Today (Saturday, 7/22) our Viking ship wound its way along the narrow Main River, through numerous locks and low bridges in the Spessart region. This legend-rich forest area, 800 square miles of wooded hill country, is home of the actual Snow White. The Grimm brothers also used Spessart as the setting for many of their fairy tales, which locals insist were not all fiction.
The Viking Ve upper deck was "flattened" to queeze under the bridges across the Main. The viewing terrace, putting green and shuffleboard court were all closed while the crew folded down the deck railings. Even the Captain's bridge was lowered into the vessel by hydraulic lift to ensure safe passage. Mid-afternoon, we docked in Freudenberg in preparation for a walking tour of nearby Miltenberg.
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| Viking Ve with its convertible top lowered |
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Freudenberg, Germany
 | | Viking Ve in Freudenberg |
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We took a short bus ride to Miltenberg, our first stop in Bavaria, known for its half-timbered houses and Germany’s oldest inn. The medieval town of Miltenberg is surrounded by one of Germany’s wine producing regions. Our tour guide Michael started the tour by highlighting the unusual way that Miltenberg welcomes visitors to its waterfront:
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| Welcome to Miltenberg? This certainly upstages the Manneken Pis statue in Brussels
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We then followed the old town's cobblestone streets past medieval houses fronted with flower-covered balconies. The town square is lined with half-timbered facades, designed with stone lower levels to withstand historic flooding from the Main River, while the houses' upper level were constructed of wood and colorfully painted.
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| Overly decorated for the benefit of tourists, but a good example of the half-timbered houses |
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| The markings on the upper floors inicate the occupation of its original owner. This double XX pattern indicates a butcher |
The half-timbered house design wasn't enough to protect from one famous flood. St. Mary Magdalene's flood was the largest ever recorded in central Europe. It occurred on this day (July 22) in 1342, on the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene.
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| The Mary Magdalene flood would have reached the upper green level windows. Note the sagging floors, not uncommon in these 500+ year-old houses |
Gasthaus Zum Riesen (“Inn of the Giant”), Germany’s oldest inn, is a local Renaissance treasure. It first opened its doors as a hotel in 1411 and has been open ever since. While stationed in Germany, Elvis frequented this hotel and pub. One of our fellow Viking cruise guests from Adelaide, Australia looks a lot like Elvis, and was nice enough to pose for a photo with me at the Miltenberg "house of Elvis."
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| Gasthaus Zum Riesen, Germany's oldest Inn |
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| Gasthaus Zum Riesen ("Inn of the Giant") |
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| Elvis returns to Gasthaus Zum Riesen |
Miltenberg Castle was built in the 13th and 14th centuries, high over the roofs of Miltenberg. We walked up the hill to the medieval wall of the city and walked along parts of the Miltenberg Castle complex. From there, we also had a good view of the Miltenberg bridge and the city's waterfront on the Main River.
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| The route to the old wall of the city of Miltenberg |
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| Miltenburg Castle |
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| Miltenberg wall with Main River and bridge view |
Mainbrücke Miltenberg (bridge across the Main River) is one of the most attractive bridges in Germany. It was destroyed by the German Army a day before the end of World War II, then rebuilt and reopened in 1950.
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| Mainbrücke Miltenberg |
The day concluded with a wonderful birthday dinner, featuring roast duck.
Tomorrow, Sunday 7/23, we continue through the many locks along the Main River, docking in Würzburg, Germany, home to one of Germany’s largest and most ornate palaces.
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| One of 68 locks along the Main River |
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