Today’s post is 1800 words, 21 photos, and an 8-minute read. Enjoy!
Hi everyone,
This week is the first of two posts about the best of my travels to Vienna and Germany in September 2025. My friend Wayne and I explored places where history, tradition, and everyday life shape the character of each city and village. You’ll see churches, cemeteries, the countryside, small towns, and large cities. All are unique with their local customs and friendly people willing to help a couple of strangers find their way. Hope you enjoy this synopsis.
If you missed any or all of my posts from Vienna and Germany, see the list below.
Vienna here and here; Regensburg, here and here; Neckargemund; Mosel Valley here and here; The Rhine River and Bonn; Julich here and here; Cologne, and Munich here, here, here, and here.
THE HOFBURG
After being awake for more than 24 hours, I was ready to hit the sack. I slept for over 10 hours! For breakfast, Wayne and I went to a nearby coffee shop for some coffee and a roll, then started exploring the city.
The rain had passed, the sky was a bright blue, and the air was fresh and brisk. We walked over to the Hofburg Palace complex, where we admired the architecture of the stately buildings that housed the Habsburg dynasty, which reigned over much of Europe for nearly six centuries. Vienna was the power center where the rulers lived and ruled. They supported the Catholic Church, especially during the Reformation, and were leaders in European politics. Their rule ended in 1918 with the defeat of Germany, Austria, and Hungary in World War I.
Today, the Hofburg Palace houses the offices of the Austrian President, the Spanish Riding School, the Austrian National Library, and several museums.
BITZINGER WURSTELSTAND
Next to The Albertina is one of Vienna’s most famous and best sausage stands. I shot this photo from the deck outside the Albertina. Wayne and I lined up behind the pigeon for one of their sausages. I had a regular with mustard and dark bread. It was very good. A must stop when in Vienna and hungry for street food
ST. STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL
With the drizzle falling, the interior of St. Stephen’s was quite crowded. The noon mass was underway, so that limited some of our looking around. Some of the side chapels were occupied by those who were praying or resting during the rain.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the spiritual heart of Vienna and one of Austria’s most recognizable landmarks. Austria is about 70% Catholic. The Cathedral’s origins date back to the 12th century, though the cathedral seen today reflects centuries of expansion and rebuilding, most notably in the Gothic style. The soaring South Tower rises nearly 450 feet above the city and long served as a lookout point over Vienna. Inside, the cathedral houses an impressive mix of medieval art, ornate altars, and the tombs of important Habsburg figures, underscoring its central role in Austrian religious and political life.
St. Stephen’s has witnessed many pivotal moments in the city’s history, from imperial ceremonies to wartime damage during World War II, and has since undergone a remarkable postwar restoration. Today, it remains an active place of worship as well as a powerful symbol of Vienna’s resilience, history, and cultural identity.
Regensburg, Germany
We were hungry and thought about eating at the world’s oldest continuously operating public eatery, Historische Wurstküchl, commonly known as the Regensburg Sausage Kitchen. They have been grilling and serving sausages since the 12th century.
THE ROAD TO FURTH IM WALD
It was Sunday morning and raining. I was up early, had a couple cups of coffee in the room before heading downstairs for breakfast. The well-stocked buffet was included in the price of our rooms so we ate hardy. At 8:30 I summoned an Uber for a ride to the SiXT car rental in Regensburg. There was no line, check-in was smooth. The young fella who provided the orientation to the nearly new BMW SUV was well done. He showed me how the nav system worked, how to adjust the mirrors, and the safety features of the car.
I entered our first destination into the nav, Furth im Wald, near the Czech Republic border. Furth im Wald is a town of about 9000 people that dates back to the 11 century. Roughly translated to English, it means a crossing point over the river in the forest.
The traffic both in town and on the highway was light. At first I was nervous and hyper vigilant but relaxed as the morning wore on. Upon arrival in Furth im Wald, we tried to get near the main Catholic church but all the roads were blocked. We could see the tall spire and after a few attempts, I pulled into a civic parking lot to use my phone to pinpoint and identify churches. My search showed a church near us. In fact, it was across the street from the parking lot.
The rain had stopped. We parked the car and walked to the church and found there was a large cemetery in the courtyard. We learned it was the main Catholic cemetery in Furth im Wald. The church is now used for burial services at the cemetery
At Dalking, we came across this roadside memorial to the German soldiers killed in World Wars I and II. At first, I was taken aback by the memorials not unlike those I’ve seen in Allied countries. Then I realized these were someone’s son, husband, or father. They need to be remembered, too. We would see more of these memorials on our travels around Germany.
