N leaving Prague we pass, on the right, the White Hill, where Maximilian of Bavaria and the Catholic League gained a victory in 1620 over the Protestant forces of Frederick V. of Bohemia. Near Karlstein we see, on an eminence, the fine Castle, which was built for the Emperor Charles IV., and was, for a long time, a residence of the Kings of Bohemia. It is still in fair preservation. The Donjon Tower is 121 ft. high. The Kreuzkapelle formerly contained the Bohemian regalia. It was secured by four iron doors and no less than thirteen locks. The Church of the Ascension is ornamented with frescoes. In the Chapel of St Catherine is a fine painting of the Madonna and Child, with kneeling figures of the Emperor Charles IV. and his wife. Beraun (23 miles) is a walled town situated on the river of the name. Near Horowitz (33 miles) are extensive silver and lead mines. Near Rokitzan (49 miles), are some considerable iron-stone mines and iron works. From Chrast (60 miles), a branch line turns off to the coal mines of Radnitz. We next reach

PILSEN (67 miles), (Hotel: Kaiser von Oesterreich). The Church of St Bartholomew, in the Gothic style, is attributed to the 14th century. The Rathhaus is in the style of the Renaissance. The house occupied by Wallen

stein immediately before his death, and his arms, are shown.

In the neighbourhood of Staab (84 miles) are extensive coalfields. Passing Furth (106 miles) the last Austrian station, we reach Cham (119 miles), situated on a branch of the Regen. In the vicinity are extensive forests. amid which are glass and iron works. At SCHWANDORF JUNCTION (149 miles) the line branches to RATISBON, 26 miles.

Continuing on we pass Amberg, Hersbruck, and some other small stations, and reach NUREMBERG, for description of which Route 146.

ROUTE 160.

see

FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN TO CARLSBAD. (BY NUREMBERG).

Distance, 265 miles; fares : first class, 46 m. 45; second, 34 m. 15.

For that part of the route from Frankfort to Nuremberg, see Route 146.

EAVING Nuremberg, we pass Hersbruck, 164 miles from Frankfort. Vilseck and several other stations are passed, and we reach WEIDEN (196 miles), where a line goes off to Baireuth. The next station of importance is EGER (232 miles), on the river of the same name. Its castle was built in 1180, by Frederick Barbarossa, and it has a beautiful church of the 13th century. Thirty-three miles farther, we reach CARLSBAD. (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST"). ENGLISH

CHURCH, services in the new church at 11 and 3.

It is romantically situated on the River Tepel, near its junction with the Eger. This is one of the most celebrated watering - places in Germany, and its springs are the hottest in Europe. The temperature varies from 117 degrees to 165 degrees Fahr. The principal and hottest spring the Sprudel has a very large volume, and is forced up to a height of 3 ft. above the ground. Altogether, the daily flow of the springs, of which there are nine, is estimated at two million gal lons. They were known in the 7th century, but were lost sight of till 1347, when, according to a tradition of the country, they were re-discovered by Charles IV., whose attention was drawn to the spot, while hunting, by the cries of one of the hounds, which had fallen into a hot spring when pursuing a stag. He subsequently established regular baths here, to which he gave his name.

Near the Sprudel is another spring in the same arcade. Another gallery encircles the springs called the Muhlbrunnen, the Neubrunnen, the Thereseinbrunnen, the Bernhardsbrunnen, and the Felsenquelle. Between these two groups are the Schlossbrunnen, the Marcbrunnen, and at the Town Hall, where there is a statue of Charles IV., the springs called the Emperor and the Charles.

The Kurhaus has baths on the ground floor, and on the first floor conversation and readingrooms (charge, 80 kr. per week). A band plays in the grounds several times a day. Visitors remaining at Carlsbad for more than a week, are required to pay tax for music, etc., according to a fixed and moderate tariff. The promenades in the neighbour

hood are very pleasant, the most frequented being that along the Tepel. Carlsbad is supposed to be placed over an immense reservoir of boiling mineral water, the vapour of which escaping through fissures forms a concrete which has to be removed once in three months. It is a remarkable fact, that after the earthquake at Lisbon in 1755, these springs ceased to flow for three days.

