Clearly, I can't seem to sit still! Now that borders are opening and restrictions are easing as case rates decline, I'm making the most of my weekends and the long summer days by exploring as much of Europe as I can.
This weekend, I found myself on a train heading to Cologne (or Köln in German), a large bustling city in western Germany. Mainly going for the purposes of seeing two of the country's most well-known castles, I was eager to be in another country for a while.
I'm half-German, and have visited Germany many times over the years, but never made it out to this part of the country. Thankfully, the weather mostly held as I explored this new city.
First stop was a visit to the UNESCO palaces in Brühl, just a short tram ride south of Cologne. I arrived by international ICE train from Brussels and then hopped straight on tram 18 for twenty minutes south from Cologne's HBF (central train station).
The Brühl Palaces are made up of two palaces: Augustusburg Palace, the main building, which was built as a summer residence for Clemens August, the Prince-Elector of Cologne between 1729-37, and then the Falkenlust Palace nearby which was mainly used as a hunting lodge. There are beautiful gardens on the land as well to wander.
At this time, you can only visit the palaces with a guided tour, which is in German, but audio guides are offered in multiple languages. I was highly impressed with the opulent interiors which have hosted many famous people over the years and do so until this day. You don't need to book the tour in advance and can buy tickets at the office when you arrive.
Plan your visit here!
