Roman Baths, Trier

The Imperial Baths at Augusta Treverorum (modern-day Trier, Germany) are among the largest and best-preserved Roman bath complexes north of the Alps. Built in the 4th century AD during the reign of Emperor Constantine, the baths were part of Trier's transformation into a major imperial residence and administrative center of the Western Roman Empire. 

The complex, which was never fully completed or used as a bathhouse, showcases the grandeur of Roman architecture, featuring massive vaulted halls, an intricate system of hypocausts (underfloor heating), and a series of hot and cold bathing rooms. Today, the site is a UNESCO World Heritage site, reflecting Trier’s rich Roman heritage.

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Berlin

Berlin, the capital of Germany, second largest city in the European Union after London. This historic city was the centre of the German Empire until 1918. Two successive world wars and the city was bombed so savagely that many of its older builders were destroyed beyond repair.

After the Second World War the city was divided between West Berlin and East Berlin. Some thirty years later it was unified again and is now the modern capital of Germany once again. Berlin today is a European city that should be on the destination list of every tourist visiting Europe.

Visitors can see what it was like to live under the Eastern Block. There is a museum dedicated to this experience. Checkpoint Charlie the famous crossing between East and West is today a busy tourist attraction along with the nearby museum that provides historical information about the city and the escape attempts by Eastern German residents determined to reach the West.

Modern Berlin has an excellent underground and bus service. Tourists can purchase The Berlin Pass which gives you free travel and reduced entrance costs to a host of attractions around the city. There is so much to see and do in this city.

Top attractions in Berlin include The Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, The Berlin Televison Tower, Museum Island and a host of city shopping areas and squares. You can even hire a Trabant and go on a Trabant tour of the city. 

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Freiburg

Freiburg im Breisgau is a city that is situated on the banks of the Dreisam River. This famous German University town has a colourful history. The city takes Saint George as its patron saint so its flag is identical to the flag of England. This is wine growing country and with its location as the gateway to the Black Forest the city is popular with tourists. It is also the sunniest and warmest city in Germany.

Freiburg means free town or literally Free Borough, the word Burg also being used to indicate that this would have been a fortified town. The Marinstor tower shown here in the photograph above is one of the original city gates in Freiburg. The Munsterplatz ( Cathedral Square ) holds a busy farmers market every Sunday. The Gothic Cathedral dates back to 1200 and is constructed of sandstone.

Freiburg has some excellent shops, bars and restaurants. It is a hive of activity even on a rainy day. The side streets are a delight to walk around and the architecture is beautiful and the buildings well maintained. Definitely worth a visit. 

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Bernkastel-Kues

Bernkastel-Kues is famous for its wine making. Situated on the Middle Moselle River in the Rhineland it is approximately 50 km from Trier. In the summer months the town receives literally thousands of tourists who come for the exquisive shopping and handicrafts as well as good food and beer. This is truly beer and wine making country and the shops have a stunning choice of good wine, beers and local produce to choose from. This is a great environment for walking or cycling or just exploring leisurely at your your own pace.

There are boat trips along the Moselle or a train ride which takes you along the vineyards with views of the town or you can just bask in the atmosphere of a typically pleasant German Rhineland town. Visitors should check out the market places with the timber framed buildings which date back to the 17th century. There is also the famous Spitzhuaschen or the Pointed House which was build in 1416. On the hillside above the town lies the ruined Landshut Castle which was the summer home of the Archbishop of Trier.

The streets open out into various squares such as the Square at the Bear's Fountain and the Karlsbadere Platz. The Rathaus or Town Hall is particulary interesting and colourful. You really need a good few hours to appreciate this place and a stroll along the Rhine by the large bridge at Kues which spans it is a particularly pleasant experience.  

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Trier

Trier, pronounced Treves in English is located on the banks of the Moselle river. It the oldest city in Germany having been founded before 16 BC. Close to the border of Luxembourg it is a popular destination for tourists and day trippers. 

The Black Gate or Porta Nigra shown in the photograph here is a large Roman gate which has been designated a World Heritage Site. 

 

During the middle ages the influence of the church and the Archbishop of Trier enabled the city to control large tracts of land from the Rhine up to the French border. The Archbishop was also one of seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire.

In more recent times Trier has been claimed by France and Prussia and was even used as a staging post for captured British soldiers during the Second World War. The city is also famous as the birth place of Karl Marx.

Today Trier receives thousands of visitors who take delight in walking around the magnificent architecture with its paved streets and delightful shops. With a wide choice of cafe bars and restaurants and plenty to see this is one place that you definitely should not miss. The freshly made ice cream sold here in the ice cream parlours is absolutely mouth watering. 

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St Goarhausen - Rheinland

This was to be our base for the duration of our stay in the Rhine Valley. Our trip had been booked with Phoenix Holidays of Gloucester as part of a four day tour of the Rhine. Although small, St Goarhausen is well known due to its close proximity to the Loreley Rock. It is about 30 km south of Koblenz in the Rhine Gorge.

