Schloss Rheydt : Peacock Paradise!

Right outside of the Dusseldorf/Neuss area you will find the next notable Schloss - Schloss Rheydt in Mönchengladbach.  While the origins of the Schloss can be traced back to the 12th century, the mansion's current style reflects more from the mid 16th century during the Renaissance time period.

The Schloss contains a museum over the history of the city, Mönchengladbach, as well as changing exhibitions.  There is ample parking, and the cost of a ticket is pretty cheap - around 4 euros for an adult.  It also has several walking paths - ranging at different lengths.  You won't find baroque gardens, of course, but the land is kept quite nice, and makes for a nice afternoon.

Now. My only warning...beware of the peacocks.  Well not so much them, but their poo.   Even though they are pretty and nice, they are just out and about, and because of this my friends, please pay attention to where you step - mind the poo.  Their is poo everywhere!!

Enjoy some pictures I took that day, and my end review.

Die Vorburg

A Peacock!

Ya....he's showing off.

This guy is carefully watching everyone...

Ya..he's looking for the ladies....

Back of the Schloss

Yes, they are even in the TREES!!

Taking it easy.....

Look another one!

Map of the different paths around the grounds.

I give this Schloss a 8.5/10.  Nice museum, nice grounds (mind the poo) = nice afternoon.

Schloss Augustusburg = Awesome : A UNESCO World Heritage Landmark

Parkplatz Max-Ernst-Allee, 50321 Brühl

You will find another awesome Schloss called Schloss Augustusburg right outside of Köln in Brühl.  The Brühl area actually has 2 Schlösser.  Schloss Augustusburg and Falkenlust.

At Schloss Augustusburg you can decide to take a small tour of 18 rooms or the larger tour of 25 rooms. You can buy a combo ticket and save some money to get into both Schlösser!  Unfortunately, I went too late in the day, and missed out on Falkenlust, but that's ok - another time!   The comboticket is good for the season - so until Nov 30th.  So if you don't have enough time - that's ok - don't panic. They offer tours in German, French, and English.  I somehow managed to get on a English tour due to a englisch speaking tour group that arrived. 

The Schloss was actually a summer residence of the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, Clemens August of Bavaria. If you get a chance to tour - this residence boasts one amazing staircase with a beautiful fresco on the ceiling - that looks to have taken years to paint, but was actually done in 2 weeks!!!  It looks like no expense was spared - everything is quite luxurious.  The terrasse was actually being restored when I went, but the main portion was opened.  Unfortunately, you can see this in my  pictures - the staircase down into the Barock garden was blocked off, and you can see some construction equipment. =(

Here are some of my pictures from my visit...scroll down for my review

Overall: This schloss makes my must-see list -  9/10.

Nice tour, and nice garden.  It's beautiful - something to see if you are visiting Germany. 

Schloss Moers : Have I become a Schloss Snob?

After today, I asked myself...have I become a Schloss snob?  After being to 33 Schlösser already - I would like to think I have become some type of Schloss connoisseur.  Today was also a beautiful day, so I looked into my "trusty" book - flipped to number 7, and said...GO!

There I was entering Moers.  I thought something was strange, because usually when you enter a town that contains a Schloss you immediately see several signs - pointing you in the right direction so you can pretty much ignore your navi.  This was not the case.  The Schloss is located in the middle of the city.  It used to be a Wasserschloss, but it is no longer.  Already disappointed.  It is a museum now.  I did the museaum tour for 3 euros.  It's ok.  Offers several floors of history from 1500 - now.  I always find the old furniture pretty neat.  The "Schlosspark" is not extensive at all, and is kind of also meh.  The whole area seems to be either under construction or feels like it's not kept up/looked after.  I usually walk away with hundreds of pictures...this time I only have like 50, and that is due to snapping many photos of a funny duck. So the following is my subset of those...enjoy!

After being to so many other beautiful Schlösser.  I have to ask how this made it into the book?  

Maybe I was missing something?  Maybe my expectations for all are set really high??

I mean - it's ok.

Wasserburg Anholt : ** Fairy Tale Alert!! ** Top Pick!! **

Hopeless romantic??  ......BAM!...Look no further.  This is your Wasserburg...read on..

I have had Wasserburg Anholt on my list for a while.  It's located near the border to the Netherlands.

I have been searching for THE perfect day where I could go and visit.  Well, it finally came, and fulfilled all my expectations and then some!  I have to say....this ties with my favorite, and gets a 10/10 rating from me.  This is a must see if you are in Germany - perhaps even think about staying overnight there?

Short review:  http://www.schloss-anholt.de/

The Wasserburg is split into two sections.  One part is the actual residence of the family that owns the Burg (yes someone is still living there!!), and the other side looks to be a really nice hotel, and restaurant.

You can take a tour of the Burg (in German) as well as the Schlosspark.  My recommendation is to get the combo ticket as you save some money!  On the Burg tour, you learn a lot of interesting things on how the building was constructed - for instance, the main bedroom was built over the kitchen to have heated floors!  You go through several rooms, and onto a main art gallery - which houses such art as Rembrandt's Diana Bathing with her Nymphs with Actaeon and Callisto.  Afterwards, you can let yourself roam into the Schlosspark.  The Schlosspark even has one of those mazes built from bushes! Awesome!  It also offers a beautiful sculpture park.  It contains a range of trails from short, medium, large - and short cuts.  If the weather is perfect - it just adds to the beauty.

Here are some of my pics ...an overview of my fairy tale day...

 It's a dream! =)...Definitely consider this for something special!!

 ~THE END~