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Smart Traveler Enrollment Program

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a valuable free service provided to US citizens when traveling abroad.…

by Wanderers Compass August 18, 2021

Joelle and Ryan

Travel Bloggers, Photographers, Castle Hunters, Wanderers

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Our most recent six-country adventure had many cas

Our most recent six-country adventure had many castles on the itinerary. Along the way we came across a few unexpected ones too. In the end we hit a record for this trip, 67. This brings our overall total to 305 castles visited to date.

Here is video synopsis of most of the castles we were lucky to visit. Some were magnificent and others quite simple. Some built on hill tops or a cliff edge, and others in center of town.

Castles are our happy place and this trip sure met the mark. The funny part is we barely touched the surface as in Germany alone there are just over 24,000 castles and France almost double that. We will
never tire of hunting for castles!

How many have you seen? What was your favorite? Please share pictures of your favorite ones. If we haven’t seen it we will add it to our list of castles to visit.

Country’s visited: France, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Italy

#castlesofeurope #castlesofinstagram #travelphotography #travelblogger #incredible_europe #europestyle_ #nategeotravel #castles_oftheworld #castlesoftheworld #castles #castlesandchateaux

We started our trip in Zurich but did not visit th

We started our trip in Zurich but did not visit the city until the final days of our itinerary. What a perfect way to end our adventure! Zurich, Switzerland, is a multicultural city with a top-notch public transportation system. It had us mesmerized at times by how intricate and busy it is. Zurich is one of the world's top financial centers, and it didn’t take long to pick up on that. It becomes pretty apparent when you come across so many Porsches, Maseratis, Lamborghinis, and some Bentleys while strolling through town.

One of our highlights was a stop at the famous Zurich restaurant Zeughauskeller. They serve traditional rustic Swiss dishes & draft beers in a gorgeous 15th-century building, with oak beams & historic artifacts throughout. The place was packed with tourists and locals. On the menu we could not resist ordering the Beer Flambee with Firewater. It deserved all the hype and was a good beer to boot. Might as well end the trip with a flare.

We spent most of our time in the magnificent Old Town area on both sides of the Limmat River. Swiss pride flies strongly in Zurich, where the Swiss flag seems everywhere. It is a bustling city with brilliant energy and exuberance.

At the end of our travels, there is always that sad feeling when it is time to leave, mixed with missing the family back home and looking forward to seeing them. What helps is we already have our next trip booked in August, and that always is a good thing. We don’t want to experience Tripaphobia, the fear of not having the next trip booked. Our next adventure takes us to Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and the Czech Republic; all stops will be firsts for us.

Travel feeds the soul and keeps us eternally grateful for all the wonder this world has to offer!

#zurich #switzerland #incredible_europe #europestyle_ #travelphotography #travelblogger #swisstravel #condenasttraveller #nategeotravel

Lucerne, Switzerland, is known for its preserved m

Lucerne, Switzerland, is known for its preserved medieval architecture, surrounded by snowcapped mountains on lovely Lake Lucerne. Its colorful Old Town is bordered on the north by Musegg Wall, an impressive 14-century rampart. The covered Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), built in 1333 and one of the oldest covered bridges in Europe, links then Old Town to the Reuss River's right bank.

It is a city that embraces its history while not afraid of modernization. It is young and vibrant and has a cosmopolitan feel.

Our visit came when our fortunes changed a bit. As a whole, we lucked out on the weather during this trip. Rain was forecast every day, but it rarely rained, and when we had the most walking to do, it stayed dry. The day we visited Lucerne, all the rain that held back during our travels hit us hard. Despite the pouring conditions, along with our sturdy Costco umbrellas, we explored the city as planned. However, it is difficult to hold on to the umbrella in the wind and take steady pictures.

We wandered for hours and did over 5 miles on foot. It wasn’t ideal, but we enjoyed the beautiful city of Lucerne, even with wet feet. There was quite a charm to Lucerne despite its large size. The covered bridges were especially wonderful and fascinating. They are not just for show; they are at the city's heart and are used every day by the locals to cross the river. Lucerne is an impeccably clean and well-cared for city, but we were in Switzerland, so that should be no surprise.

