gloomy hall, the water of the two principal springs is drunk. Between the two springs there is a long passage, on either side of which are arranged stalls for the sale of fancy articles. Underneath the Kurhaus the Baths are situated, which are charged for at the following rates: 18kr. for the common, 36kr., 1fl. to 1fl. 30kr. for the superior class, and 48kr. for the douche baths. Tickets are usually purchased beforehand from the Badmeister, who arranges the time for taking them, to which time the bather should be punctual to a minute, as if he do not, he will lose his turn. The waters are taken in the morning and after dinner, from three to six goblets before breakfast, and one or two in the afternoon. The dinner hour is one o'clock, and mostly all dine at the table d'hôte. After dinner the visitors repair to the walks, where music and sipping coffee amuses those who do not walk or ride. There are also the following: Stadt Frankfort; Goldener Adler; Hotel de l'Europe; Badischer Hof; Rheinischer Hof; Goldene Rose; Englischer Hof; Belle Vue; Hessischer Hof; Nassauer Hof; Hotel Bergère; and Hotel du Chemin de Fer. Homburg is a small town beautifully situated on an eminence in the midst of agreeable scenery. Since 1844, it has become a very distinguished watering-place, and a spot famous for its excellent mineral springs, the waters of which are decidedly valuable, and consist of five springs, one of which, that of Elizabeth, has more carbonic acid than any other saline spot at present discovered. The Stahlbrunnen is ferruginous, like that of Spa; the Badelle, a salt spring; the Kaiserbrunnen, compared to the Carisbad waters, and the Ludwigsbrunnen. We refer with confidence, those who really desire to become acquainted with the resources and virtues of these justly celebrated waters, to the "Observations on the Mineral Waters of Homberg," by F. H. Prytherch, M.D., &c., &c., &c., who is authorised English resident physician. Conveyances.-By rail or coach to Schwalbach, Prince's-street, Soho, London; Louis Schick, This publication may be had of John Churchill, Schlangenbad, Wiesbaden, &c. The English Church Service is celebrated twice on Sundays in summer. Some beautiful walks can be taken near Ems; particularly those up and down the Lahn. Kemmenan, situated at the top of a mountain to the rear of Ems, is a splendid point of view; and from Ems also can be visited Braubach and the Castle of Marksburg, described in Route 22. A short distance on the right bank of the Lahn, is Nassau, the first seat of the Ducal family. Population, 1,100. (Hotel, Krone.) Here stands their old castle, with the Monument to Baron Stein, which was inaugurated, 1872. It faces Stein Castle, and bears a punning motto on his name, Stein or Stone "Des Guten Grundstein, Des Bosen Eckstein, Des Deutschen Edelstein." In English "The foundation Stone of Good, The sharp Stone for the Bad, The precious Stone of the Germans." HOMBURG, in Hesse-Homburg. A Station on a branch rail near Frankfort. See Route 23. Population, 13,000. Hotels: Hotel de Russie.-First-class hotel, elegantly furnished apartments. Hotel Victoria.-Very good hotel, excellent table d'hôtel, moderate charges. Hotel des Quatre Saisons, kept by Mr. W. Schlotterbeck. Well situated; moderate charges. Homburg; or through them, of the principal continental booksellers. At Homburg we find one of the most magnificent Kurhäuser in Germany. It is stated that over 50,000l. were lost annually at this gaming table; and it is also said that from this establishment the state of Hesse Homburg derived its chief revenue. It has a dining hall, coffee rooms, reading and smoking rooms, and is provided with a very fine band, which plays daily on the walk. Its only object of attraction is the Palace of the Prince of Hesse Homburg. In it is a large collection of Roman antiquities, and over the inner gateway is an equestrian statue of Prince Frederick of Hesse. The daughter of George III., the late landgravine Elizabeth, had the gardens attached to the Palace nicely laid out in the English style, but they now present a deserted and neglected appearance. A succession of flower gardens and shrubberies stretch along between these gardens and the base of the Taunus, affording to the promenader a magnificent walk, and leading him to an eminence commanding a rich view of the surrounding country. 166 A visit can be paid from here to the Nauheim Salt Works, distance about 8 or 9 miles northeast of Homburg. For excursion in the Taunus, see Route 27. English Church Service every Sunday, at the new church, near the station. Conveyances.-Omnibuses correspond with the trains to and from Frankfort almost every hour. It is quite as well to go the whole distance by the four-horse coaches which run regularly from the Post Office every hour, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. SCHWALBACH, in Nassau. The nearest Station is Wiesbaden or Eltville, see Route 22. Population, 2,400.