The amazing feeling of the weekend! Time to get the stress off your shoulders and enjoy those well-deserved days off. But how will you spend them? Looking for something to do and tired of the predictable walks, or even Netflix and chill? Then let's get you something unique and beautiful to visit just across the Belgian border.
Off to Germany
Depending on which province you are in Belgium, the drive to Castle Drachenburg will be around 2 to 3 hours. During this road trip, you can make as many stops as you want such as the city of Aachen, Keulen, Bonn, the Geierlay suspension bridge, or the beautiful fields of the natural park Siebengebirge. You can easily combine a few during a weekend, or opt to just visit the Castle of Drachenburg with a bed-and-breakfast and return on Sunday.
During this itinerary, I will combine the visit of Drachenburg and the Geierlay suspension bridge. It is a good combo between culture, nature, and relaxation with a sauna arrangement during the trip to feel completely at ease.
Castle Drachenburg
I would suggest leaving Saturday morning for an exciting day at the castle. You will find good indications along the road mentioning "Schloss Drachenburg" which could be translated into the Dragon Castle. The whole area is built around the dragon theme, and it is just dreamy to discover.
Drive all the way to the parking which will be 2 euros for a whole day and you can pay at the parking meter. Hike up the road towards the castle. You will come across different buildings such as a dragon museum as well as a restaurant. The castle is on your left-hand side towards the road that is going up, where you will find reception.
At the entrance, you will receive your ticket and the possibility to download an app to get the guided tour. Don't forget to get your headsets as well to receive a full explanation of the castle while you visit.
Practical info
Entrance fee: 7€ for adults & 5€ for children
Opening hours: 11:00 - 18:00
Adress: Schloss Drachenburg, Drachenfelsstraße 118, 53639 Königswinter, Deutschland.
The castle has multiple floors to visit, but my ultimate favorite would be the lookout tower. I was so exhausted after all those stairs! But in the end, you will have an incredible view of the beautiful natural setting of the Drachenfels hill.
Accommodation
The accommodation I picked was close to the Geierlay bridge, which makes it faster to get there in the morning before the crowd. The drive from the Castle to the accommodation is stunning with its rural atmosphere.
The homestay is run by the lovely family Janshens located in Ellscheid. The nature around this lovely home is perfect for an evening walk in the nearby fields. The rooms have different German themes and a private sauna that you can use whenever you want for free. As we were the only visitors at the time, the sauna was all ours!
Name: Homestay Ganschen Klein
Address: Moselweg 5, Ellscheid
Site: https://www.booking.com/hotel/de/ganschen-klein.nl.html
Geierlay bridge
This is a must-do in Germany! The Geierlay is a suspension bridge in the low-mountain range of Hunsruck, connecting the two villages Morsdorf and Sosberg. The bridge is 360 meters long (1,180ft) and 100 meters above the ground. If you want to overcome your fear of heights, this is the place!
The bridge is not accessible by car! There are paying parking lots in the Morsdorf village and from there it is a 1.5 km walk to the bridge. The entrance of the Geierlay is accessible all year long and is free to explore.
Want to stay even longer in Germany and visit more castles? Combine this trip with a visit to Burg Eltz! Read about everything you need to know before visiting Burg Eltz.
I wish you all an amazing weekend and hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I did! Let me know in the comments how your journey went, so curious! And let me know if you would like to read more about possible weekend trips from Belgium to our neighboring countries.
Keep on exploring and Fly Along!
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