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Experience the Romanticism of the Rhine |
 Whether
it's castles and fortresses, picturesque cities, unspoiled nature,
idyllic river sections along the Rhine or imposing evidence of the
volcanic activity in the Eastern Eifel area, this region offers an
array of appealing places and interesting sights worthy of making a
small detour down the road less travelled.Since the Central Rhine Valley represented an important trade route for centuries, it was always a melting pot of different cultures. Today, interesting relics of the past meet us at every turn, stemming from the Romans through to the Middle Ages and the Prussian era, and on up to the 20th Century. In the 19th Century, the Central Rhine was discovered as a travel destination. The first steamboats arrived from England in 1816, heralding a new age of tourism. Ten years later, the first German shipping line started up its operation between Cologne and Mainz, and by 1856 the millionth ticket was proudly sold, statistically verifying the arrival of "mass tourism" in the Rhine Valley! Loreley, Castles and UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The legend of Loreley has made the Rhine Valley famous throughout the world, where Roman settlements are equally as impressive as the architectural masterpieces one sees in medieval city walls, Gothic churches, Baroque castles of the noble class and structures from the Prussian era. A stroll through the Old Quarter alleyways of the 2000-year old city of Koblenz is a very special living history lesson indeed. And from the world-famous 'Deutschen Eck', one also has a view of one of the Central Rhine's most impressive buildings; the Ehrenbreitstein fortress, located above the former Baroque royal residential city. Mountains, forests, rustic streamed valleys, romantic locations, volcanoes, maars and geysers can be discovered with an excursion into the geological history of the Volcano Park northwest of Koblenz. Along with the Volcano Park Info Centre, visitors can also enjoy the Meurin Roman mine and the 'Felsenkeller' or 'rock cellar' in Mendig, as well as 20 additional impressive, interesting projects. Hikers and cyclists have a wealth of opportunities for exploring the 'Romantic Rhine' in a sporting fashion. And no trip should be completed without a journey down the river in one of the numerous excursion steamers. The famous Rhine hospitality and sociable nature of its residents means a full festival and event calendar. And celebrating is almost as important as eating and breathing on the Rhine, from Carnival to Middle Ages spectacles, all kinds of markets and the wine and winery festivals stretching right into the Autumn! |
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