ROUTE 142. MAYENCE TO MANNHEIM AND HEIDELBERG WORMS. 42 miles; 1st class, 590 pf.; 390 pf.; 3rd, 250 pf. P BY 2nd, PASSING through an uninteresting region along the east bank of the Rhine, abounding in vineyards, we pass Laubenheim, Bodenheim, and Nierstein, all of which give their names to well-known wines of the second class, and reach OPPENHEIM (12 miles). On a hill north-west of the town, is seen the Church of St Catherine, a handsome Gothic edifice of the twelfth century. Above it are the ruins of the Castle of Landskrone, which dates from the twelfth century. Quitting the borders of the river, we pass Gernsheim, Guntersblum, and several other unimportant stations, and arrive at WORMS (28 miles), (Hotel: Alter Kaiser). Just before reaching Worms, we see the Gothic Church of Our Lady, built in the fifteenth century, and recently restored. It is situated in the vineyard which produces the well-known Liebfraumilch wine. Worms is a walled town, with massive towers, and seven gates. The DOм, or Cathedral, an edifice of the twelfth century, partly in the Gothic, and partly in the Byzantine style, has two towers at each end, and a fine portal with elaborate sculptures. The interior has been restored. North of the Dom are the remains of the Bischofshof, consisting of a few stone walls. In it was held, in 1521, the celebrated Diet of Worms, at which Luther appeared before Charles V. A fine bronze statue of the great Reformer was erected here in 1868. St Paul's Church is interesting for the beauty of its west end and choir, dating from the eleventh century. Worms is one of the oldest cities in Germany, and is the scene of the Niebelungen Lied. It was occupied by the Romans, and was the frequent residence of Charlemagne. Its population once reached 60,000. It was almost wholly destroyed by the French in the Thirty Years' War, and has never recovered its former prosperity. Part of the space formerly occupied by the city is now covered with gardens. A few miles above Worms, we leave the territory of Darmstadt, and enter the Grand Duchy of Baden. Frankenthal (35 miles) is a prosperous town. A canal connects it with the Rhine, three miles distant. LUDWIGSHAFEN (42 miles), a flourishing town, occupying the site of one of the fortifications of Mannheim, is connected with the latter by a bridge of boats. MANNHEIM (Hotels: de l'Europe, Pfalzer Hof) is situated on the right bank of the Rhine, between it and the Neckar. It is regularly built, with twelve streets running parallel to each other from north to south, and ten crossing them at right angles. There are fourteen public squares, nearly all of which are adorned with fountains. Those most worthy of notice, are the Planken, and the Schiller Platz; the latter containing statues of Schiller, Dalberg, and Iffland. The Palace is a huge quadrangular stone building, containing a gallery of paintings of no great merit. The gardens behind it terminate in a terrace, which overlooks the Rhine. Its fortifications were destroyed after the peace of Luneville, and their place is now occupied by gardens. From Mannheim to Heidelberg is seven miles; time, 29 minutes. For description of Heidelberg, see Route 151. ROUTE 143. MAYENCE TO STRASBURG BY WORMS AND SPIRES. 120 miles; 4 hours. Fares, 1st, 18 m. 50; 2nd, 12.90. HE route as far as Ludwigshafen is described in Route 142, above. Leaving Ludwigshafen, we pass two or three small stations before reaching (54 miles from Mayence) SPIRES (Hotel: Wittelsbacherhof). It is situated at the confluence of the Spire with the Rhine. It is surrounded with walls. It was a Roman station, a residence of the German Emperors, and the seat of the Germanic Diet. It once contained a population of 27,000. Its prosperity began to decline in the 17th century. The greatest blow upon it was inflicted by Louis XIV., who, having taken possession of the city in 1689, ordered its inhabitants, under pain of death, to emigrate within six days. It was afterwards burned. It came into the possession of Bavaria in 1816, since which time much has been done for its improvement. The Cathedral, which was spared in the destruction of the city, though the French attempted to destroy it with gunpowder, is perhaps the largest representative of the old Romanesque style in Europe. It was founded in 1027, on the site of a Roman temple of Venus. It is flanked by two pointed towers. The interior is chaste, and almost devoid of ornament. It contains some remarkable monuments. Eight German Emperors are buried within