Leaving Birmingham from the city centre by coach at the designated pick up point, we then travelled towards Dover for the crossing stopping no less than eight times along the way. This obviously adds time to the journey by coach which took almost a full day and most of the night for us to arrive at our destination.  Our only criticism would be that motorway service station pick up points might have cut down on the unnecessary delays.

Our accommodation was at the Erholung Hotel in St Goarhausen, Loreley town at Nastätter Str.15 which is near to the town centre but far enough away for peace and quiet. This is a family run hotel and very welcoming for visitors. The staff are pleasant and efficient and nothing is too much trouble.

The rooms are small, mainly twin bedded with en-suite bathrooms. Some rooms have balconies. This hotel is popular with German tourists as well as foreigners and the food is served in generous quantities and is of a very good standard. Breakfasts are continental but with plenty of choice of bread, cheeses, meats and jams.

We would have no trouble in recommending this hotel as a good base for exploring the Rheinland and for providing excellent value for money. Both our driver and tour guide Tony were fantastic.
St Goarhausen centre and the Rhein is about five minutes walking distance from the hotel. In late May the town is a sleepy backwater with pretty much everything closing after 10 pm. I would imagine it gets livelier in the height of summer. The town has a good promenade and a couple of good restaurant / bars.

Those seeking a little more can take the short ferry crossing over to St Goar which has more to offer in terms of shopping, eating out and night life. Make sure you check the return ferry times as you don’t want to be left stranded on the wrong side of the river – the next crossing point is a bridge 30 km away!. In the late spring summer months the last ferry back is at 11:00 pm.

Tourism and wine making are the main sources of income for St Goarhausen.

The two castles, Burg Katz ( Cat Castle ) and Burg Maus ( Castle Mouse ) overlook the ruins of Burg Rheinfels on the other side of the river. Local folklore attributes the name to the Counts of Katzenelnbogen's mocking of the Electors of Trier during the 30 years of construction, who reportedly said that the castle was the "mouse" that woud be eaten by the "cat" of Katzenelnbogen.

Erholung Hotel,  Nastätter Str. 15,  D-56346 St.Goarshausen,  Tel: 0049-6771-2684

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St Goar - Rheinland

St Goar lies on the opposite side of the Rhein to St Goarhausen. This Rhine Gorge near the Loreley Rocks is a hazard to shipping along this busy waterway. The Central Rhine Valley was designated a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2002.

St Goar benefits from tourists travelling across the Rhine by ferry from St Goarhausen and from visitors calling in at Burg Rheinfels, the large ruined castle nearby. Fortress Rheinfels is the largest of its kind in Germany. There are several kilometers of underground passages. A miniature train from the market square takes visitors back and forth to St Goar.

On the main street the Wine and Christmas Market shop has a permanent Christmas display and plenty of traditional German glassware. It is also a popular destination for tourists for wine tasting sessions. The selection and quality of the wines and liquors on offer from this establishment are superb.

Over the shop window is the largest free-hanging cuckoo clock in the world. It is 30 years old, 3.5 metres high and 2.5 metres wide. The clock was hand-made - carved from wood and handpainted. It took 7 months to build. It has 2 faces - a cuckoo pops out either side every half hour.

The town is popular for wine tasting and for its cuckoo clocks. One particular shop has a giant cuckoo clock hanging on its wall and claims that it is the largest free standing cuckoo clock in the world at 3.5 metres high and 2.5 metres wide. This is an impressive clock being hand carved from wood and hand painted.

Sankt Goar has the world’s largest beerstein and a shop ( there are only two in the whole of Germany ) that sells the famous Steiff teddy bears and toys.

The speed at which the boats and barges pass down the Rhine at this point is remarkable. Standing at the water’s edge you can get an idea of the speed and force of the current.

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Rudesheim - Rheinland

Since the nineteenth century this romantic and inspirational little town has been popular with English and German poets. The Romans grew wine here and Rüdesheim has a long history of wine growing, producing some fine German wines which can be bought locally, often direct from the owners of the vineyards.

The Drosselgasse is at the centre of Rüdesheim and very popular with visitors. Live bands and live music can be experienced here and the wine houses and tavern gardens of this world famous alley are renowned. Dancing can go on until the late hours.

 

A chair lift from Rüdesheim takes visitors across the vineyards and up the steep hill to the Niederwald heights with its panoramic views of the Rhineland Pfalz which on a clear and sunny day are nothing short of breathtaking. Tourists can take a single ticket to the heights and walk down or a return ticket for those that are less energetic.

The monument at the top of the hill was completed in 1883 and is a symbol of the re-establishment of the German Empire. The mythical figure is Germania, holding the imperial crown and dominating the landscape above.

Rüdesheim is home to the Brömserburg Castle, a defensive fort built in the 10th century. It houses historical collections from the Rheingaer Wine Museum.

