Koblenz - a city that lies on two rivers. What could be better than a river cruise?
Time for a change of perspective from land to water! Explore the two different yet fascinating landscapes on the Rhine and Moselle.
Experience the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Upper Middle Rhine Valley’ in a unique, and perhaps the most beautiful, way during a Rhine river cruise. Take in numerous castles, palaces and fortresses that line the riverbanks. Alternatively, you can follow in the footsteps of wine along the Moselle river and marvel at idyllic wine-growing villages next to the impressive terraced vineyards that stretch almost vertically upwards. Some of the slopes are so steep that the vines can only be planted on narrow terraces secured by dry stone walls. Don't miss out on the view of this spectacular cultural landscape!
With the many themed, panoramic and round trips on offer, there is certainly a cruise for everyone!
Experience a Rhine River Cruise
The first thing you usually see when cruising along the Rhine river is Stolzenfels Castle. The castle, which was built in the 19th century, is considered a pearl of Rhine Romanticism, and not only by art historians. Still a ruin at the time, the building was given to the future King Frederick William IV of Prussia as a gift. He commissioned Karl Friedrich Schinkel to build a top-class neo-Gothic summer residence - the result can be visited by anyone today. The interiors can be visited as part of a guided tour, while the beautiful grounds with the particularly beautiful pergola garden can be visited individually. Access to the palace is via a 20-minute walk uphill through the landscaped garden with grottos and waterfalls, which was designed by Peter Joseph Lenné.
Find out more about Stolzenfels Castle Just a little further up the Rhine, Marksburg Castle rises majestically on its pedestal. The only hilltop castle on the Middle Rhine that has never been destroyed is an absolute eye-catcher. In the morning, the sun rises behind it, in the evening it catches the last rays of sunlight and is bathed in a golden veil. Visitors to Marksburg Castle can look forward to knights, cannons, castle gardens, a kitchen and bower. And of course much more, because the interiors are also very well preserved and absolutely worth seeing. For refreshments, it is worth making a detour to the castle tavern or to the small alleyways of Braubach, the village at the foot of the castle.
Find out more about Marksburg CastleExperience a Moselle River Cruise
Not only does the Rhine have a lot to offer, but a cruise down the Moselle is also incredibly beautiful. You may not see quite as many castles here, but one special feature that the Rhine does not offer are the lock passages. The first one is right in Koblenz. Incidentally, this is also home to the Mosellum, a museum that focuses primarily on the habitat of fish. Just behind it, you can already see the first vineyards. The Koblenz district of Güls is famous for its many vineyards, which grow varieties such as Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Müller-Thurgau. Many winegrowers also offer regular wine tastings and cellar or vineyard tours.
Learn more about the Moselle ValleyOn the Rhine, numerous cruise operators, such as Marksburgschifffahrt Vomfell, offer large and small castle cruises, some of which go as far as Boppard or even to the Loreley. The historic paddle steamer Goethe from Köln-Düsseldorfer sails daily from Koblenz to Bingen and back again. In addition to tours on the Rhine, the Gilles passenger boat company also offers trips on the Moselle as far as Winningen.