its walls. It has been restored within the last few years, and some fine paintings executed on the walls of the interior. There are no other public buildings worthy of particular notice. In 1529 the famous Diet was held at Spires, at which the Reformers presented the protest which originally conferred upon them the name of PROTESTANTS. Leaving Spires we pass Germersheim, and following the Rhine, we pass several small stations to Lauterburg, the first town in Alsace. After several unimportant stations, we reach Strasburg, for description of which, see page 358. ROUTE 144. FRANKFORT TO EMS, BY WIESBADEN. dyspepsia of such as have only a tendency to phthisis. "The action of the waters is that of a mild alterative, diuretic and laxative, and they are believed to favourably influence all catarrhal affections of the mucous membranes."-Tanner. The interviews between the King of Prussia and the French 89 miles; 1st class, 11.30; 2nd, envoy, which preceded the decla 8.20; 3rd, 5.30. (For Route from Frankfort to Wiesbaden, see Route 140.) EAVING Wiesbaden, we reach the Rhine at BIEBRICH (3 miles). We pass ELTVILLE (9 miles), RUDESHEIM (19 miles), ST GOARHAUSEN (37 miles), and OBERLAHNSTEIN (54 miles), all of which have been described in Route 139. At this point our route leaves the main line to Coblenz. It is about one hour's journey from Oberlahnstein_ through a beautiful country to EMS (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST"). This agreeable watering-place is pleasantly situated on both banks of the Lahn. The Kursaal is a handsome building close to the river. It contains a cafe, concert room, and a ball-room, with a theatre for French plays and occasional concerts. Two of the chief springs are under the old Kurhaus -the Kesselbrunnen and the Kranchen; the temperature of the former is 116 degrees Fahr. This building is connected with the Kursaal by a fine hall. There are baths in the Kurhaus, also in the Nassauer Hof, and in the Neue Badhaus, on the left bank. A covered suspension bridge connects the gardens with those on the right bank. There are also baths in the Vier Thurme. "The waters generally are recommended in bronchial and pulmonary affections, and in the ration of war between France and Prussia in July 1870, took place at Ems. [About six miles from the Eltville station is SCHLANGENBAD (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST"), to which diligences go several times daily in one hour. It is a little village surrounded by wooded hills, much resorted to for its baths. It has two bathhouses, the Old and New Badhaus, and has generally about 850 visitors in the season. The waters are efficacious in diseases of the skin. A band of music plays frequently in the grounds. About four miles further on towards Wiesbaden, is LANGENSCHWALBACH (Hotels: see "HoTEL LIST"). Its mineral springs are, the Weinbrunnen, so-called from its fancied resemblance to wine, and the Stahlbrunnen, both of which contain iron, and rank among the best iron waters in Europe. The season begins in June, and usually terminates in August. It has about 5,000 visitors during the season.] ROUTE 145. FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN TO CASSEL. 124 miles; 1st class (express), 17.30; 2nd, 13.30. EAVING Frankfort we pass some unimportant places before reaching Gross-Karben, close to which station are the famous TAUNUS SPRINGS, the waters of which are sent in great quantities to England, America, and other countries, and are SO much esteemed. The springs are the property of M. Freidrich, the proprietor of the Hotel du Nord, at Cologne. FRIEDBERG (21 miles), (Hotel: Trapp). This curious old town is situated on a hill, and surrounded by walls. Within the precincts of the picturesque Castle is an old Gothic Church, and there are the ruins of another in the town. We cross a viaduct 70 ft. high, and proceed to NAUHEIM (23 miles), (Hotels: de l'Europe, Bellevue). Here is a famous hot salt spring of 95 degrees Fahr. The Kurhaus is a fine building, situated in a park. Previous to 1873 there were gaming tables here. Passing Butzbach (29 miles), we see the ruins of the Castles of Fetzberg and Gleiberg, before reaching GIESSEN (41 miles), Hotel: Kuhne). It is beautifully situated on the Lahn. The University, founded in 1607, possesses a fine library. The celebrated Liebig was a professor here, 1824-52. (Branch lines to Ems, Coblenz, and to Cologne). Proceeding down the valley of the Lahn, we cross that river before reaching MARBURG (60 