse has a number of taverns and tempting beer gardens. The Rheingau’s famous Rieslings, Sekt and locally distilled brandies are readily available if you are interested to taste them all.  Wine enthusiasts can learn how wine is produced in the Rheingau, can visit the wine museum at the Bromserburg castle.

The mighty slate rock Lorelei in the Romantic Rhine Valley is yet another pride of Rudesheim. This rock rises up almost vertically to 145 yards/132m above the water-level. Downstream the river is squeezed into its narrowest and deepest point 24 yards/22m. So the Middle Rhine at this point used to be very difficult to navigate and the correct passage, today, is clearly marked with buoys.

Even in the 19th century, reefs and rapids made this area extremely dangerous for ships to pass. According to legend, a siren called “Lorelei” bewitched the hearts of the sailors and when they looked up to the rock, their boat crashed and they sank.

Rudesheim is so captivating you shouldn’t pass by without visiting it. It’s location, architecture, and wines make the town a favorite stop along the Rhine for tourists. So get on-board a Rhine River cruise and be prepared to explore this wonderland!

We offer short Rhine River Cruises of 4- 6 nights as well as 7 night and longer cruises along the Rhine River of  Germany.  Cruise lines we work with are AmaWaterways, Arosa Cruises, Croisi Europe and Viva Cruises. For information, please contact us at 888-869-7907  or jan@europeanbarging.com

Europeanbarging Introduces the Viva Tiara for 2020 River Cruises

We are pleased to introduce a new European river cruise line – VIVA.
The Viva line is a mid range priced cruise line with beautiful ships and great service. The parent company has been leasing and chartering their ships since 1973 and has one of the largest fleets in
Europe.

Viva Tiara Ship

The first reflagged ship will be the 153 passenger Viva Tiara, who will go thru a total remodel in January and February of 2020 (though she had a remodel in 2018).  She will have a new color scheme and furnishing in a restful teal and white theme.

 

Upon entering the ship, there is a beautiful 2 story atrium with sweeping wrought iron and wood staircase to the upper level (a lift is located to the side of the stairs), chandeliers, reception desk and customer service desk and on-board boutique are on the upper Diamond deck.  There is also a stylish lounge with panoramic bar and dance floor, the comfortable Bistro Bar with Internet corner in the rear.

The Panorama restaurant is situated on the Ruby Deck and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Breakfast is a buffet, lunch is a buffet salad bar and served entree and dessert, dinner is fully served.  Main entree choices will consist of a seafood, meat and vegetarian choice.  Afternoon tea consists of cakes and sandwiches.

On the Emerald deck the guest can enjoy relaxing moments in the wellness area with fitness equipment, whirlpool, sauna, steam bath and solarium. The decks are connected by a lift (not going to the Emerald deck).

Sundeck of the Viva Tiara

The sun deck features lounge chairs for guests, a putting green, jacuzzi, walking track and weather permitting – fitness equipment for use.

New Viva Tiara cabin colorsAll cabins on the Diamond and the Ruby deck have French balconies. The outward-facing cabins are equipped with flat-screen TV, radio, stocked minibar, safe, hair dryer, air-conditioning, shower and WC.

 

“I am very excited about this cruise line and the new destinations in their itineraries – many of which I have not visited yet.”        Jan Baumgartner, Europeanbarging

The ship features English and German language.

Unique Itineraries

As mentioned above, the Viva Tiara has some interesting ports on the Rhine and Dutch cruise itineraries – both are round trip Dusseldorf).  On the 5 night Dutch and Rhine itinerary, in addition to Amsterdam and Nijmegen, there are stops in Emmerich, Deventer, Kampen, Enkhuizen and Rees (Germany).  The 7 night also features stops in Hoorn, Rotterdam and Dordricht.

The 5 night Rhine River itinerary features the towns of Niederlahnstein,  and Oestrich-Winkel, in addition to Cologne, Mainz, Frankfurt, Boppard.  The 7 night also includes Koblenz, Mannheim, Speyer and Strasbourg.

On the Danube River, the 5 night cruises include round trip Passau with stops in Vienna (overnight), Bratislava and Linz. The 7 night itinerary  additionally includes Budapest,

For Advent season, there are lovely 4 and 5 night cruises on the Rhine and Danube Rivers, where you visit the heart of Europe and experience the delight of its traditional holiday markets.

Affordable Pricing

What’s the greatest thing about this cruise trip? You’ll get to enjoy the above mentioned perks all for an affordable price. Visit your dream European destinations aboard a luxury ship starting from less than $1,000. This all-inclusive trip ensures you’ll be getting your money’s worth.  Cruise rates start $714 for a 5 night cruise in early spring on the lower deck – $1535 for a Jr suite on the upper deck, a 7 night cruise in spring and summer on the lower deck $1995 – $2725 for a Jr suite on the upper deck.  Cruise rates on the Viva Tiara include the cruise, port taxes, Gratuities, all meals, wine, and a beverage package – Soft Drinks, as well as tea and coffee, Beer, wine, throughout the day and evening between 10am and midnight. Sightseeing excursions are not included and can be booked onboard.

We are offering a 20% discount off the rates for 2020 departures booked and paid in full by Dec 30th, 2019.

Book your European river cruise now – 888-869-7907  or jan@europeanbarging.com.