-Hotels: are open in the season for the sale of books, toys, &c., by itinerant travellers. The Pauline spring gives water to the baths in the upper storey, and the Stahl and Weinbrunnen to those on the lower. Each bath is charged at the rate of 48kr., with 4kr. additional to the servant. Persons should be punctual in attending at the hour they bespeak the bath, as if they do not they will lose their turn. The table d'hôte is at 11 o'clock. English Church Service is celebrated on Sundays at 11 a.m. in the Upper Protestant Church, in the Lange Gasse. Conveyances, to Eltville, Schlangenbad, Wiesbaden, Ems, &c. The hills about are all intersected with paths, and very beautiful views can be had from the sur Hotel Herzog von Nassau, an excellent hotel in rounding eminences, particularly from the Rustic a good situation. Hotel de la Promenade (Allée Saal), near the Royal Bath-house, first-class hotel, good accomodation. Exchange office here. Russicher Hof; Poste; Altesaal. Schwalbach or Langenschwalbach lies considerably higher than Wiesbaden (8 miles distant), and though the town itself is hot in the middle of the day when the sun's rays are reflected from the hills, yet the air out of the valley is extremely bracing; the ground soon dries after rain, and the walks and rides in the environs are varied, and extremely beautiful. Within the last few years the place has been considerably enlarged and improved in its appearance and accommodation. This place is far more pleasant than Wiesbaden or Ems, in being more silent and less exposed to bustle or annoyance. The season lasts little more than two months, beginning in June and ending in August. Here also are gaming tables in the public rooms of the Allé Saal, which opens out upon the Allé on a fine avenue of trees continuous with the public promenade, where two of the springs, the Weinbrunnen and the Pauline rise; the third spring, Stahlbrunnen, is separated by a low hill from the others. Near Weinbrunnen is the new Bath House, a handsome building, resting on an open colonnade, which contains commodious bathing cabinets, and a promenade room. The colonnade extends the entire length of the building, beneath which booths Pavilion, standing on the summit of a hill on the road from here to Wiesbaden, and which is not more than a quarter of an hour's walk from the Pauline. Adolphseck, a ruined castle, is another pretty excursion of a half-hour's walk. The principal excursion, and the one most surrounded with agreeable associations, is that to the Castle of Hohenstein approached by a carriage road, or by the windings of the small stream Aar, under the Castle of Adolphseck, and up the valley for 6 miles. Its scenery is charming and varied after a most beautiful fashion up to the moment the magnificent old castle shadows itself forth from its romantic height of black precipice. From Schwalbach we proceed by an excellent road (4 miles) to SCHLANGENBAD, in Nassau. The nearest Station is Eltville or Wiesbaden, see Route 22. Population, 10,000 (?).-Hotels: Hessischer Hof Naussen Hof. risk, and not only impart a pleasurable sensation at the time, but likewise a feeling of bien étre for the remainder of the day. The Baths are placed in the lower storey of the old and New Badhaus, and must be heated for bathing, as the water is only 80° Fahrenheit in temperature. excursions inland, and then return to the same or some other village to take the up or down steamer, Or the traveller may make agreeable excursions by leaving the steamer occasionally at intervals, as it approaches the bends of the river, and then by taking the road across the points he will frequently obtain beautiful views from the summits of the A band of music plays daily on the promenade, hills, and then come to the point where the steamer will take him up. and there are no gaming tables. English Church service in the Duke of Nassau's Chapel, during the season. Conveyances to Eltville, Wiesbaden, Schwalbach, Ems, &c. II. THE MOSELLE FROM COBLENZ Travellers who can spare the time to make an excursion up the Moselle may spend three or four days most pleasantly, as the scenery all through the picturesque valley is generally very fine, and in several places most exquisite. The banks of the Moselle are bordered with undulating hills, covered with vines or thick woods, picturesque little villages or small towns, ruins of old castles, watch towers, and Gothic steeples, most of which are seen in the most romantic forms imaginable, owing to the extraordinary windings of the river. This river rises in the south-east of the department Vosges, in France, runs by Remiremont, Epinal, Toul, Frouard, Pont à Mousson, Metz, and Thionville, separates the duchy of Luxembourg from Rhenish Prussia, passes by Trèves, and joins the Rhine, at Coblenz. Its chief affluents in France are the Meurthe and the Seille on the right, and in the Prussian States the Savre, on the right and the Surc, the Kyll, and the Elz on the left. It becomes navigable about Metz. Its total course is 265 miles. The best Moselle wines are Scharzhofberger, Scharzbergen, Drauneberger, Pisporter, Graach, and Zultinger. Steamers leave Coblenz every morning for Treves, performing the journey in a day and a half, and come down from Trèves to Coblenz in 10 hours. An agreeable way of visiting the most picturesque spots is to take the steamer up the river to any chosen spot, favourably situated for making The traveller, however, should previously ascertain that by doing so he will loose no finer scenery on the river. After leaving Coblenz the first place worthy of notice is Moselweiss on the right bank, where there are large public gardens. Above this village rise the fortifications of Fort Alexander, one of the advanced forts of Coblenz, situated between the Moselle and the Rhine. Further on we pass on the left the church of Metternich, the village of Gülls, with its twin spires; then village of Ley on the right, and that of Winningen on the left; after which we come to Diebelich on the right--a place said to have been haunted by witches in former times. It is a pretty spot, and is pleasantly situated in a charming part of the river. Cobern on the left bank, is situated at the point where the Nodbach falls into the Moselle. The hills behind the town are crowned with two castles, within one of which, the Oderberg, is a beautiful little chapel-which deserves a visit from all admirers of graceful architecture. Gondorf, on the left, is another pretty village, formerly the residence of the Count von Layen, Catenes.