Dr. Jose Rizal Travels In Europe (Germany)

Rizal in Germany 

• Berlin

Another view of the modernized building where Dr. Rizal had resided in Berlin. It is two blocks from the famous Unter den Linden boulevard in Berlin.


The Unter den Linden boulevard as seen during Rizals time. Rizal had frequented the Unter den Linden because there were several coffee houses in this wide avenue where he could read newspapers.

The Royal Palace.The former Royal Palace, which belonged to the Hohenzollern dynasty, was heavily damaged during the Second World War.

The Brandenburg Gate, built between 1789-1792, is the most significant symbol of Berlin.

Interior view of Cafe Bauer, where Rizal used to sit and read newspapers.

Monument of Frederick the Great in front of the Palace of Emperor Wilhelm I. The monument was inaugurated in 1851.

Monument of Dr. Rudolf Virchow, close acquaintance of Dr. Rizal during his stay in Berlin.

Located at the busy intersection of Friedrichstraße and Unter den Linden, the Cafe Bauer was frequented by Rizal during his sojourn in Berlin

Emperor's Palace. Former residence of Emperor Wilhelm I. Rizal was in Germany during the reign of Emperor Wilhelm I and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.

Crown Prince's Palace. Former residence of the Crown Prince who later on became Emperor Wilhelm II.

Close-up view of the monument of Dr. Virchow, Being an outstanding physician, anthropologist, ethnologist, reformist, and a politician, Virchow had a great influence on Rizal.

Central Hotel. Dr. Rizal booked at this hotel upon his arrival in Berlin. He occupied room No. 294. The hotel was totally destroyed in World War II and has never been rebuilt.

Berlin The renovated house at Jägerstraße 71, where Dr. Rizal resided in Berlin. A bronze memorial plaque has been placed in front of the building in honor of Dr. Rizal.

Berlin General view of Berlin at the turn of twentieth century. The Cathedral dominates the whole city. Dr. Rizal arrived in Berlin on November 1, 1886 and departed on May 11, 1887.

• Bingen

The Rochuskapelle (Chapel of St. Roch), situated on a hill above Bingen, is a favorite place of pilgrimage.

Klopp Castle.Built during the 14th century for levying tolls on the Rhine, the castlenow serves as the town hall of Bingen and the tower is used as a folk museum (Heimatmuseum).

Bingen Old view of Bingen with the Drusus Bridge, built by the Romans during the 10th century.

• Bonn

The monument of Ludwig van Beethoven was inaugurated on 12 August 1845 in the presence of Queen Victoria of England. Beethoven, born in 1770, is considered as the greatest son of Bonn.

Old Town Hall The Old Town Hall, built in 1737 by a famous French architect, is the most popular landmark of Bonn. Heavily damaged in World War II, it was restored to its former splendor.

Hotel RheineckRizal landed in Bonn from the ship Hohenzoller on 10 August 1886 and lodged at the Hotel Rheineck

From this classical railroad station, which was inaugurated in 1884, Dr. Rizal boarded the train and proceeded to Cologne on 11 August 1886.

• Boppard

Boppard is a very popular tourist spot on the Rhine. It is well-known for its well-preserved ruins of a Roman fortress, which was built by the Romans during the 4th century.

• Cologne

Side view of the Cologne Cathedral. Dr. Rizal had climbed one of the towers where he could see the whole city of Cologne, the Rhine and the vast neighboring landscape.

With a height of 160 meters, the Cologne Cathedral is the highest and biggest cathedral in Europe. It is the most striking landmark of Cologne.

This is a view of the interior of Cologne Cathedral.

The beautiful city of Cologne as seen during the time of Rizal. Cologne acquired city status from Rome in 50 A.D. Cologne is one of the oldest cities of Germany.

• Dresden

The Painting Gallery. Dr. Rizal had visited the Painting Gallery during his sojourn in Dresden in 1886.

The Zwinger is the most significant baroque building in Germany.

The Royal Palace. The palace was almost totally destroyed in World War II, but it is now under reconstruction for use as a museum.

The Johanneum with its beautiful facade. It was originally built as a stable between 1586 and 1591.

The Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). This impressive church was totally destroyed during the Second World War.

The Catholic Church. The church has been heavily damaged in World War II, but it has been rebuilt to its former glory. Dr. Rizal heard mass in this church during his first visit to Dresden.

Partial view of the vast courtyard of the Zwinger.

• Erfurt

Dr. Rizal had seen the two most prominent landmarks of Erfurt.the imposing Cathedral and the Severin Church.

The Mende Fountain. Dr. Rizal witnessed the inauguration of this attractive fountain.

Dr. Rizal had visited the historic town of Erfurt and stayed at Hotel Silver.

• Frankfurt

Dr. Rizal had visited the Städel Institute and he was very much impressed with the style of the building. He said that probably the building is worth more than its contents.

The Opera House was inaugurated in 1880 in the presence of Emperor Wilhelm I. Heavily damaged in World War II, it has been restored to its orginal form.

Panoramic view of Frankfurt am Main as seen during the time of Rizal.

Monument of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832). When Rizal saw the monument, he remarked that Goethe looks more like a rich banker than a poet.

