Scenic Splendor

Romantic legends stir deep emotions in the hearts of many women. Where better to go for centuries old tales than the land of Germany, and in particular, the scenic and breathtaking Rhine River Valley? Historic ruins dating back to the first century dot the lush countryside of the infamous river, while myths and legends abound. where Lorelei Rock and the Seven Rocks of Oberwesel just out to capture those traveling too close, where old mixes with the new, and each bend of the river brings with it a new treasure.

Along the Rhine, , particularly in the narrow gorge connecting Bingen and Koblenz, which has a length of only thirty-five miles, there are more castles than in any other river valley in the world. Many are ruins, but some have been restored as hotels and are open for tours. They stand like sentinels on the cliffs above riverside villages, and others stand alone, surrounded by vineyards.

To walk along a stonewall set amidst the streets of a city is a sight that will surely take you back to the days of medieval chivalry and grandeur. The upper Middle Rhine Valley is ranked one of the most beautiful and oldest man-made landscapes in the world. The chain of castles and palaces long the treacherous slopes, where the famous Rhine wines are grown, stretches from the ancient Roman town of Koblenz, to the legendary Lorelei rock.

Although people in Germany like to call it the "German Rhine", there is no doubt it is a great European river. Coming from Switzerland, the Rhine flows into Lake Constance, past the neighboring country of France, and finally ends its journey in the Netherlands. It gets its name from the Celtic word, renos, meaning raging flow, and it has a well-earned reputation. It churns through deep gorges, plunges down a 75-foot waterfall, to finally stabilize in the Rhineland Plateau with its terraced vineyards and castle-lined cliffs.

Historical Data

During early historic times, Germanic tribes settled on either side of the lower Rhine and Celts alongside its upper sides. Julius more >>

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