After our three days of wonderful weather in Friesland, we are homeward bound. We flake out and finally emerge at 6. She looks so sceptical — after the rain, it will be very muddy — that we change our minds and drive there. We find a stone picnic table and bench overlooking the town which is at the confluence of the Fulda and Weser Rivers on which Bremen is located. It has another claim to fame. We wander over the covered wooden bridge, typical of those we saw on the Danube last year, and into the town, which has more than historical houses, some of them more than years old, in the Weser Renaissance style.
It is not as stunning as Celle , but it is still very charming and there are some beautiful painted doors. It was founded in by French Huguenots fleeing persecution in France.
Though initially named Sieburg, the town was later named after Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel , who granted them refuge. We find this particularly interesting as the original owners of our house in Blois, Closerie Falaiseau, were Huguenots. The town was built to an ideal plan in the classical Baroque style with a harbour in the centre that is currently undergoing restoration, which unfortunately somewhat detracts from the overall aesthetics.
After a false start we find ourselves on a very pleasant bike path along the Weser River. We lament the lack of sun because the scenery is very calm and peaceful, with rolling hills on both sides. I go in to use the ladies and discover that the inside is like an antique library. Downstairs in the basement, there is a small theatre, hence the name. I follow the Ausgang sign and find myself in a small courtyard with a well — we could have sat there instead of facing the street!
We cycle through the pedestrian centre until we find a restaurant to our liking. Using my German dictionary app, we order roast suckling pig with saukerkraut and dumplings — klein for me and gross for Jean Michel of course. The food is delicious. The bill, including a glass of trocken weiss wein each is 34 euros! I can definitely recommend the Paulaner Wirtshaus on Stummreger Strasse. It turns out to be just down the road from our restaurant and is worth the detour. At Wehrden, we visit the grounds of a schloss , a bit worried when we see a privat sign, then have a very cold and rare Coke sitting in comfortable chairs with a view of the Weser.