Monument of Johannes Gutenberg (1397-1468), together with Peter Schöffer, Gutenberg's apprentice, and Johannes Fust, his financier.

Frankfurt The Stock Exchange (Börse). Being the main banking and financial center of Germany, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is the biggest and busiest in the country.

• Heidelberg

Bergheimer Strabe Former University of Heidelberg Eye Clinic where Dr. Rizal had practiced ophthalmology under the direction of Prof. Dr. Otto Becker.

Universitatsplatz where Dr. Rizal had composed his famous poem To the Flowers of Heidelberg. A bronze memorial plaque in front of the building bears witness to his memorable stay in this place.

The world-renown Heidelberg Castle before its destruction during the War of the Palatinate Succession in 1688-89.

Rizal Statue Rizal's monument in Wilhelmsfeld, Germany. The place where he finished the Noli Me Tangere.

Interior view of the Gasthaus zur Hirschgasse.as seen during Rizal's time.

heidelberg6The spacious courtyard of the frequently-visited castle. Every summer thousands of tourists gather here to see the popular operetta The Student Prince.

Heidelberg. View of the town center and the castle.

Gasthaus zur Hirschgasse(Guesthouse on the Hirschgasse), where Rizal used to watch students.

Bust of Prof. Dr. Otto Becker, former director of the University of Heidelberg Eye Clinic.

• Koblenz

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.Dr. Rizal had visited this fortress during his stay in Koblenz. He crossed the draw-bridge and went up to the fortress which is approximately 115 meters above the Rhine.

The Hansa was one of the ships that Rizal had boarded during his memorable journey along the Rhine in the summer of 1886.

Koblenz is favorably situated at the junction where the Moselle joins the Rhine river. The town is dominated by the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress situated above the right bank of the Rhine.

• Königswinter

View of Königswinter with the Drachenburg Castle and the ruins of the Drachenfels Castle

The Drachenfels (dragon's rock) is the most-climbed mountain peak in Germany. Tourists can go up to the Drachenfels by walking, riding on a donkey or by taking the rock raiIway.

The Drachenburg Castle is one of the most majectic castles on the Rhine. From the terrace, one can have a breath-taking view of Bonn and the broad Rhine valley.

The Siebengebirge (Seven Mountains) is a range of hills around 7 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide which extends along the right bank of the Rhine opposite Bad Godesberg, a district of Bonn.

Königswinter is a very popular and well-known tourist spot on the Rhine.

• Leipzig

View of the old University, which Rizal had visited upon his arrival at Leipzig, and the Pauliner Church. Both buildings were demolished to give way to a modern high rise University complex.

Dr. Rizal had visited this marker in the vicinity of Leipzig where Napoleon had watched the famous battle of 16-18 October 1813, which resulted in the decisive defeat of the armies of Napoleon.

• Linz

Linz is well-known for its well-preserved castle, numerous half-timbered houses, quaint wine taverns, and its centuries-old town fortifications.

• Loreley

The Loreley Rock was made famous all over the world by Heinrich Heines Song of Loreley set to a very enchanting music.

• Mainz

Dr. Rizal stayed at the Hotel de Hollande during his visit to Mainz. This first-class hotel has been totally destroyed in World War II and has never been rebuilt.

The Niederwald, Dr. Rizal boarded this ship during his Rhine trip from Mainz to Ruedesheim.

Monument of Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the first movable printing press. The statue was designed by Bertel Thorwaldsen, noted Danish sculptor.

Monument of Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805), Dr. Rizal was very impressed by the statue of Schiller. He said that it was much better than the one at Mannheim.

Mainz St. Martin's Cathedral,Dr. Rizal had visited the interior of the cathedral and he was very pleased by its elaborate decorations.

• Mannheim

Railroad Station. Dr. Rizal arrived here on 9 August 1886 for a short visit. The station has been heavily damaged in World War II.

Portrait of Friedrich von Schiller a famous German poet dramatist historian and philosopher Dr Rizal had translated into tagalog.

The Rhine Bridge.Dr. Rizal crossed this wide steel bridge for streetcars, trains and pedestrians and visited Ludwigshafen.

Jesuit Church.Dr. Rizal had visited this church and he was deeply impressed by its magnificent altar with numerous fresco paintings. Close to the Jesuit Church, Rizal had seen the monument.

• Remagen

The four-towered Gothic St. Apollinaris Church overlooking the town of Remagen is a well-known pilgrimage destination.

• Rolandseck

Rolandseck View of the Rolandseck and the Drachenfels.

• Rüdesheim

General view of the well-known wine-growing town of Rudesheim, which is visited by around 3 million tourists every year.

The prize-winning architecture of the National Monument at the Niederwald was designed by Johann Schilling, noted sculptor from Dresden.

The Jagdschloss (Hunting Lodge), now called Hotel Jagdschloss, was one of the historic places visited by Rizal during his stop-over at Rüdesheim.

The majestic Statue of Germania, atop the pedestal of the National Monument, has a height of more than 11 meters, the imperial crown is 1 meter high, and the sword is 7 meters long.

View of the National Monument overlooking the town of Rüdesheim. Built between 1877 and 1883, it was inaugurated on 28 September 1883 in the presence of Emperor Wilhelm I and his generals.