46 | Viking Explorer Society News
Tales from our most popular river itinerary, the
15-day Grand European Tour By Sue Wallace
T
owering fairytale castles with lofty
turrets, steep hillsides covered with
manicured vines and pretty
cobblestone villages with bright
flowers spilling from pots, fill my dreams while
tucked up in a comfy bed on a meandering
European river voyage.
As we weave our way along the best-known
waterways through four countries including
Hungary, Austria, Germany and The
Netherlands, there are surprises around every
bend.
"It's castle overload and you won't see better,"
says our guide Peter, as we discover the
showstopping scenery on Viking's 15-day
Grand European Tour river voyage.
No matter where you look the scenery in the
Upper Middle Rhine Valley is stunning and
well deserving of being a designated UNESCO
World Heritage Site.
We walk to Marksburg Castle that sits high
above the Middle Rhine, overlooking the town
of Braubach. It is one of 40 castles dotted
between Bingen and Koblenz and the only
castle that has never been destroyed.
It showcases life in those treacherous times
with the best scenic views. A stop at the
armoury, reveals models of knights dressed in
heavy mail.
"If they fell off their horses they were in
trouble as the armour was so heavy they
couldn't get back on," says Peter. Blood
curdling weapons, wooden mallets with spikes
and razor-sharp lances and swords are also
displayed, but it's the ancient ugly face masks
that draws gasps.
There's no doubt this is slow travel at its best
as we navigate the Danube, Main and Rhine
rivers, stopping at big cities and smaller towns.
A seat on the sundeck with 360-degree
blockbuster views is perfect for watching river
life go by.
THE ITINERARY
From Budapest to Amsterdam, there are so
many special moments on this comprehensive
European voyage on our comfortable
Longship, Viking Bragi.
Marksburg Castle
Castle
HUNTING
Marksburg Castle: The
Rhine's Iconic Watchman
