German

Germany 2015: A day in Trier and Bernkastel-Kues

3/16/2016 10:25:00 PM

Bernkastel-Kues

The first time I visited Sandra's family in Germany (see label "Germany 2007"), we spent most of the time in her home town of Lampertheim. Of course I wanted to get to know her family, so sightseeing wasn't a big priority. I was more than happy hanging out in Lampertheim, shopping, cooking, and eating All Of The Food. So when Sandra's parents asked me if I wanted to visit anywhere else in Germany, I'd happily reply: "Mir ist egal" (basic translation: "I don't mind, it's all good"), and then go eat more Milka cookies.

However, on our next trip, in 2011, we also took day trips to Strasbourg and Rüdesheim am Rhein, both of which I loved. The quaint little streets! The buildings! The old churches! The Germany that I knew from fairytales! So different from anywhere I'd been in Australia! Since then, I've been much more decisive when they ask me what I want to do. "I would like to see old stuff and pretty little towns". Boom!

Today I'd like to tell you about two towns we visited in the Moselle wine region: Trier and Bernkastel-Kues.

Manhole cover in Trier

Trier is part of the Upper Mosel region, and is famous for the quality and density of monuments preserved from Roman civilisation. Porta Nigra, which you see below, is the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps, and was built sometime between 186 and 200 AD.

Porta Nigra

Another famous sight is the Liebfrauenkirche (The Church of our Lady). Both the church and Porta Nigra form part of the Trier UNESCO world heritage site.

Liebfrauenkirche

For those who are interested in more recent history, Trier is also the birthplace of Karl Marx. The house in which he was born is now a museum about his life and writings.


Karl Marx Haus

"Karl Marx was born on the 5th May 1818 in this house"

A few more pictures of Trier...

Trier

Trier

Fountain

After walking around the city, we stopped for lunch at Ratskeller zur Steipe, a restaurant on the main town square. It was quite pricey, as you might expect a restaurant on the main town square of a touristy city might be, but it was very good. These guys serve traditional hearty German food (like what I told you about in my Restaurants post), and I can definitely recommend it.

Trierer Löwenbräu vom Fass, 0,40 ltr, 3,80

I tried the local brew, Trierer Löwenbräu, which the restaurant had on tap. This was a light tasting, easy drinking beer.

Jägerschnitzel mit Bratkartoffeln und Salat - 12,90
Pork schnitzel with mushroom sauce, fried potatoes and salad (salad not pictured)

"Jägerteller" - Schweinefiletmedallions auf Waldpilzsauce mit Bratkartoffeln - 15,90
"Hunter's Plate" - Pork medallions with wild mushroom sauce and fried potatoes

I was thrilled to see that they were offering a seasonal chanterelle mushroom menu! I got medallions of wild boar, with a creamy chanterelle and green peppercorn sauce, with buttered spätzle. So delicious! You can see that the portion was huge, and I'm not ashamed to say that I ate the whole thing. Rar!

Wildschweinmedallions auf Rahmpfifferlingen mit grünem Pfeffer und Butterspätzle - 19,90€
Medallions of wild boar with a creamy chanterelle and green pepper sauce, and buttered spätzle

About a forty-five minute drive from Trier is Bernkastel-Kues. Not only is it a very pretty town, but it is also where Sandra's Oma grew up! So it was extra special for us to visit. We just spent a few hours walking around the town and grabbing a coffee, but it's also a winegrowing centre and a state-recognised health resort. (This seems to be a particularly German concept; I'll tell you more about it in my next post on Germany).

Bernkastel-Kues

Bernkastel-Kues is very quaint - lots of cute little shops, cobblestone streets, and Fachwerkhäuser (German timber-framed houses).

Bear Fountain!

One of the most famous sights in Bernkastel-Kues is the Spitzhäuschen (or "little pointed house"), which happens to be a wine bar. I rather love this photo of the tall and skinny lady looking up at the tall and skinny house!

Weinstube Spitzhäuschen

Bernkastel-Kues

As we were walking through the town and I was snapping pictures, Sandra's dad Rudolf said to us: "You know, if all the tourists come to places like this with the old buildings, and show their friends these photos, then people will think all of Germany looks like this!" Yup. Hehe.

To finish off this post, here are some photos from the Bernkastel-Kues bridge, overlooking the famous Moselle river...

Bernkastel-Kues

Bernkastel-Kues

Bernkastel-Kues

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6 comments

  1. Ooh the food looks so good for the weather I'm in now!! Well done for finishing that whole plate too although it sounds so good I can see why :D

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    1. OMG, I ate sooooo much in Germany, haha! Have to try and exercise a bit more before we go back again in May!

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  2. The food looks amazing! The place is amazing! I hope I could visit it this year.

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    1. Thanks, lovely! Those towns are definitely worth a visit :)

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  3. I love Trier, in fact I was there only last Saturday again. I don't think I've been to that restaurant before though, so it's on my list now. Haven't been to Bernkastel Kues in ages but your pics make me want to go back.

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    1. I hope you enjoy Bernkastel-Kues the next time you visit!

      PS I have to start thinking of other places to visit - we're off to Germany again in May! Any towns you can recommend? :)

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