OPPOSITE THE JULICHS-PLACE, COLOGNE. THE MOST ANCIENT DISTILLER OF THE EAU DE COLOGNE SINCE 1709. Purveyor to their Majesties the QUEEN of GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND, the EMPEROR of GERMANY, the EMPEROR of all the RUSSIAS, the EMPEROR of AUSTRIA, their Royal Highnesses the PRINCE and the PRINCESS of WALES, &c. &c. PRIZE MEDALS IN LONDON 1851 AND 1862, IN PARIS 1855 AND 1867, IN OPORTO 1865, IN VIENNA 1873. CAUTION. With regard to the great number of manufactures of a so-called EAU DE COLOGNE carried on by people who succeeded in getting a firm of FARINA in order to be able to sell their article, it is of particular necessity to caution persons who are desirous to purchase my genuine EAU DE COLOGNE, to direct letters to my very exact address; Johann Maria Farina, gegenuber dem Julichs-Platz (which means opposite the Jülichs-Place) Cologne, (without addition of any number). Travellers visiting Cologne and intending to buy my genuine article are cautioned against being led astray by cabmen, guides, commissioners and other parties who offer their services to them. I therefore beg to state that my manufacture and store are in the same house situated opposite the Jülichs-Place and nowhere else. It happens namely too frequently that the said persons conduct the uninstructed strangers to shops of one of the fictitious firms where, notwithstanding assertion to the contrary, they are remunerated with nearly half the part of the price paid by the purchaser, who, of course, must pay indirectly this remuneration by a high price and a bad article. Another kind of imposition is practised in almost every hotel in Cologne where waiters, commissioners, &c., offer to strangers EAU DE COLOGNE, pretending that it is the genuine one and that I delivered it to them for the purpose of selling it for my account. The only certain way to get in Cologne my genuine article is to buy it personally in my own house, opposite the Julichs-Place, of which the very resembling facade is above. COLOGNE, March, 1878 JOHANN MARIA FARINA, gegenüber dem Julichs-Platz. (For that portion of the route from Paris to Frouard, see Route 76.) Leaving Frouard we proceed for a considerable distance along the left bank of the Moselle, which flows by a range of hills covered with plantations and vineyards. At Dieulouard (222 miles) we see the ruins of a castle, and on the right, between the railway and the Moselle, stretches a vast plain, on which are still to be seen the remains of the great Roman town of Scarpone. We pass, in succession, Pont-a-Mousson, with a fine Gothic church, Noveant, and Ars-sur-Moselle, near which we see portions of a Roman aqueduct built by Drusus, to supply Metz with water, and arrive at METZ (244 miles). (Hotels: de l'Europe, Grand). It is strongly fortified, and is situated at the confluence of the Moselle with the Seille. It became a German fortress in 1871. The military establishments of the town are numerous and important. Its streets are wide and clean, and it contains numerous spacious squares. The fine Gothic Cathe dral, begun in 1014 and finished in 1546, is remarkable for its lightness and elegance. It has a beautiful spire of open work, 373 feet in height. Part of the old church of Notre Dame de la Ronde, built in 1130, forms one of the side chapels. There is a round church in the citadel, which formerly belonged to the Knights Templars. The esplanade, planted with trees, and separating the town from the citadel, affords a fine promenade. The place has various manufactures, besides brass and copper foundries. In 1552 the city was besieged by the Emperor Charles V. for ten months. It was defended by the Duc de Guise, then only 30 years of age. At the end of ten months the Emperor was forced to raise the siege, having lost 30,000 men. Metz was ceded to France by the peace of Westphalia, October 24, 1648, and was fortified by Vauban. On July 28, 1870, Napoleon III. arrived at Metz, and took command of the French army. On August 6, 1870, the whole army, except three corps, was concentrated here after the defeats at Woerth and Forbach, and was hemmed in by the Germans. On October 27, 1870, after a siege of nine weeks, Metz was surrendered by Marshal Bazaine, together with 173,000 men, including 6000 officers, three of whom were marshals of France. After leaving Metz, the first place worthy of mention on our route is FORBACH (287 miles). (Hotel: du Chariot d'Or). This is a manufacturing town, built at the foot and along the slope of a mountain called the Schlossberg, which is surmounted by the ruins of an ancient fortress. SAARBRUCKEN (292 miles). (Hotel: du Chemin de Fer). The town is situated on the left bank of the Saar, at the foot of a hill adorned with numerous gardens. A stone bridge of about 180 yards long, crossing the river, connects the town with the Faubourg Sanct-Johann. Up to 1793, the Castle was the residence of the Princes of Nassau-Saarbrücken; the church connected with it contains several tombs of that family; but a still greater number of tombs, and several curious baptismal fonts, are to be seen in the beautiful Gothic church of Arnual, a short distance from the town, to the southward, in front of which rises the mountain called Halberg, from whose summit a beautiful view can be obtained. On August 2d, 1870, Saarbrücken was bombarded by the French, and the Germans dislodged. The Emperor and Prince Imperial witnessed the bombardment. It was here the Prince "went through his baptism of fire." Here also the mitrailleuse had its first trial in an actual conflict. OBERSTEIN (339 miles). A large proportion of the population of this town are engaged in cutting and polishing agates and chalcedony. The agate quarries are at Idal, about two miles