The springs vary in temperature from 117° to 165°, and contain the same mineral constituents,— sulphates and carbonates of soda, lime, potash, etc., highly useful in dyspepsia, gout, rheumatism, liver complaint, gravel, stone, hypochondriasis, dysentery, constipation, etc.; the course generally four weeks. The number of persons taking the waters is about 15,000 each season.

is

About 19 miles from Eger (see above) is MARIENBAD (Hotels: Klingers, Neptune), in a valley surrounded with pine-clad hills.

It is celebrated for its mineral waters and mud baths. The waters resemble those of Carlsbad except that they are cooler; they are efficacious in diseases of the skin. The season extends from May to August. They are visited by 9,000 persons every year.

FRANZENBAD (Hotels: British, Gisela) is a much frequented and aristocratic bath, about 3 miles from Eger (see above). It is rapidly growing in popularity, and bids fair to become a rival of Carlsbad. It has been called "Carlsbad cooled." It has mud and gas baths. The yearly number of bathers is 9,000.

ROUTE 161.

The ducal castle of the family of Babenburg is now a military academy, founded by Maria Theresa in 1752. GLOGGNITZ (46 miles), at the base of the Semmering. The Schloss on an

VENICE.

N leaving Vienna we pass (3 miles) the Schonbrunn Palace. The first place express trains stop at is BADEN (15 miles), which is reached in less than an hour. It has sulphur springs which are much resorted to by the Viennese. The railway lies at a considerable elevation, affording fine views of Vienna and numerous villas and villages. On the left is seen the column erected in 1542, now called the Spinnerin am Kreuz. On the right is seen the Gloriette in the park of Schönbrunn. At Voslau the best wine of Austria is produced. NEUSTADT (282 miles) Hotel: Hirsch) was the birthplace of Emperor Frederick IV. and Maximilian I. The town was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1834. The parish church contains several tombstones with well-executed reliefs.

dictine abbey, suppressed in 1803. The Castle of Wartenstein is on a height to the left. At Gloggnitz the celebrated Semmering Railway, the most remarkable structure of the kind in Europe, commences. This portion of the railway, 25 miles in length, cost upwards of one and a half million pounds sterling. It is carried along the face of precipices by means of fifteen tunnels and fifteen bridges. On the left rises the Semmering with its three peaks. The views, for a long distance, are very grand. At the Semmering Station (70 miles) the railway reaches its highest point. Here we pass through a tunnel 4,518 ft. long, upwards of 2,800 ft. above the

sea.

We now begin to descend the opposite slopes of the Semmering Alp, and reach MURZZUSCHLAG (802 miles), situated on the Murz, at the foot of the mountain range. Keeping along the right bank of the river, and passing through highly picturesque scenery, we cross the Murz near its confluence with the Mur, and reach BRUCK (106 miles). (This is the junction of the railway from Klagenfurt). Our route goes along the left bank of the Mur, beneath steep precipices, for a considerable distance. We presently leave the ravine, and enter upon a beautiful and richly cultivated plain, in the centre of which is

GRATZ (139 miles) (Hotels: Elephant, Erzherzog, Johann), a picturesque old town, built on both sides of the river Mur, and encircled by fine gardens and pleasure-grounds. The SCHLOSS

BERG overlooks the town and affords fine views. This height was fortified in the fifteenth century against the Turks. It rises 350 ft. above the river. It possesses numerous ancient buildings, among which are the Gothic Cathedral of St Agidi, built in the fifteenth century; the ancient Castle of the Styrian dukes, which possesses many curious antiquarian relics; the Landhaus, where the nobles of the duchy held their meetings; the University, with its library of 50,000 volumes; and the mausoleum, erected in the Church of St Catherine, to the Emperor Ferdinand II., remarkable for the ornamental sculpture of its interior. Gratz has twenty-two churches and chapels, and one or two noble palaces, including the palace of the Count Altern. The Joanneum, a large edifice with gardens, built to favour the growth of the sciences, is now a school. It has a picture-gallery. The environs are very attractive, and from the wide plain around arise wooded acclivities, and hills broken into patches of pasture, and gardens prettily laid

out.

Some distance beyond Gratz we observe on the summit of a lofty rock, on the right bank of the Mur, the ruins of the Castle of Wildon, where the celebrated astronomer Tycho Brahe made some of his observations. Near LEIBNITZ (159 miles), on the right, is the chateau of the Bishop of Seckau. Many Roman antiquities have been found in this neighbourhood. We cross a fine bridge over the Sulm, and passing Ehrenhausen, where the Count Attems has a fine chateau, we reach SPIELFELD (1663 miles), near which is the Castle belonging to Prince Eggenberg.

