The landscape on the Rhine ripples gently – Diepresse.com
The luxurious Thurgau Gold is often on the Rhine. Opportunity to get to know cities like Rotterdam, Cologne and Koblenz with the river ship.
It couldn’t be more convenient. Hardly more beautiful. And art, culture and culinary delights included: a shipping on the Rhine. There is a line from Basel to Amsterdam. Eight days Rhine romance, eight nights of light and gentle in-slave swings. Sometimes briefly interrupted by booming toilet flushing (environmentally friendly vacuum system) and quiet ship’s creak-but then the stream ripples quietly again, and you can see the moon passing by.
Basel is the starting point. If you still have time before embarking, climb to the Baseler Münster, by the way, not approved for individuals: the ascent is too narrow and steep. At least not for claustrophobics. And also not for acrophobics. The 250 levels for the view from about 48 meters above the Rhine are worth it.
Five hotel stars
And then: ship ahoi! The Thurgau Gold, built in 2023 for the Swiss agency for river shipping, advertises with five hotel stars and with environmental protection, which is very seriously taken here, deserves the green award gold status: solar systems, ship’s own sewage cleaning, insulating glass panes, special engines, whose waste heat is used, and which reduces the turning circle (and thus the fuel consumption), as well) Organic waste bins that supply biogas plants ashore. Air is handled with an air: with the heat recovery system, which ensures the right temperature and clean breathing in the restaurant and salon.
« /> Romantic places like St. Goarshausen are on the water path of the Thurgau Gold. Thurgau Travel
But that is invisible background. The first highlight, right after the departure: the first of eleven locks. How you manage to maneuver 135 m long and 24 m wide in terms of centimeter – two ships have to be found – is observed closely on the upper deck, often accompanied by a glass of wine. The captain, Klaus Mansfeld, doesn’t find it exciting anymore. He has often driven the route, was previously on freight ships and with huge tankers, also knows Danube, Mosel, Main and Elbe like his western pocket, was a helmsman on ships throughout Europe for 20 years and now enjoys his pleasant workload, three weeks on the ship, three weeks. « I just want to see more of my family. »
In demand: the window square
He also introduces himself to the info cocktail, which Jolanda von Thurgau Travels opened, responsible for the well-being of the guests, supported by Martin, who accompanies the journey this time. It describes in detail processes and excursions. Restaurant and employees (14 nationalities) welcomes the fellow travelers, hotel chief Maître Szolt from Hungary, where you can eat (actually always), how to leave and enter the ship (always hand in the cabin card that you get again when you enter, so nobody will stay behind) and what happens in the next few days. And hopefully will not happen: like one day a ship -wide constipation because an irresponsible guest, as it turned out after a day -long search, had thrown into the toilet every day. « Unfortunately, I have to tell that again and again, » says Szolt. « I have been running for ten years. I started as a waiter, I know all the problems – luckily that was only an isolated case, may be responsible for the passengers, enjoy it when everyone is doing well. »
Many fellow travelers already know their way around, were always on ships of Thurgau, and are very personally greeted at the assigned tables at the welcome dinner by the reunion -loyal restaurant personnel. What you still learn: Sitting at the window is obviously very important and is often given as a heart’s desire when booking. Why – you can also see the current of medium -sized tables and the passing landscape – remains puzzling, perhaps a status symbol of the committed regular customers.
Schwyzerdütsch and Kölsch
After the most precise info on the cabin screen and after a lavish breakfast, accompanied by happy Schwyzerdütsch of the fellow travelers (even German guests are rare here, not to mention Austrians) on the first day. Buses are waiting, you drive to Heidelberg: picturesque journey through vineyards to the Neckar Valley, tour in the castle, grandiose views of the castle altan, crowds around the supposedly largest barrel in the world (empty, but especially from Japanese groups).
« /> Five-star hotel shop on board. Eisabeth Hewson
Next day, next program (if you want) – Cologne. Anyone who has chosen the brewery tour opposite the city of the Eau-de-Cologne shop instead of the city tour-post-war buildings, overcrowded cathedral square, « highlight »-but the brewery tour. After that, relaxation in the ship’s own sauna (you book for an hour) with a subsequent Siesta in the cabin with « Infinity balcony ». Incidentally, it is not a balcony, but a half-open, beautiful floor-ceiling window with a clear view: why the unnecessary euphemism? By the way, my only ship’s criticism.
Asked: Dutch mills
On the fourth day the Netherlands have been reached, with another wonderful highlight: Dordrecht, the ancient city in southern Holland, is a starting point for a trip to Kindijk. The name comes from a legend from the 15th century, in which a child, held in balance by a cat in his cradle, was washed up and saved here for a flood. Dutch landscape like from the picture book, with windmills that have grazes for the cows and sheep for 750 years (before that the country was still six meters higher). 19 are still in operation here, 1260 are now all over Holland, in their function mostly replaced by electrical pumps – but they are preserved as a reserve.
It is unimaginable that in the original museum mill, which you can see and where you can hardly move between beds, boxes and cookware, have lived with families with up to eight children – and sleepers (!). You can rent them if you have completed a two -year mill school. And if you have patience: you often have to wait 15 years for a mill to be released, which rarely happens (a family de Hoeck has been in the twelfth generation since 1738). You are there for 300 euros a month.
