Rhein River Cruise

The Rhein river in Germany is famous for two things: castles and vineyards. The somewhat harsh conditions on the slopes of the river valley are perfect for growing a variety of white grapes, namely the Riesling (which this region produces better than any other in the world). The section of the Rhein our cruise covered was from Koblenz (where Mosel and Rhein rivers meet) to Rüdesheim. This span of the Rhein contains roughly 30 castles and other fortifications along the river valley. Why so many castles? This important waterway has always had heavy traffic, thus castles were built to serve as tollhouses, charging any ship that crossed its path.

A trip down the Rhein is something you won't forget. The day we went, it was ridiculously cold for an April day, so we sipped local wines inside the restaurant until we came close to a castle, then went on deck for a better look. There is also the option of getting off the ship at the different wine towns you stop at, sampling the local varieties, then boarding the next ship. One stop I highly recommend is the town of Rüdesheim, where you will find plenty of places to enjoy a glass of wine and a nice traditional German meal, as well as good nightlife. There are a number of different cruises you can make down the rivers in Germany, and this stretch from Koblenz to Rüdesheim is perhaps the best.