miles), Hotels: Pfeiffer, Ritter). It is a picturesque old town, situated a on the side of a hill by the Lahn in a beautiful position, was once a stronghold of the Teutonic order. Among its interesting objects are the Castle of the Landgraves of Hesse, now prison; the University, which has usually 450 students, and has had among its students Luther, Zwingli, and Melancthon. The Church of St Elizabeth is a Gothic edifice of the thirteenth century, the style of which is regarded as exceedingly pure. It is in a state of excellent preservation. The conferences between the Swiss and Wittenberg Reformers took place in one of the halls of the old Castle of Marburg. The University was founded in 1527 by Philip the Magnani mous. We cross the Lahn, and pass, amongst other places, Wabern (104 miles), where the Elector had his country seat. We then cross the Fulda by a viaduct of thirteen arches, and reach GUNTERSHAUSEN (116 miles), Hotel: Bellevue). A branch turns off here to Eisenach (see Route 136). Passing Wilhelmshohe, we reach CASSEL (124 miles), (Hotels: Royal, du Nord), formerly the capital of Hesse Cassel, now belonging to Prussia. In the principal square called Friedrich's Platz, is a statue of the Elector Frederick II. Here are the Elector's Palace and the Museum. The Augarten, a beautiful park, adjoins this square. The Museum contains a Library, a Cabinet of Curiosities, comprising numerous specimens of clocks and watches of various ages, and some fine wood and ivory carvings, and gems; a Collection of Antiquities, and ancient and modern sculptures; and a Natural History Collection. The Picture Gallery contains some good pictures by Rembrandt, Paul Potter, Van Dyck, Teniers, Holbein, Rubens, Mu rillo, Titian, and other noted masters. It contains about 1400 pictures. The Church of St Martin, in the Friedrich's Platz, a handsome Gothic building, contains several monuments of the Electors. In the Augarten is an elaborate marble bath, containing statues and bas-reliefs. Near it is the orangery. ROUTE 146. THIS IS THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE About 3 miles from Cassel, connected with it by a beautiful alley of limes, is WILHELMSHOHE, which is called the Versailles of 147 Germany. The gardens contain the Summer Palace of the Elector, near which is the Theatre, and a Fountain, said to be the largest known, except that at Chatsworth. Its jet is 190 ft. high. The New Waterfall, near the inn, is 130 ft. high. The Cascade of the Karlsburg consists of a number of stone steps, extending 900 ft. up a hill to the Temple of the Winds, which is crowned by a colossal statue of Hercules. About halfway up is a representation of the Giant Enceladus, overwhelmed by the crags of Mount Etna. The statue of Hercules is of copper, 31 ft. high, standing on a pyramid, which is supported by the octagonal structure abovementioned, rising to a height of 1,312 ft. above the Fulda. Near the cascade is a miniature castle, called the Lowenburg, surrounded with agreeable gardens and pleasure grounds. The armoury contains some interesting relics. In the chapel is a fine sarcophagus of Carrara marble over the grave of Wilhelm I. Wilhelmshohe was built with moneys received by the Elector for his subjects, the soldiers he sold to the British Government for the war in America (1776). It was assigned to Napoleon III., after the battle of Sedan, as his residence, and he resided here until April 1871. miles; 1st class (express), 21.60; 2nd, 15.5. (For the journey as far as HANAU (11 miles), see Route 136.) D ETTINGEN (18 miles) is celebrated for the battle fought near it in 1743, between the English, and Austrians, and the French. George II. commanded the allied forces in person. AsCHAFFENBURG (25 miles), (Hotel: Friedhof), is situated on the right bank of the Main. It was a Roman station. The Schloss is a square building with towers, erected in 1614. It contains a Picture Gallery and Library. In the park is the Roman villa, or Pompeianum, an imitation of the house of Castor and Pollux at Pompeii. The Cathedral was originally founded in 980, but the existing building was constructed partly in the thirteenth century, though traces of the former structure remain. It contains two bas-reliefs in bronze, representing the Virgin, and Albert II. of Brandenburg, executed by Vischer in 1526, and another of Otto, Duke of Bavaria, dating from 1575. [A railway connects Aschaffenburg with Mayence on the Rhine, distance 46 miles, fares, 1st class, 6.25; 2nd, 4.15.] |