A CRUISE ON THE DANUBE RIVER
After breakfast the next morning, I made the 20-minute walk to the waterfront near the city center of Regensburg to take a 45-minute cruise on the Danube River. My motivation came from the route my German ancestors took on the Danube to the Black Sea in the mid-1700s. There was free land available in South Russia, now Ukraine. In addition, there were promises of freedom of worship and conscription in the army. They’d spend the next 100 years or so establishing productive farms in the fertile soil until Russia reneged on their promises. It was then that they emigrated to the United States.
My journey took me a few miles down the river and a few miles up. I was the only passenger on the 10 AM “Historical Strudel Tour.” The Bruckmadl can accommodate up to 120 passengers. My ticket was 15€ (about $18 USD). I ordered a coffee from the attendant and took a seat in the open air on this sunny, cool morning.
THE TRAIL TO NECKARGEMÜND
After the cruise, we loaded up the BMW and set out for the next stop on our adventure, Neckargemünd. Traffic was moderate but fast. The speed limit was 240km/hr or about 150 miles per hour. I can testify that some cars whizzed by at least that fast, if not faster. My max speed was between 75 and 80 mph.
At one point, we sat on the autobahn for nearly an hour. Police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks came. The cars in the middle lane where we were moved to the right. The cars in the outside lane moved to the left, allowing emergency vehicles to pass. There was an accident that shut down the highway. We saw the remnants once the traffic started moving again. 
NECKARGEMÜND
This city of over 13,000 people is located on a bend in the Neckar River and surrounded by the forested slopes of the Odenwald mountain range. It’s a picturesque and quintessential German town with many natural and cultural attractions. Neckargemünd was founded as a fishing village in the 10th century. Today, the area is known for its advanced engineering, specialized manufacturing, high-tech services, and healthcare and biotechnology. Heidelberg, one of Germany’s most important cities, is less than 10 miles away. We needed another day to tour that historic city.
Our day started with a drive to the Old Town of Neckargemünd. Below are a couple of views of the Neckar River from the shoreline. Note the hilly landscape along the river.
DILSBERG
Dilsberg is a small historic village (about 80 families) about a seven-mile drive from Neckargemünd. It’s perched on a hill overlooking the Neckar River valley. Known for its well-preserved medieval walls, castle ruins, narrow streets, stone towers, and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
The rental car easily made the drive up the winding, steep road to the city entrance. We parked just outside the gate as it’s pedestrian-only inside. We stopped a few times to catch our breath as we made our way to the top of the hill. We saw a few residents working in their yards or walking to the small cafe for a coffee and local gossip
MEHRING
Mehring, with a population of about 2,500, is situated on the Mosel River. From our experience, it’s a quiet, charming town surrounded by vineyards. The grape harvest was in full swing, as was the fall tourist season, both of which were important to the local economy. The path alongside the river is inviting for walking and cycling. The hillside offers panoramic views of the scenic valley. There are local wine taverns and vineyards to sample local wines.
STEPHAN
We turned onto School Street but weren’t sure which house was Stephan’s. We spotted a young woman walking her daughter to school. Wayne told us we were looking for Stephan’s house. She pointed to a nearby house, “He lives right over there.”
When we pulled into the driveway, there was Stephan doing yard work. The third cousins had met years ago when Stephan, his wife, daughters, and parents were in Wisconsin for a family reunion. It took a minute for Stephan to make the connection. But when he did, there was a hardy welcome.
BERNKASTEL-KUES
After a good sleep, a shower, and breakfast, we were ready to head out for the day. Our first destination was the twin towns of Bernkastell-Kues in the heart of the Middle Mosel. It’s known for the half-timbered houses along narrow lanes and the relaxed riverside atmosphere. Wine, especially Rieslings, is a big deal around here. The city center is said to be historic and picturesque
TRIER
Nearby was the Trier Cathedral, St. Peter’s, the oldest cathedral in Germany. Parts of this magnificent church date to the 4th century. It’s a mix of Roman, Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles. It is also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
ON THE RHINE
Once on the boat, Wayne and I found a couple of available seats on the top deck. It was sunny, but the breeze was cool, especially after we were underway. By the end, my face was a little windburnt and sunburned. There was narration in German and English throughout the 2.5-hour voyage. Our tickets were 16€ (about $18.50 USD).
The Rhine River runs for 765 miles (1230 km) from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea near Rotterdam, Netherlands. It’s the second-longest river in Central and Western Europe after the Danube. The river is a major trade artery for Europe, carrying coal, iron ore, oil, and agricultural products. The Rhine is considered one of the busiest inland shipping routes in the world. It is also popular for river cruises from one hour to several days. In the photo below, note the long boat cruise ship and the natural gas barge passing each other.
That does it for this week. Join me next week for Part 2.
Until next week, happy travels!
Tom
PS: Click here for a link to the post about my book “Farm Boy.” Contact me if you are interested in purchasing a copy. Thanks to all have plunked down your hard earned dollars and read the book. TM