Some places you visit and you're slightly underwhelmed. Not so Xanten! So much to see, we barely scratched the surface! First up, we have to recommend the stellplatz at Xanten. The term 'stellplatz' doesn't do it justice, it's easily as nice as any proper caravan site we've stayed at, with fantastic shower facilities. It cost us 21 euros a night, but you can stay for less if you're happy to use your own facilities or go without electricity. The town is a short walk from the site, where you'll find a huge market square, an impressive cathedral, city walls and towers, and plenty of hints of the Roman history of the town. There's a distinct Dutch feeling to the architecture, and even some windmills! I'd particularly recommend a visit to the bakery windmill Kriemhild, where you can buy bread made from flour ground by the mill, enjoy a coffee and climb up through the mechanism to enjoy the views. Xanten also have a pretty marina and a lake where you can enjoy water ports and boat trips. We made the most of the waterside beer garden. Would be rude not to. Nothing, though, prepares you for the highlight of Xanten - the Archaeological Park. The entire site covers the remains of a Roman town that used to sit beside the Rhine. Only a fraction of it has been excavated but what there is is fascinating. The excavated bathhouse is housed in a huge glass building with a magnificent museum attached. There are also reconstructions of buildings that used to sit on the site - an amphitheatre, a temple, villas and guest houses, workshops, gate houses, city walls and more. We spent hours there and could have spent many more, the play park along would have entertained the children all afternoon. So if you're planning a tour of the Netherlands or Germany, make Xanten one of your stops - I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Read more about our travels in Germany. |
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