#switzerland #lucerne #luzern #europestyle_ #incredible_europe #travelphotography #travelblogger #nategeotravel #condenasttraveller #swisstravel

Engelberg is an alpine town in central Switzerland

Engelberg is an alpine town in central Switzerland Uri Alps with a population of about 3700. It is about 35 minutes south of Lucerne and just over 60 minutes south of Zurich. The resort village of Engelberg was built around an impressive medieval 12-century monastery. The monastery gave the town a different draw from other villages we could have chosen. The Abbey continues to house monks, and it is the heart of the community.

We discovered a lovely little downtown surrounded by towering snow-covered mountains upon our arrival. It was almost surreal how dramatic the setting was. Engelberg at the time was relatively quiet, with primarily residents milling about.

Our stay was short, but we learned there is much to do here. In the winter, it is a bustling ski destination. It is known for its ski jump, where World Cups are held. South of town, you will find Mount Titlis, with its impressive 9,600 feet peak. It has trails that weave up the mountain and ski runs that zigzag down. The Titlis Rotair gondola lift takes you up to the stunning summit.

Want to do something exciting and memorable? Check out the Titlis Cliff Walk suspension bridge and Glacial park. The suspension bridge is the highest one in Europe at 9,000 feet above sea level and 300 feet long. (No, we didn’t attempt this one!) There is a Glacier Cave you can walk through. Trübsee, a stunning glacial lake, is nearby.

The village is popular for biking, hiking, rock climbing, and recitals at the Abbey in the summer. There is also a cheese factory with an extraordinary collection of cheese. We had cheese fondue at a local restaurant made from their cheese, and it was fantastic!

There was a charm to Engelberg we really enjoyed. It must be quite the sight during the winter months. The drive to and from the village is incredibly beautiful, with many WOW moments. A train to Engelberg crossed our path during our drive as it weaved through the mountain passes. The views must be breathtaking! This was a fun stop and one we highly recommend. It’s close proximity to major cities which makes it easy access by car or train.
#Engelberg #switzerland #incredible_europe #swissalps #travelphotography

Our trip had many castle visits on the list, we do

Our trip had many castle visits on the list, we don’t have a final count yet, but we are we over 60! At a later date, we will detail more about that. Worth special mention is when you find several castles in one town. Three were in the city of Bellinzona, which is the capital city of southern Switzerland’s Ticino canton. It is a bit over 2 hours south of Zurich.

The Castles of Bellinzona are a group of castles situated on the Alpine Foothills. The three castles are named Castelgrande, Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro. Castelgrande is located on a rocky peak overlooking the valley, with a series of walls that protect the old city and connect to Montebello. Sasso Corbaro, the highest of the three castles, is located on isolated rocky promontory southeast of the other two. All have views of the city and the Alps. The Castles of Bellinzona, with their defensive walls, have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

The fortifications of Bellinzona are among the most impressive examples of medieval defensive architecture in the Alps. From the Castelgrande, Bellinzona's oldest and grandest castle, there is a beautiful view of Old Town and the surrounding area. A small museum in the Castelgrande documents the history of Bellinzona's castles and the town center. There are also museums in Montebello and Sasso Corbaro.

All castles can be reached by car or walking trails. There is a little tourist “train” that drives up to the castles. Castelgrande is within the city, whereas the other two are farther up the mountainside. We were impressed with all three and the Old Town area of Bellinzona. This is the Italian part of Switzerland; the locals speak Italian, and most restaurants serve Italian fare. As with all our stops in Switzerland, the town was immaculate and the people welcoming and friendly.

