Originally published on September 11, 2025
Today was mostly about travel. We’re headed to Belgium for the next week, but to break up the long drive we decided to spend one night in Cologne. And to break up that drive, we stopped at Mespelbrunn Castle. Everyone keeping up so far?
By the time we arrived, the rain had set in. We parked and hiked out to the castle, a fairytale-looking moated manor tucked away in the Spessart Forest. Built around 1412, Mespelbrunn has the rare distinction of never having been attacked, which explains why it’s still in such pristine condition. Even more amazing, it’s still owned by the same family who built it. The only way to see inside was by guided tour—in German. Our guide was a good sport and paused a few times to give us highlights in English, and with the help of Google Translate running in real time, we managed to follow along pretty well. Technology for the win!
Afterwards, we continued on to Cologne through heavy but uneventful traffic. Once checked into our hotel, I set out on foot toward the Cologne Dom (Cathedral). “Imposing” hardly does it justice—this Gothic giant towers over the city, its twin spires soaring to 157 meters. Construction began in 1248 and wasn’t finished until 1880, making it one of the longest building projects in history. Inside, it’s one of the most breathtaking cathedrals I’ve ever stepped into. The stained glass windows cast a kaleidoscope of color across the stone, and the intricate floor mosaics—some dating back to the 14th century—are masterpieces in themselves.
Tomorrow we finally arrive in Belgium, where we’ll spend the next week exploring.
