Destination: Germanys River Rhine
The River Rhine
The River Rhine is arguably one of Europe's most beautiful waterways, captivating visitors for over 200 years. It is like something straight out of a picture book:
- Medieval castles perched on virtually every hilltop
- Pretty villages lining the river banks
- Quaint half-timbered buildings
- Precipitous cliffs and lush vine-clad slopes
The Rhine has more castles along its length than any other river in the world, and they are seen as a characteristic feature of the river landscape. The castles were built in the Middle Ages by powerful rulers, on hilltops and in the lowlands as moated castles, to protect estates and their inhabitants. Therefore, they were seen as purely defensive structures. However, it cannot be denied that some are rather breathtaking, and many visitors today see them as objects of mystery, splendor, and romanticism.
A well-known focal point along the Rhine, on the Eastern side, is The Lorelei (also spelled Loreley). It is a rock that soars some 120 meters above the waterline and marks the narrowest part of the river between Switzerland and the North Sea. Lorelei is also the name of one of the beautiful Rhine maidens who, according to legend, sat upon the rock and lured passing navigators to their doom with her alluring singing, much like the Sirens of ancient Greek myth. A bronze statue of Lorelei overlooks the river.
Thanks to its favorable geological location, the Rhine Valley is covered in vineyards, which were originally planted by the Romans. During the day, the sun warms the grapes on the vines, and in the evening, the golden wines sparkle in the glass. There isn't a royal house in Europe at whose table these wonderful wines have not been served. Imagine sitting on the top deck of your cruise ship, cruising along the Rhine Gorge with a chilled glass of wine in hand, or sitting outside one of the riverside cafes in a pretty Rhine town and sampling one or two of the different varieties.
The scenery along the Rhine is the stuff of dreams, and places like Koblenz, Rudesheim, Boppard, and Cologne epitomize the wonder and charm of this remarkable area. Cochem is a village along the River Moselle, just off the Rhine, and is dominated by the late-Gothic imperial castle, as well as being dotted with medieval squares and lovingly restored timber-framed houses. The castle is 1,000 years old and stands more than 100 meters above the river. Other places of interest in Cochem are the historical mustard mill (Senfmühle) built around 1810 (the last one of its kind in Europe), the market square, and the well-preserved sections of old town walls.
On the famous Deutsches Eck (German Corner), where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet, stands Koblenz. The town is set amidst four ranges of hills, and two-thirds of the surrounding countryside consists of woods, open green spaces, and water. The view of Koblenz from the River Rhine is a 'small city' with much to offer, and just a quick stroll around the town highlights its appeal—the romantic narrow streets and historical squares, picturesque alleyways in the old quarter with the Romanesque Basilica of St. Kastor, plus the Ehrenbreitstein fortress, set high above the baroque town and one of the largest castles in Europe.
Not far from Koblenz is Boppard, which was once a Roman fort, and is seen as the heart and soul of this tourist area. The finest of wines originate here on the slopes of Bopparder Hamm, the largest loop of the Rhine. The wine is world-class, and this is because of the fantastic location of the vineyard slopes, which are south-facing, but also due to the many hundreds of years of accumulated knowledge and experience passed down through generations of local wine producers.
A little further downriver is Rüdesheim, and one well-known attraction is the Drosselgasse. This narrow street, just 144 meters long, is in the heart of Rüdesheim's old town and attracts visitors from every continent. Live music, singing, and dancing can be enjoyed in its wine taverns and gardens, which are open daily from late morning to the early hours. Another place of interest is the Niederwald Monument, which commemorates the reestablishment of the German empire following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71. The main figure is Germania, holding the imperial crown in her raised right hand and the imperial sword in her left hand. There is a marvelous view from the monument far into the countryside.
Cologne is at the top of the river and is renowned for its churches. You'll find a unique ensemble of twelve large Romanesque collegiate and abbey churches, all true gems of medieval architecture, packed into a compact area within the medieval city walls. The city is also known for its cathedral, which is the largest in Germany and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. Around Christmas time, the imposing cathedral is lit up, while stalls selling traditional German crafts and food dominate the square below.
Did You Know...
- There are more than 150 castles in Germany. Some are still inhabited by aristocratic families, others have been transformed into hotels and restaurants, and some are in ruins.
- The Berlin Wall was 103 miles long and 12 feet high. It was constructed in 1961 to provide a physical barrier between East and West Berlin, as the city had been divided into a Soviet occupational zone and a joint U.S., France, and Great Britain occupational zone after World War II, with each zone being governed by the country(ies) controlling it.
- Brandenburg Gate is one of the most famous landmarks in Berlin. During the Cold War, it stood in the land of nobody, in the middle of a restricted area next to the Berlin Wall, and it was the symbol of the division of the city into West and East.
- It took more than 632 years (from 1248 to 1880) to build Germany's most popular tourist attraction, the Cologne Cathedral.
- You would have to try one kind of German bread per day for almost a whole year in order to be able to taste them all, as there are over 300 different kinds of bread in Germany.
- There are over 1,500 types of sausages, such as Frankfurters (mild), Nuremberg (which are served barbecued), and Bavaria sausages (white).
- Germans really do love beer and rank second in worldwide beer consumption per person after Ireland. Beer is officially considered a food in Bayern, where the normal size beer glass is 1 liter.
- Germany is the cheapest place in Europe to buy beer, but also the most difficult in which to make a choice, as there are over 1,500 different brands and types of beer in the country.
- Dogs are kings in Germany and can go just about everywhere, including restaurants, public transport, and shops. They even have their own pools.
- Germany is the home of the world-famous garden gnome. In the mid-1800s, the first garden gnomes were made in Thuringia, Germany. They have spread via central and northern Europe as far as America and Australia and have admirers in all four corners of the world.
- The first cuckoo clock was made in Germany in the early 17th century, and the world's largest cuckoo clock (as reported in the Guinness Book of Records) can be seen in the small Black Forest town of Schönach.
Images courtesy of Flickr users: Michal Osmenda, Dittmeyer, Fugue.