#bellinzona #castelgrande #sassocorbaro #Montebello #switzerland #castlesofinstagram #europestyle_ #incredible_europe #travelphotography

Lake Como in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region, i

Lake Como in Northern Italy’s Lombardy region, is an upscale resort area known for its dramatic scenery, with the backdrop being the foothills of the Alps. The lake is shaped like an upside-down Y, with three slender branches. At the bottom of the southwest branch is the city of Como, home to Renaissance architecture and a lovely Old Town area. There are large street markets there and a fortification wall.

As you travel the lake it seems there are endless small villages dotting the coastline of Lake Como. We drove most of the Eastern side of the branches and spent time in the larger city of Como, as well as Varenna, Perledo, Belano, Menaggio, and in the resort town of Bellagio. The area reminded us a lot of the Amalfi Coast. Curving hairpin turn roads with amazing views of the water. Though it is a beautiful area it felt to us a bit overrated. A place you visit once and that is enough.

During our visit we stayed in an AirBNB in the small village of Perledo near the waterfront town of Varenna. The views from our place were stunning. It was a great location to visit the lake. Varenna is small village that isn’t as touristy as other towns along the lake. The Varenna car ferry provides quick access to several towns on Lake Como. We visited Bellagio easily with a few minute ferry ride. Lake Como definitely emits an Italian feel though the local cuisine is quite different than other parts of Italy.

#lakecomo #italy #varennaitaly #travelphotography

Our next stop was Lake Como, Italy. We took it slo

Our next stop was Lake Como, Italy. We took it slow from Liechtenstein to Italy with an overnight in Davos, Switzerland. Making many stops along the way we were in awe of the magnificent Swiss Alps, charming villages and towns and the castles we visited along the way.

Here are a few of the pictures we took on the drive. One of the advantages of driving yourself is you can stop at anytime and at any place your heart desires. The roads were excellent everywhere.

#switzerland #incredible_europe #condenasttraveller #europetravel #europestyle_ #travelphotography #travelblogger #nategeotravel #swissalps

Liechtenstein is a German-speaking, 16-mile long p

Liechtenstein is a German-speaking, 16-mile long principality located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. It’s known for its medieval castles, alpine landscapes and villages linked by an intricate network of trails. The capital, Vaduz, is the cultural and financial center of this tiny country.

Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy headed by the Prince of Liechtenstein. It has a population of around 39,000 and is a total of 62 square miles. It is one of only two countries in the world doubly land locked.

Liechtenstein has one of the highest gross domestic products per person in the world when adjusted for purchasing power. The country has a strong financial sector centered in its capital. The country is tightly tied to Switzerland and their currency is the Swiss Franc. They are part of the United Nations but not part of the European Union.

As an Alpine country, Liechtenstein is very mountainous, making it a popular destination for winter sports. The scenery is spectacular.

We came to Liechtenstein to see what this small nation had to offer. We discovered several castles within rural neighborhoods that were impeccably maintained and access was free to the public. There was even a fire pit inside one of the castle ruins to have campfires. The amount of walking trails were impressive and we saw many locals walking their dogs. There was a peacefulness to this little country that was striking. Even as we wandered neighborhoods on foot, obviously not being one of their own, we always felt welcome.

#liechtenstein #castlesofinstagram #incredible_europe #europestyle_ #travelphotography #nategeotravel #condenasttraveller #vaduzliechtenstein🇱🇮

On our way back to Switzerland from Fussen, German

On our way back to Switzerland from Fussen, Germany we passed through western Austria, which was mostly through the Alps. We drove through picturesque towns, explored castles and were frequently surrounded by snow capped mountains. Our first stop had us take on a lengthy suspension bridge high above it all in Ehrenberg. It wasn’t too bad until a bunch a 20 something men decided to start jumping around and rock it. It was an invigorating, exciting, and a scary experience.

It was quite cloudy that day so getting pictures of the snow covered Alps wasn’t easy but we can assure you it was gorgeous.

We return to Austria in August and are excited to explore more of this amazing and stunning country.

#Austria #travelphotography #incredible_europe #condenasttraveller #nategeotravel #europestyle_ #castlesofinstagram

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