Experience the Inspiration Behind Mary Shelley’s Gothic Novel “Frankenstein” with this Self-Guided Walk
2018 marks 200 years since author Mary Shelley published her gothic novel Frankenstein, and travelers can explore some of the landscape that inspired her.
The beautiful Rhine Gorge in Germany – on a seven-night, self-guided walk offered by UK-based travel specialists On Foot Holidays.
All photo credit: On Foot Holidays.
The Rhine Gorge is a World Heritage site that inspired Romantic painters, poets, authors, and composers in the 19th century, including Mary Shelley. After exploring the area for herself, she went on to write the famous novel about a young scientist who creates a monster. Frankenstein is partly set in the Rhine Gorge. The author describes “rugged hills, ruined castles overlooking tremendous precipices, flourishing vineyards, meandering river and populous towns” in her writing. Frankenstein Castle, from which the novel got its name, lies just one hour’s drive away.
On Foot Holidays’ Castles of the Rhine walk offers hikers more castles per square kilometer than anywhere else in Europe. The route from Bingen to Koblenz leads through picturesque villages, past 20 castles that loom over the meandering Rhine. Featuring woodlands, vineyards, fine restaurants, historic buildings, villages and stunning views of the gorge, the route provides a unique and memorable walking experience.
Some highlights of the walk include the iconic Lorelei Rock formation, which soars 120m above the waterline, a Roman fort in the town of Boppard, and the ‘4-Seen-Blick’, a scenic lookout where the Rhine appears as four separate lakes.
While journeying through the region which inspired Frankenstein, guests stay at small B&Bs and hotels, including one converted castle perched high above the Rhine, and can sample the produce of local Riesling vineyards.
Tour rates start from £725 per person based on double occupancy. The rate excludes flights and airport transfers but includes seven nights of bed and breakfast, two picnics, all luggage transfers, route notes and information packs. The Castles of Rhine walking route is medium-hard in difficulty, with five to seven hours (11 to 13 miles) of walking each day. Shorter options are also available.
Spanning authentic, rural Europe, On Foot Holidays offers 32 self-guided walking routes in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey, and one guided route in Bulgaria. Each route showcases an authentic rural Europe with its landscapes, cultures and traditions.