We

now leave the Mur and cross a range of hills into the valley of

the Drave. Passing MARBURG (178 miles), where a line goes off west to Klagenfurt and to Franzenfest in the Tyrol, we reach PRAGERHOF (189 miles). A line goes to Pesth by Kanitza and Stuhlweissenburg. CILLI (219 miles), the Roman Claudia Celleia, is an ancient town, situated on the Saun. The church contains a beautiful Gothic side chapel. The ruined fortress of Obercilli rises above the town. In the neighbourhood are tensive iron-mines and coal-fields. To the westward after leaving Cilli, we see the Oistriza-Spitz, 7,710 ft. above the sea. Proceeding along the bank of the Sann we pass Romerbad (231 miles), a fashionable watering-place, and reach STEINBRUCK (236 miles), beautifully situated near the

ex

confluence of the Sann and the Saave.

LAIBACH (273 miles), the Roman Emona, is on the river of the same name. The fine old castle towering over the town, now used as a prison, commands a superb view. After leaving Laibach we cross a morass over a stone causeway, and, passing some unimportant places, reach Loitsch (296 miles). From hence a visit may be made to the quicksilver mines of Idria, 19 miles distant.

ADELSBERG (312 miles). The famous cave of Adelsberg is at some distance from the station, cab necessary (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST.") The celebrated caverns, by far the most interesting in Europe, were known in the middle ages, and were re-discovered by accident in 1816. They are now under the supervision of a company, which issues tickets of admission and attends to the illuminations.

A tramway conveys passengers about half way to the extreme end. The

The different chambers are called as follows:-1. The Poik Cavern, in which the river Poik enters, as described below. 2. The Cathedral. 3. The KaiserFerdinand Grotto, consisting of several halls, one of which is called the Ball-Room. In this hall a ball takes place annually on Whitmonday. 4. The FranzJoseph-Elizabeth Grotto, one of the most spacious, 112 feet high, 664 feet long, and 660 feet wide. This grotto extends to the Calvarienberg (Mount Calvary), which is more than 3100 feet from the entrance. The river Poik disappears in a vast cavern 50 feet below the entrance to the grotto, reappears at about 180 yards within the cave, and is then lost under the mountains, issuing to light again at Planina, where it is called the Unz, where planks and pieces of wood, it is said, appear 10 or 12 hours after being thrown into the stream in the cavern. "It is impossible," says Hamilton, "to describe all the beauties and wonders of the gigantic stalactite concretions, and lofty halls, supported, as it were, by Gothic columns, and apparently filled with statues of exquisite delicacy and whiteness. There is, however, one part of the cave which in grandeur and sublimity exceeds all the rest. It is called Mount Calvary, and is situated near the extremity of the grotto, about 1 miles from the entrance. Here we suddenly

find ourselves in an open space of which we can neither see the limits, nor distinguish the height In the centre the of the roof. ground rises considerably, forming a steep and rugged hill, over which the path leads, the roof rising in proportion as we ascend, with a deep and gloomy looking ravine on either side. This hill, which consists of the blocks and fragments fallen from the lofty roof, is almost everywhere covered with a thick incrustation of white stalagmites, which, having assumed every possible variety of form, appear in the murky gloom like wandering spectres, or beautiful marble statues. At each step as we advance fresh figures are seen, arranged with apparent taste along the terraces of a rising ground. We almost fancy ourselves walking in an enchanted garden adorned with

a

rich profusion of statues, columns, and vases, while the darkness makes the spacious hall appear still more extensive."

NABRESINA (351 miles), from which the direct line to Venice branches off. We have a good view of the Adriatic below as we approach

TRIESTE (363 miles), (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST.") This town is situate at the head of the Gulf of Trieste, an arm of the Gulf of Venice. It is enclosed by hills, in the form of a semicircle, and consists of the old town, the new town, the Josephsstadt, and the Franzens-Vorstadt. The old town, surmounted by the castle, occupies the site of the Roman colony Tergeste, the Cathedral, a Byzantine edifice of great antiquity, near the castle, standing, it is said, on the site of a temple of Jupiter. The modern parts of the town are well built, and contain handsome houses and spacious squares. The Tergesteum is a splendid modern structure,