Oppenheim

Travelled : 122km
Stay: Bingen- Stellplatz €7 parking Inc services. N49.96861 E7.94409
Visited: Oppenheim

Late last night just before it got dark we took of to a Stellplatz only 7km away as there was a constant flow of young hoons turning up. There were a few other motorhomes here and we felt much more comfortable.  

We decided to revisit the Rhine and so made our way North to Oppenheim. We parked near McDonald's and walked to the Markplatz that is dominated by the 17th century Rathaus. 

The most impressive building was the Katharinekirche made out of the local red sandstone. 

An old wine press.

After concluding our visit we headed towards a spot for tonight near Bingen and we're lucky to get one of the last 3 places remaining as it is booked out from tomorrow due to an annual festival on this weekend. At 5pm the office lady came and we managed to get hold of the keys to the laundry and for €6 wash and dry we got a couple of loads done for no extra € but it  just took a bit of time waiting.

Vineyards along the Rhine

An old bridge probably destroyed in the War

Annweiler and the Rhine River

Travelled : 110km
Stay:Bruhl - mixed parking on the Rhine River, no service point.  Ferry crossing €3.50 N49.39240 E8.50137
Visited : Annweiler

We drove back into Germany and travelled along the wine route stopping in Annweiler.  We used the service point and then went for a walk into the village. Along the Queich River there were some lovely half timbered houses, many had been tanneries and they had used the water wheels to provide power. We visited the museum which mainly focused on Trifels Castle that was built on the hill above the town. In 1193 Richard the Lionheart was a prisoner here for a year. After lunch we decided to head towards the Rhine and do a bit of barge watching.

Bottle recycling 

Ferry across the Rhine

Woelcke motorhomes, Wissemberg France

Travelled : 164km
Stay: Wissemberg,  France- free parking, no service point.  10min walk to nice town. N49.03780 E7.93556
Visited: Woelcke motorhomes manufacturers

After our farewells with Mark and Bev we hit the motorway and went to see Woelcke motorhome manufacturers.  We gained some valuable information and we will do some more research once we get back to Australia,  regarding our options on whether to buy new and import or possibly make our own...

From here we stopped at a couple of spots on the Rhine River but as it was raining, 

decided to continue our journey but go along the border into France to Wissemberg. We found it to be very interesting and as in any worthy tourist town there was even a tourist train. We followed the tourist office map and think we managed to see most of the important buildings before heading back to Bluey just in time before another shower.

Defensive tower, part of the rampart walls.

St Peter and St. Paul's church is the second largest in Alsace after Strasbourg.

The unfinished cloisters 

Trying out for size! 

The Salt House-although it started out as the first hospital for the town.

The old La Poste delivery bikes

This cheese to too big to bite into!

Never seen this door knocker before.

A decorative wine growers house.

Tubingen, Esslingen

Travelled : 56km
Stay: Esslingen- free parking, no service point. Next to castle walls 10min walk to old qtr.  N48.74680 E9.31112
Visit:Tubingen, Esslingen

We spent a lovely day visiting 2 pretty towns both on the Neckar River. It was a short drive into Tubingen and we had found a parking area on the Web that appeared not to be underground. It turned out to be perfect- not too busy, close to the old quarter and a reasonable price €1.50/hr (N48.52207 E9.04666).

 Tubingen is essentially a university town, the first being founded in 1477. With a map from the tourist office we proceeded to look at all the major buildings shaping the history of the town. The 1606  schloss which towers over the town has a magnificent gateway and terrific views. 

There was produce for sale in the Markplatz next to the Neptune fountain. Unfortunately the Rathaus was under renovations but there were plenty other buildings to admire. 

A letter box in Germany

We made our way back to Bluey after a bite of lunch in this very innovative fast food shop. It wasn't far to Esslingen and after parking we made our way down the hill to the old quarter. Once again we got a map from the tourist office and had a look at various buildings, some of them were very colourful especially the Town Hall. 

This is the front.

And this is the back.

The church had a very unique covered walkway between its 2 different towers. 

 This town in famous for its sparkling wines. 

This is the Germany's oldest row of timber frame houses.

The garden at the Burg next where we are parked.

Later we met up Mark and Bev in Aussie Bruce as they dash across Germany on their way to Holland.

We ate at the little yellow building.

Taking the undercover stairs back to our Motorhomes offering views of the vineyard and the town.