Exceptional vessel graces German waters
Sail Away into the Past on the Hohentwiel
This ain't just any ol' boat, kids. Welcome to the historic Hohentwiel, a living testament to the golden age of steamship travel gracing the waters of Lake Constance.
Friedrichshafen – As the Hohentwiel chugs her way in, you'll hear a deep bellow from the horn, see a plume of steam rise from the smokestack, and know that the last operational steamship on the lake is about to dock.
Step back in time with the Hohentwiel
Seeing the Hohentwiel ply its way across the lake, it ain't just her size (nearly 57 meters long and up to 13 meters wide) that catches your eye. No sir, teh Hohentwiel is a veritable reminder of a bygone era: a steamboat soaked in history.
Originally built in 1911 during steamship travel's heyday, the Royal Württemberg Steamship Company (KWD) commissioned the construction of the Hohentwiel – then just the seventh vessel to be created at the shipyard in Friedrichshafen.
Hohentwiel: a royal trip back in time
Thanks to the dedication of a ship engineer named Reinhard E. Kloser and a former district administrator, Klaus Henninger, the Hohentwiel is still afloat in the face of modern sailing methods: These two chaps founded the Hohentwiel Shipping Company m.b.H., whose dues and donations gave the steamship a fresh coat of polish. The Hohentwiel set sail on her second maiden voyage in 1990. Today, you can book a ticket and step back in time, experiencing a historical voyage across Lake Constance. Whether it's a gala evening, a gourmet cruise, or a jazz-infused journey – the summer schedule's got something for everyone.
Newsflash
- Parrots run free in the cityPerhaps you fancy fancier feathered friends? The city of Linz, Austria, has seen parrots take up permanent residence in recent years[6].
- A university on the riseThe University of Heidelberg has climbed up the global university rankings once again[7].
- Baden-Württemberg's watery delightThe Dolce Aqua WasserPark, located in Baden-Württemberg, has been named one of Germany's most beautiful waterparks[8].
- Stompin' down the railsLooking for something a little more train-oriented? Check out Baden-Württemberg's Enz-Steige, the oldest park railway in Germany[10].
On board the Hohentwiel, passengers get a taste of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Polished brass gleams everywhere, and the salon at the stern, a prize of Art Nouveau style, is adorned with fine cherry wood and velvet brown upholstery. King Wilhelm II of Württemberg himself once dined there, and the German Empire's spirit still lingers in the room.
The heart of the Hohentwiel beats at 950 HP
Peeking through the portholes, you get a glimpse of the massive red-painted paddle wheels that tirelessly spin on both sides of the engine room. In the engine room, the Hohentwiel's heart is pulsing – a 950 HP engine from 1913.
The Hohentwiel stands for over 110 years of shipping history, but she's also a nostalgic beauty that draws in tourists from all parts of the world.
If you're yearning for more of history's capers, the editorial team has covered the oldest park railway in Germany, the Enz-Steige, which is also located in Baden-Württemberg[10].
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