Das Altpörtel (Altes Tor) ist neben dem "Heidentürmchen" hinter dem Dom der einzige Überrest der…read moremittelalterlichen Stadtmauer Speyers. Es markiert das westliche Ende der Altstadt und das eine Ende der Maximilianstraße, die am östlichen Ende durch den Domplatz begrenzt wird. Schöne Architektur, ein Wahrzeichen der Stadt.

Walking thru towns that are rich with history, since they are hundreds of years old, you will…read morealways find something that is fascinating. Before modern life got in the way of your view this city gate must have been visible for some distance. It is an imposing structure that if needed could keep the unwanted out of town. Now it is a reminder of that past.

Das Museum der Pfalz wird derzeit renoviert, deshalb sind große Teile der historischen Sammlung im…read moreMoment nicht zugänglich, v.a. die römischen Artefakte. Schade, aber dafür ist der Eintritt im Moment frei, und es gibt wenigstens einige Ausstellungsstücke und eine Sammlung zur Geschichte der französischen Besatzung der Pfalz nach 1945 zu sehen. Das Weinmuseum (hinter dem Eingang die Treppe hinunter und quer durch den Innenhof!) ist von der Schließung nicht betroffen, hier werden viele Schöne Artefakte aus der Gesichte der regionalen Weinwirtschaft präsentiert. Abgesehen von dem netten älteren Herrn am Eingang sind die Angestellt leider nicht sehr freundlich (Zitate: "Wo wollen Sie denn hin?" und "Hier können Sie nicht rein") und wenig hilfsbereit.

Very interesting Maya exhibit! I learned a lot without being too overwhelmed and it took about 1.5…read morehrs. I like the audio sets you get at the beginning since they let you go at your own pace and they have it in both German and English. Unfortunately there were many parts of the museum - interactive exhibits and movies - that were only in Germany (but I get it, we are in Germany after all!) so my experience was a little limited. There is a students discount but only up to 26 for some reason. Even though I was a student with a valid ID I had to pay full price.

Too often, bridges are boring and unremarkable. They simply stand and do their job. That's a shame…read morebecause a bridge can be so much more. They can be beautiful and remarkable as they carry people and vehicles over a place. The Rheinbrücke here in Speyer does that. It is a single-hip cable-stayed bridge that brings A61 between Speyer and Hockenheim. The bridge is 758 meters long and was opened in 1974. Because of the specific flood conditions of the river here, no piers were permitted. As well, the pylons were arranged on the right bank of the Rhine in order to minimize the influence of the silhouette on the left bank of the Rhine with the Speyer Cathedral. The bridge seems quite unique with the pylon being black and the cables red. There are two lanes in each direction with a hard shoulder for each lane. The bridge has 9.1 meters of clearance over the river. I found it quite stunning and I'd like to see more attractive bridges like this one. [Review 16398 overall - 203 in Germany - 1905 of 2021.]

The German word "Schloss" is very efficient. It can mean castle, palace, chateau and even…read more"padlock." This can be confusing when you're looking for old castles to explore and wind up at what is more accurately described as a large manor. When I arrived at Schwetzingen Schloss I was surprised that it wasn't more of a castle, but it's vast, beautiful landscape and interesting history made me glad I had come. Like most old buildings and grand constructions, Schwetzigen Schloss started as a place to entertain the constituents of a rich, influential man. The striking statues, winding paths and ornate buildings really make it hard to not be impressed. I imagine arriving here from a smaller village in Germany, unable to even see the other side of the enormous garden. There are a few different buildings which each had their own purpose, which through the years had changed. My favorite was the Orangerie, a tropical greenhouse of sorts. The ingenuity of these past Germans will surprise you, and their method to produce an Orange where an Orange has no business growing is really something. Wandering in between buildings you may find yourself enjoying the journey at least as much as the destination. I found many little "dead ends" which were so comfortable it was hard not to take out a book and enjoy the serenity for a while. Symmetry is the name of the game here, and I encourage you to stop at every intersection and look around. You'll likely notice that someone paid very close attention to angles and lines. This makes for a remarkably sane experience as you are almost unable to get lost. The buildings are beautiful, but you might find yourself unable to break away from the calm water, cozy paths, and enveloping nature. I went during Fall. The skies were grey and it was chilly. I know I'm in the minority here but I absolutely recommend you do the same. The colors were indescribably vivid and the calmness of the environment was only enhanced by my girlfriend and I finding ourselves alone more often than not. Usually, most people want to come when it's nice out. (We actually tried to, but it turned into a classic Fall day which, just like the "Schloss", was a surprise that turned out alright) While there is an English brochure available at the beginning which has a handy map, every display I came across had only German writing. Keep that in mind if you aren't with someone who can translate for you, or if your girlfriend doesn't want to read every single sign Luke we have to go it's been 3 hours I don't want to read about Oranges any more. Schwetzingen Schloss isn't a castle, but it's absolutely incredible.