• Torhaus in Meissen
    City,  Meissen,  museums

    Visiting Meissen – catching only a glimpse of the porcelain

    The German city of Meissen is world-famous for it’s porcelain of exceptional quality, easily recognisable by the Crossed Swords mark. When visiting Meissen, my wife and I only caught a glimpse of the porcelain though. The Torhaus After visiting Albrechtsburg castle, where the first European porcelain was produced in 1710, and enjoying a spectacular view over the city from the tower of the Frauenkirche, we entered the small, historic gatehouse (Torhaus). In the Middle Ages, the Torhaus was an important building in Meissen, being the only accesspoint to Albrechtsburg castle. Throughout the centuries, the Torhaus has been the home of many famous German artists, including master sculptor Christian H. Kaendler…

  • Overview of Hertog Jan Brewery in Arcen
    Arcen,  Beer,  Brewery

    Hertog Jan Brewery in Arcen: Well Worth Visiting

    Last Updated: March 6th 2025. As a beer lover, a visit to Hertog Jan Brewery in Arcen had been on my bucket list for years. In the summer of 2018, I bought a package from SurpriseFactory for the three of us, containing a guided tour of the brewery and a Brewer’s Lunch. The Burgundian ambiance, for which the southern provinces of The Netherlands are famous, eventually made us stay for dinner too! Hertog Jan Brewery is almost as well-known as the Castle Gardens of Arcen.. and for good reason. For the Love of Beer The visual experience starts upon arrival; a pipeline transports Hertog Jan pilsner beer directly from the…

  • Cathedral of Frankfurt am Main, the biggest church
    City,  Frankfurt,  Germany,  restaurants

    Discover Frankfurt am Main

    Every year in October, Messe Frankfurt, the third largest fair and exhibition center in the world, is dubbed Frankfurter Buchmesse for five days. Frankfurter Buchmesse is the world’s most important fair for the print and digital content business – and a famous social and cultural event. As a ‘plus-one’, I attended the Buchmesse twice, in 2013 and 2014. It’s a great opportunity to discover Frankfurt am Main and for a mini-holiday in Germany! Intercity-Express (ICE) International Travelling to Frankfurt by high-speed train is by far the most convenient way, since the Messe is located near the main train center (Hauptbahnhof). Subsequently, it’s a 10 minutes walk, or you can take…