Page 532 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

530  GERM AN Y , A USTRIA , AND SWITZERLAND

The Rhine and Mosel Valleys number of locks. A tour by car
or bus is a pleasant alternative.
The Rhine and Mosel Valleys offer a series of fairy-tale Popular excursions include
landscapes – spectacular gorges, rocky crags topped by those from Trier to Bernkastel-
romantic castles, and picturesque villages surrounded by Kues and from Koblenz to
vineyards producing excellent white wines. After flowing into Cochem. Wine-tasting and
eating play a big part in visitors’
Germany from France, the Mosel meanders between steep- enjoyment of the region. Of the
sided banks to join the Rhine at Koblenz. South of Koblenz many castles that line the river,
lies one of the most stunning stretches of the Rhine, which is be sure to visit Burg Eltz – the
also the birthplace of German myths such as the Lorelei and core of which has survived more
the Nibelungenlied, the great medieval epic poem of or less intact since it was built in
vengeance and honor. the 12th century – a short walk
from the town of Wierschem.
artifacts is held in the nearby + Burg Eltz
Rheinisches Landesmuseum. @ to Wierschem. Open Apr–Oct:
daily. &
E Rheinisches Landes museum
Weimarer Allee 1. Tel 0651-977 40.
Open 9:30am–5:30pm Tue–Sun. & p Mainz
Rhineland-Palatinate. * 207,000.
£ @ n Im Brückenturm am
o Mosel Valley Rathaus (06131-24 28 88).
∑ touristik-mainz.de
n Am Gestade 6, Bernkastel-Kues
(06531-50 01 90). 4 Hans Michels
(06531-8222); Gebrüder Kolb, Mainz enjoyed power and
Briedern (02673-1515). influence under the Holy Roman
∑ mosellandtouristik.de Empire, as the city’s Archbishop
was one of the Electors. The
On the stretch of the Mosel Kaiserdom, the Romanesque
between Trier and Koblenz, cathedral, dates back to the 11th
The colorful portal of Trier’s romantic castles tower above century. Like
Kurfürstliches Schloss vineyards. Between May and others from
i Trier October, river trips are this period, it
available all along the
has a choir
Rhineland-Palatinate. * 106,000. river – either short at each
£ @ n An der Porta Nigra (0651- daytrips or longer
97 80 80). ∑ trier.de cruises. However,
progress can be slow
Germany’s oldest town, Trier because of the
was founded by the Emperor
Augustus in 16 BC. Its
monumental Roman gateway,
the Porta Nigra, was built in the
3rd century AD. Among the
city’s other Roman relics are the
Aula Palatina, a vast, austere
building that served as the
throne hall of Roman emperors
and also as a church, the
Basilika und Kurfürstliches
Schloss. The basilica was built
for Emperor Constantine
around AD 305. In the 16th
century, part of it was
incorporated into a Renaissance
castle, later transformed into
a Baroque palace for the
archbishop-electors of Trier. The
4th-century Kaiserthermen
(Imperial Baths) are also in
the same building. A
superb collection of Roman Burg Eltz, the most evocative castle in the Mosel Valley
For hotels and restaurants see pp546–8 and pp549–51

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