Our European holiday - Bruhl and Signs

Together with Karina and Thomas spent Saturday 9th July exploring the town of Bruhl 20 km south of the Cologne city center, and at the edge of the Rhineland Nature Park, a famous nature reserve.

                             

Pedestrian area with cafes and restaurants (Uhlstrasse), lovely old buildings

Shopping Centre (top), French bakery C'est la vie (yellow building), statue in a roundabout

Typical German houses

Later in the day we were driven to a quiet fluvial beach by the River Rhein, not far from Bruhl. Tugs pulled container ships down the Rhine, kids played in the water, ducks swimming... very picturesque.

The skies were getting dark and a few drops started falling just as we rushed to the parked car.

We drove back into Bruhl for lunch and found a Mexican restaurant where we took cover from the rain while we had something to eat.

Eventually the clouds cleared and we walked to the nearby Augustusburg and Falkenlust palaces.

Panoramic photo of Augustusburg Palace

The palaces are two of Germany’s most important examples of Baroque and Rococo architecture, served as models for numerous other German courts. The adjacent Schlosspark (Palace Park) is an internationally recognised monument to the art of gardening, designed in the French style but with elements of English landscaped gardens.

The 120 room Augustusburg palace was started in 1725 as a summer house for Clemens August of the House of Wittelsbach, Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. It took over 40 years to be completed because Clemen's brother didn't like the first version designed by a German architect, so it was demolished and construction commenced again under a French architect, and was completed in 1768. 

An hunting lodge, Jagdschloss Falkenlust, was also built, which would serve as a falconry base and private retreat. The two residences are linked by an avenue running through the extensive Palace Park. (We didn't walk to the hunting lodge) 

From 1949, Augustusburg Palace was used as a venue for official receptions held by Germany’s president and federal government - where for example Queen Elizabeth II, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela and even Pope John Paul II were received by German presidents.  Today, Augustusburg Palace and the Falkenlust hunting lodge are open to the public as a museum.

The palace seemed to be a popular venue for wedding couples to take photos, as while we were there we saw two weddings

There are 4 statues in far end of the garden

A walk under the tree covered street that led to the hunting palace

Lots of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) feasting in the palace's garden (thanks to David for the info)

After the visit we went home to get ready to go out to dinner. We then walked around 15 min to the city centre to have dinner at the Italian restaurant - Piato - 

at Markt Str 18 .

The food was delicious, service was perfect, and there was even live music by a young man playing the saxophone. I heard a few people addressing him in English, so not sure if he was an Englishman.

 

The saxophone player (thanks David Gascoigne again)

After dinner we went home to finish packing, as Karina, Jose and I were taking a very early train (at 9,15am) from Cologne station to Braunschweig Station, the town where we lived almost 6 years in the early 80's and where both my kids were born.

SIGNS: 

Bruhl Castle being advertised in this cute wooden horse and carriage

The phone box was a street library by the Town Hall, the wooden chair was outside a wood working shop, train station sign and Hotel sign

An unknown to me ride service - "Miles"

Signs from Karina's Kitchen

Coffee tin from Karina's kitchen

Hydrangeas in Karina's garden

For other signs from around the world please check Tom's blog - http://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/

Signs meme is published on Wednesdays.