-A village on the same side, just beyond, derives its name from a chain formerly placed across to exact toll from the boats going up or down the river. Alken, on the right, an old town connected by several towers with Schloss Turon-a picturesque old castle, situated on the heights above. Bordenbach.-Further upon the same side is situated at the entrance of Ehrenbach, a stream which, from its singular ravine, no one should omit visiting. At the commencement this gorge is narrow, dark, and gloomy, but shortly expands into a charming valley, with verdant meadows and vineyards, streams and water mills, &c., the perspect ive in front being closed by a rocky barrier, on the heights of which stands the castle of Ehrenberg, said to excel in beauty any other castle on the Rhine or Moselle. We next pass Wortzenfurt on the left, and further on the same side the castle of Bichofsstein, belonging to the Archbishop of Trèves; then Moselkern, a village at the entrance of the beautiful vale of Elz. If the traveller lands at Moselkern, crosses the hill or strikes across the heights along the side of the glen, he will obtain several fine views, and then passing through the romantic valley of the Elz, visit the picturesque and interesting old castle of Elz, reputed to be the beau ideal of a feudal fortress of the middle ages. The traveller can then return by the road, direct, to join the steamer at Carden, a village charmingly situated in one of the sweetest spots of the Moselle. Proceeding on we next pass Treis, on the right side, situated within an amphitheatre of hills, on which there are two castles. Clotten, on the left, a small village with its church on the hill, and the ruins of an old castle. The next place we come to is Cochem.-Hotels: De L'Union; Conreich's; Rönischer König. This is an ancient town of 2,500 Inhabitants, and the distant view of it, defended by two castles on the hills behind, is exceedingly prepossessing and attractive, but the traveller will be disappointed in visiting it, as the streets are narrow and dirty, even more so than the other towns on the Moselle. A number of villages and small towns of no particular note are passed until the steamer reaches Punderich, a village on the right bank. Travellers intending to visit the interesting ruins of Marienburg should land on the opposite side of the river. The view from a hill near the ruins affords one of the finest prospects on the Moselle, embracing four different bends of the river, and forming a splendid panorama. Refreshments can be had at a small inn within the ruins. Returning to Punderich, the steamer proceeds past the villages of Enrich and Starkenburg on the right bank, and then arrives at Traben on the left. Sun Hotel classes the best. A short {distance higher up on the right bank is Trabach, a village of 1,300 inhabitants, where the steamer remains during the night. This place resembles Cochem in the beauty of its position, which is extremely picturesque, and in the dirty unwholesome appearance of the streets. It is situated at the mouth of the valley, and is encircled by a range of hills or mountains. The castle on one of these commands the river entirely. Between Trabach and Trèves the scenery becomes less beautiful, and the villages and towns, with the exception of Berncastle, devoid of interest. Berncastle.-Hotel Drei König. A town of 2,000 inhabitants. The situation of this town is so fine that most travellers would be tempted to stop and visit it, which we advise them not to do, as it is both dirty and badly drained. The steamer soon arrives at the fine old city of Trèves, described in Route 25. III. TEN DAYS' TOUR IN HOLLAND. EMBRACING NEARLY ALL OBJECTS MOST INTERESTING TO AN ENGLISHMAN. Though by no means picturesque, Holland is in many respects an interesting country, especially to Englishmen. It has the cleanest and best educated population on the continent, and it has shewn what industry can do in defiance of the element. The population are descendants of the ancient Britain, Celtic, and other races. The surface embraces 596 square geographica miles, the population amounts to 3,426,140, of whom 1,201,890 are Catholics. The largest cities are Amsterdam, population 245,200; Rotterdam, population 112,200; and the Hague, population, 85,000. The imports in 1862 amounted to 445 millions of florins, the exports to 381 millions. Holland has 400 factories with steam apparatus. The paper mills are 170, and yield a good article. It is estimated that Holland has 249,000 horses and 828,000 sheep. Horticulture receives much attention, 3,000,000 florins being devoted to it annually. As regards schools, Holland has three universities, sixty-seven gymnasia (or high schools), and 3,350 primary schools, of which 870 are special. |