Pre Douro River Cruise City of Madrid

Pre Duoro River CruisePre Douro River Cruise Is A City of Madrid

Madrid is not only the capital of Spain, but is also the largest city in the country. It’s also the capital of the autonomous community of the same name (Comunidad de Madrid) and is located on the Manzanares River in the center of both the country and the Community of Madrid. Madrid is a globally important city with a great reputation for having the most modern infrastructures and is an economic, financial, administrative, and service center of the country. Madrid provides a multitude of opportunities for sightseeing and boasts of some world-class restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.

Madrid is renowned throughout the world for its great cultural and artistic heritage and has many Spain Culture Sites. The culture of this city is deeply influenced by its Royal history as the center of the Spanish Empire. Madrid has several landmark sites dating back to the times of Spanish Monarchy such as the Royal Palace, enormous cathedrals, and churches. The city boasts a rare level of medieval architecture and has a unique blend of historical and modern blends, comparable to what’s seen in London and Berlin.

Attractions in Madrid include Prado Museum Royal, Palace Plaza Mayor Sun Gate, Parque del Retiro, Torres KIO (Puerta de Europa) Cibeles, Plaza Santiago, Bernabeu Stadium and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Galería 57.

Explore A Spectacular Pre Douro River Cruise

Madrid also takes pride in being one of the top European art destinations, including the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado.
The Thyssen Bornemisza Museum is another great museum which was established from a mixed private collection of artwork. Reina Sofía Museum is a one of a kind display where Pablo Picasso’s Guernica hangs, returning to Spain from New York after more than two decades.

An abode of history, art, and culture, Madrid is a must visit location. Our Pre Douro River cruise offers an optional 3 night land program in Madrid! Book your holiday on one of our Douro River cruises and make a trip to the amazing city of Madrid!

Charming Breisach on the Rhine River

The town of Breisach is often a stop while cruising on a Rhine River Cruise. The town offers the hill top St. Stephan’s Cathedral; the Museum of Town History located at the bottom hill of the Cathedral; Breisach also features the largest wine cellar in Germany. Visits to wine Continue reading

Top Events in the Black Forest in 2013

The Black Forest, quite famous for its beautiful cuckoo clocks, is a wooded mountain range located in the southwest corner of Germany in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Situated on the border triangle between Germany, France and Switzerland, it extends along the Rhine River for about 100 miles. The Black Forest (in German language “Schwarzwald”) is one of the most popular tourist places in Germany and has much more to offer besides cuckoo clocks. Apart from its beautiful lakes and attractive sites, the Black Forest is well known throughout the rest of the country for its variety of cultural events and festivals.

A Year of Festivals In The Black Forest

The whole year, the Black Forest is busy celebrating festivals. There is a lot of variety ranging from culinary festivals, to flower festivals and wine and mill festivals. During summer season, Black Forest residents celebrate culinary festivals such as the “Oberkircher Erdbeerfest” (Strawberry Festival) on June 25-26 and the “Kaiserstühler Kirschenfest” (Cherry Festival) in Königsschaffhausen from May 24-27. Enzklösterle, a village in the northern part of the Black Forest, is famous for its wild blueberries – also known as “blue gold”. Here, the locals celebrate a traditional “Blueberry Festival” on the July 20-21. The “Bühler Zwetschgenfest” (Plum Festival) celebrated in Bühl from September 6-9, is also dedicated to the sweet, blue regional fruit.

From October 10th to November 11th, the city of Lahr turns into a marvelous colorful sea of flowers composed of glowing chrysanthemums on the occasion of the “Chrysanthema” festival.

Black Forest Wine Festivals

The Black Forest region is famous for its wines and the best Baden wines come from the western edge of the Black Forest. It is wonderful to visit one of the many “Winzerhocks” (wine-grower’s festivals) and wine festivals. There are many wine festivals but the most important among these are the “Freiburger Weinfest” (Wine Festival) from the July 4-9, the “Markgräfler Weinfest” (Wine Festival) in Staufen from August 2-5, the “Breisgauer Weinfest” (Wine Festival) in Emmendingen from the August 16-19, the “Weinfest Kaiserstuhl-Tuniberg” (Wine Festival) in Breisach from the August 30th to September 2nd and the “Ortenauer Weinfest” in Offenburg on September 28-29. At the north-eastern edge of the Black Forest, Pforzheim is going to celebrate its traditional wine festival “Oechslefest” from August 23rd to September 8th with wines from Baden and Württemberg.

Yet another festival to be celebrated in the Black Forest on May 20th is The “Deutsche Mühlentag” (German Mills‘ Day). This is a traditional event and theme day dedicated to the mills and milling industry in Germany. In the northern part of the Black Forest, a particularly large number of these picturesque structures form an integral part of the landscape. So, a highly traditional milling festival is celebrated at and around the “Mühlendorf Ottenhöfen”.

