From Neustadt to Speyer and back...by bike!

Today I visited Speyer again with Carry and her host family, only this time I did not drive there! I rode 28km to Speyer with my host father on our bikes, mostly on paved bike paths and some dirt ones too. When we arrived in Speyer, we sat down at a nice cafe that had two remarkable guitarists playing on the street for money. They did a cover of Eric Clapton's 'Layla' which I found pretty cool among other songs (both in German and English). After meeting up with Carry and her host family, we went into the Speyer Cathedral, where we viewed the viewed the crypt and tombs of the emperors, known as being one of the largest and most beautiful crypts in Christendom. People who are buried in this Cathedral include Conrad II (founder of the Cathedral), Henry III, Henry IV, Henry V, and unidentified sarcophaguses of five bishops of the Diocese of Speyer, dating back from the 12th and 13 centuries. The cathedral was beautiful and it was also very powerful to be in, because it has so much history. Information about the Speyer Cathedral can be viewed here, since I don't have a picture!

After visiting the cathedral, we ordered some ice creams then walked to the famous tower in Speyer, called the Altpörtel or Old Gate, which was built during the medieval times as part of the wall that surrounded the town of Speyer in 1176. We went of lots of stairs until we reached the top, which provided us with an excellent view of the town of Speyer, including the 3 cathedrals and various shops and smaller streets that the town has. Before riding back home, we also walked to the Jüdishces Viertel or Jewish Quarter, where we visited the remains of a synagogue and bath area. 

My total riding distance today was 58km or 36miles...not too shabby!

 

Here are the 2 other churches in Speyer...

Here are several pictures that I took from the first time I visited Speyer, but you can also visit this website to look at other things that I have seen but have not mentioned in my blog! The site is in German, but can be translated by using this. Enjoy!