distant, where there are polishing mills. On two isolated rocks, near the town, are the ruins of old castles. In the face of the precipice, plainly seen from the railway, is an ancient church, the roof and one side of which are formed of the living rock. A spring of water flows from the floor. The next station of importance is CREUZNACH BATHS (373 miles). (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST.") About three miles before reaching Creuznach Baths, the railway passes close to the saltworks of Munster-am-Stein, belonging to Prussia, built on a flat, almost encircled by the Nahe, and close by the red porphyry precipice of Rheingrafenstein, an ancient stronghold of the Rheingraves. It is 420 ft. high, and is crowned by the Castle of the same name. Creuznach has become celebrated for its mineral waters, which attract many thousands of visitors annually. They are chiefly efficacious in scrofulous diseases. The tepid spring was discovered in 1832, and a second in 1838; and in 1840, a Kurhaus was built, comprising a reading-room, hotel, and restaurant, baths, &c., and a garden, laid out in the English style. Since that period, the town has gradually risen in population, and now takes high rank among the German spas. ENGLISH CHURCH, St Paul's. Services, 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The neighbourhood affords many pleasant excursions. From the summit of the Kauzenberg, or Schlossberg, as it is also called, is a beautiful view of the town and surrounding country. Leaving Creuznach, the railway keeps along the left bank of the Nahe, passing places of no particular note, and reaches BINGERBRUCK, on the Rhine, the terminus of the route. Persons intending to remain at Bingen cross the Nahe from this point by a fine bridge. The distance from Bingerbrück station to the hotels at BINGEN (Hotels: Victoria, White Horse) is less than a mile. ROUTE 76. PARIS TO STRASBURG AND THE RHINE. 312 miles. First class,61 35 francs; second class, 45 55 francs; third, 33.25 francs. HE express trains which leave Paris in the morning and evening are composed of first class carriages only. Part of the carriages in each train go direct to the Strasburg station, while those in the afterpart of the train, assigned to passengers destined to Baden, or other places beyond the German frontier, do not go to Strasburg, but proceed from the Junction outside the city to KEHL, at the eastern extremity of the Rhine bridge. The Paris Terminus is in the Place de Strasburg, at the extremity of the Boulevard de Strasburg. The first important place we reach is MEAUX (28 miles). (Hotel: Grignan). It is situated on the Marne. The Cathedral, dedicated to St Etienne, is a splendid specimen of Gothic architecture; it was commenced in the twelfth century, and is still unfinished. In the interior we find the monument of Philip of Castile (representing a kneeling figure, in armour, bareheaded), and the monument of Bossuet, the eminent divine and orator, who was, for some time, Bishop of Meaux. At the Bishop's Palace certain mementoes of this celebrated man are preserved-viz., the study in which he composed his sermons and orations, and the avenue of yews, beneath which was his favourite promenade. Among other public buildings are the General Hospital; the Seminary, formerly a Hospice; the Hotelde-Ville; the Library, and the College. There are also beautiful public walks in the vicinity of the town. Soon after leaving Meaux we cross the Marne, and, passing through the tunnel of Armentières, again cross it, and presently arrive at LA-FERTÉSOUS-JOUARRE(414 miles). (Hotel: de France). The Marne is here agreeably diversified with islands. The Pavilion, built in the reign of Louis XIII., was once the residence of the Duc de St Simon. This town is famous for its millstones, numbers of which are exported to England and America. The word Ferté is a corruption of fortifié, and forms the prefix of several towns in France. We proceed for some distance along the picturesque banks of the river, and reach CHATEAUTHIERRY (591 miles). (Hotel: d'Angleterre), situated on a hill above the Marne. The ruined Castle is surrounded by pleasuregrounds. After passing through the beautiful valley of the Marne we come to EPERNAY (883 miles), (Hotel: de l'Europe), noted for its champagne wine. About half-anhour is allowed for refreshment. Epernay, next to Rheims, is the most important seat of the trade in champagne wines, and several of the most noted of the manufacturers have their places of business here, among them Moet and Chandon, and H. Piper Co. (the original owners of the famous mark of Heidseick). The cellars of the last-named firm are the most extensive in the district. [A branch line of 18 miles takes us to RHEIMS (107) miles from Paris). (Hotel: Lion d'Or). One of the most important towns in the great Champagne district. It is situated on the river Vesle, a small tributary of the Aisne, in a plain surrounded by a range of low hills covered with vineyards. Of the public buildings the most remarkable by far is the fine Gothic CATHEDRAL. It dates from 1212, and is 466 ft. long, and 121 ft. high. There are no less than 600 statues on the portal. The rose-window in the western front is 40 ft. in diameter, of exquisite tracery and brilliant colouring. There are numerous other windows of great beauty. It has been said that the architecture of the interior more nearly resembles that of Westminster Abbey than any other English cathedral, but it is perhaps more simple and severe. It was in this church that the ceremony of anointing or consecrating the kings of France formerly took place. Charles VII. was crowned here in the presence of Joan of Arc. The church of St Remy is a fine structure. The Hotel-de-Ville is remarkable for |