The “Heimattage Baden-Württemberg” is one of the most important festivals over the course of the year. Every year, a special emphasis is placed on a different region. Here you can get a detailed knowledge of the customs and culture of the model region in south-western Germany. In 2013, this festival will be organized by the “Neckar-Erlebnis-Tal” (Neckar Event Valley), which is located at the north-eastern edge of the Black Forest. The traditional “Baden-Württemberg-Day”, scheduled on 5th May 4-5, as well as the “Landesfesttage” (Federal State Festival) scheduled on September 6-8 are other highlights in 2013.

Our many Rhine River Cruise as well as Neckar River Cruise itineraries offer excursions into Germany’s Black Forest. So book your holiday on one of these and visit this wonderful place and its unique festivals!

AMA Wine Cruises – The Rhine River Valley

The Rhine River Valley, also known as “the heartland of the Holy Roman Empire”, is an extremely beautiful region and has been a great attraction for wine lovers since long ago. For centuries the region, has inspired poets and great thinkers such as Lord Byron and Goethe who immortalized it in their works. The Rhine River Valley has also inspired several myths and legends. The origin of the beautiful Rhine lies in the Alps whereon it winds its way north through Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The Rhine River Valley is renowned for fairytale castles and has the distinction of having more castles than in any other river valley in the world.

Begin Your Journey Through The Rhine River Valley

Our Rhine River Valley Cruise is the perfect choice for you to explore the enchanting Rhine wine region while enjoying the comforts of a deluxe river cruise vessel! Your wine cruise starts in vivacious Amsterdam where you enjoy the city’s legendary canals. Cologne is your next destination where you will see one of Europe’s most spectacular cathedrals and sample the city’s famous Kölsch beer. Your cruise takes you further to Koblenz where you can take a walking tour of a 2,000 year-old wine town situated at the conflux of the Rhine and Mosel Rivers.

Your tryst with German wines continues as you further cruise through the Rhine River Valley to the captivating town of Rudesheim where you learn about Rhine wines at a Berg Rottland wine tasting. Then from Speyer, you can take an excursion to the historic university town of Heidelberg and continue to Alsace’s capital of Strasbourg, where you’ll learn about the region’s famous Alsatian wines. From Breisach, another excursion is offered along the Alsatian wine route which takes you to Colmar and the fascinating wine village of Riquewihr.

Basel is your final destination on the cruise, located on the borders of Switzerland, France and Germany.  From Basel, you transfer to Lucerne and then to Zurich where you’ll fall in love with Switzerland’s beautiful and mesmerizing scenery and Alpine view.

Departures on the Rhine River Cruise for 2013 are scheduled on November 15th and 22nd. Prices start from $2,399 per person.

Your Hosts In The Rhine River Valley

Your hosts for these special Rhine River Valley themed cruises are:

  • November 15th: Culture and Wine Legacy of the Rhine with Holly Howell, who is a columnist for the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester, New York and a well-respected authority on the wines of the Finger Lakes region, particularly Rieslings. She also teaches food and wine classes and makes her own wine
  • November 22nd: Culture and Wine Legacy of the Rhine with Mark Johnson of Chateau Chantal Winery in Michigan. Trained at the Geisenheim Research Institute in Germany, Johnson has been the winemaker at Chateau Chantal since it opened in 1986.

These wine cruises through the Rhine River Valley are great for small wine groups or organizations. As these cruises do book up quickly, please call to book your cruise today!

The Medieval Marksburg Castle

Marksburg Castle is one of the principal sites of the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge and holds the distinction of being the only hill castle on the Rhine that has never been destroyed. The castle was built to protect the town of Braubach and was used mainly for protection rather than as a residence for royal families.

Marksburg Castle Stands The Test Of Time

Marksburg Castle is one of Germany’s prominent historical sites and stands as a rare example of history virtually undisturbed by the passage of time. Lived in for over 700 years, this castle has survived through the ravages of time to be one of the best examples of medieval architecture in Germany. The fortress has undergone several additions and developments over the centuries, growing into its present day shape. The only serious damage the Marksburg Castle ever suffered in hostilities occurred near the close of WWII when it was shelled from the west bank of the Rhine River.

One of the most important Rhine castles, the Marksburg Castle stands atop a hill rising above the town of Braubach on the right bank of Rhine River, upstream from its junction with the Mosel River. The unusually slender keep of the castle towers above the surrounding courts and ramparts.

Dating back to the construction of the keep in the 12th century, the fortress has been ever-changing and growing into its present shape through succeeding centuries. In the Middle Ages, the strengthening of the castle’s defenses became indispensable and urgent by improvements made to firearms. Certain significant changes were made during this period such as the huge outworks as well as the conversion of a gateway in the outer wall to a strong bastion. It was mainly due to these additional defense works that the castle could be protected from serious attacks many times. During peaceful times, Marksburg Castle was used mainly as a state prison.

You would be enthralled to visit this most original castle and the entire valley of the Loreley. This wonderful castle, home of the German Castles Association which is set up to preserve such ancient monuments, presents a host of captivating artifacts coming alive from the middle ages.

Visit Marksburg Castle on our select Rhine River Cruises!