The natural beauty of Rüdesheim and its surrounding area are ideal for hikers or those wanting to escape from the hustle and bustle of day to day life. This really is an idyllic location where traditional German life can be experienced first hand.

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Lorelei - Rheinland

The Lorelei or Loreley is a rock on the banks of the Rhine near St.Goarshausen. The rock rises to a height of 120 metres above the water line. It is also situated in the narrowest part of the river Rhine in Germany and is known for its dangerous current and rocky riverbed.

This is also home to the legend of the Rhine Maidens who are reputed to have lured river craft and their crews to death and destruction on the rocks by singing enchanting songs like the Greek Sirens. A statue of one of the singing Rhine Maidens can be seen on a small islet in the centre of the river nearby.

As legend would have it, this beautiful young maiden killed herself by jumping from a steep rock on the Rhine due to an unfaithful lover.  As a siren she would seek revenge by luring the sailors to their deaths.

Translated, Lorelei means murmering rock, and in a land of witches, cuckoo clocks and legends, there are many versions as to how it got its name.  One of the most well known German poems today is “Die Lorelie” by Heinrich Heine, which relates to the Rock of Lorelei .

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Koblenz

Koblenz is a beautiful city situated on the Rhine and the River Moselle which owes its name to the Romans who called it “Castellum Apud Confluentes”, meaning “castle at the confluence of the rivers”.

At Deutsches Eck ( German Corner ) there is a monument and statue of Emperor William I which was rebuilt in 1953, the original having been badly damaged by US artillery in the Second World War.

Deutches Eck proudly flies the flags of the 16 German states as well as the national flag as a reminder of German unity. Behind the great monument three parts of the Berlin Wall act as a reminder of the separation of Germany.

Fortress Ehrenbreitstein across the river opposite the Deutsches Eck Monument shows how extensive the fortifications of Koblenz have been developed over the years. This strategically important city, protected on two sides by the Rhine and Mosel has been occupied by successive French invasions, the most recent being after World War I. The Rhine Gorge was designated a World Heritage Site in 2002.

Koblenz has some impressive buildings and Gothic architecture. The Basilica St Kastor ( Kastorkirche ) was completed in 1208. The town hall and main pedestrian areas of the city with its café bars and shopping centres all make this town worthy of a day trip for any visitor to the Rheinland.

Koblenz is well known for its wine trade and the export of mineral waters. Automotive industry, boats, barges, paper and cardboard are manufactured here.  The Königsbacher brewery has been established here since the 17th century.

Koblenz benefits from the transport opportunities offered by the Rhine and a succession of boats and barges can be seen travelling its powerful current each and every day and night of the year. When you consider how much use this river gets and its importance in moving freight, you can appreciate the benefit it provides in keeping so much heavy transport off German motorways.

Koblenz has a large open air market near Deutsches Eck. Every year in August Koblenz hosts the fantastic fireworks display known as Rhein in Flames ( Rhein in Flammen ).

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Cochem - Rheinland

Cochem is situated in the Mosel valley surrounded by vineyards and the Reichsburg castle which dominates the hill and provides spectacular views of the town and river below.
The castle dates back from 1051 and in 1688 King Louis XIV of France invaded the Rhine and Moselle, capturing the castle and setting it on fire.  Today things are a little more peaceful and the town and castle are popular tourist destinations.

This is a beautiful and romantic part of the Rhineland and a walkers paradise. Cochem is an old town which would have been known to the Romans who settled here. Remnants from the Middle Ages can still be seen in and around the town.

There are plenty of hotels and guest houses and some good camping facilities at Cochem. Visitors can see how the town has suffered from flooding over the years with markings on a building wall showing the flood levels at various times.

A truly magical town with a good atmosphere and plenty for visitor to see, it also has a large leisure centre with a swimming pool, tennis courts and miniature golf. The promenade along the banks of the Rhein is popular with tourists and locals alike.

Shoppers will delight in the various stores and traditional crafts on display. There are several wine factories nearby and plenty of good quality local wine at the restaurants and bars.

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Boppard - Rheinland

Boppard is approximately 25 km from Koblenz. It was a Roman town and during the Middle Ages it prospered through shipping and commerce. A large FM / TV antenna tower can be seen on the outskirts of the town which is a popular tourist destination and home to the soap manufacturer Sebapharma and BOMAG which produces road construction vehicles.

Situated in the valley of Lorelei, Boppard is surrounded by a picturesque landscape and forest and is right on the banks of the river Rhine.

There are quite a few ferry cruise companies based here and the visitor can book trips along the Rhine. The promenade and traditional German shops, along with the interesting architecture and well maintained buildings make this a pleasant stop for tourists.

The railway service to Boppard and most of the other towns mentioned in this guide, provides an efficient and economical means of transport between the towns and villages along both sides of the Rhine.

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