Rhine River Insider Guide to the Rhine River Castles and Valley

The high density and variety of Rhine river castles along the Rhine is unique.

Castle-crowned heights now follow each other in rapid succession. Rocky steeps rose from the verge of the water; and wherever there was any soil, or any earth could find a resting-place, the spot was made into a vineyard.

Only a mile further up down the Rhine Reichenstein Castle appears, which dates back to at least 1213. It has survived through the centuries, albeit with some folklore of ghosts, and has been featured on an episode of the TV series “Ghost Hunters“. Today it is well preserved and part of it is a museum, hotel and restaurant. A bit of a hike up but worth the effort, every conceivable wall is covered with armor or antlers and the view is great.

Stay at Reichenstein Castle: Hotel Burg Reichenstein has 21 individually designed modern rooms, prices: single room from € 85, double room € 115. Breakfast available (surcharge). Reichenstein castle has the restaurant Puricelli, serves German cuisine for lunch and dinner.

Next on route is Sooneck castle right above Niederheimbach. Smaller than Rheinstein, but also well maintained. If you visited Rheinstein already, skip it, there are only guided tours in German, only limited rooms are open for visit and you need to wear huge slippers over your shoes.

Take a quick guided tour through Burg Sooneck:

The towns on the banks of the Rhine riverare picturesque, and one never tires of looking at them. Indeed, half a dozen voyages down the Rhine river no more than enable the tourist to see all its wonders and all its beauties.

BACHARACH Germany your next stop

Bacharach is over a thousand years old named for Bacchus, the ancient Roman god of wine. It´s famous for its wonderful half-timbered houses, the romantic courtyards, vineyards and the towering Castle Stahleck.

It´s full of very narrow, windy, cobbled streets and some houses have beautiful murals painted on the walls. High above the main road, you see the ruins of a Gothic chapel. Bacharach Germany is a sleepy wine village home to cozy family-run hotels and plenty of wine taverns and timbered facades, filled with restaurants, cafés and out of the ordinary souvenir shops.

Burg Stahleck high above Bacharach town, about 30 minutes climb, lays this 12th-century fortified castle and serves as a youth hostel now. Here you can stay in a castle on a budget, read more below!!

My tips on Bacharach Germany hotels:

Hotel Kranenturm is set in an old defensive tower directly on the town walls overlooking the river. Room rates: 65 – 72 Euro for 2 people in a standard double room per night incl. breakfast buffet.

Stahleck Castle – The view is dreamlike, the castle is well maintained and nice to walk around. Price is 22 € per Person incl. basic breakfast in a 2 bed room, basic dining is available, beds are mostly bunkbeds. They have a few family rooms, some rooms come with WC/shower, but you have to pre-book. Keep in mind it’s a youth hostel, so there will be lots of school children. The hostel is open year round, except Christmas.

Bacharach Germany restaurant tip – for great regional food and local wine tasting in a really nice atmosphere and cute patio: Weingut Karl Heidrich, Oberstr. 16-18, phone 0674393060, open daily (Wed. closed) 11am-10pm.

PFALZGRAFENSTEIN – an unusual perspective.

What you´ll see next on your river cruise is an odd-looking building located mid-river. That´s Pfalzgrafenstein Castle, built in 1326. In former times a toll was paid here by all vessels navigating the river. The Duke of Nassau inherited the right to levy this tax (Zoll in German); the Pfalz was his toll-house. In the middle ages, 32 tolls were levied at the different stations on and along the river.

Just getting to this little Rhine-Island where the Zollburg is located is a little off the beaten path. No tour boats stop here, no tourist crowds arrive. From here you´ll get a totally different perspective! Toll castle entrance fee is 4 €, time table: Jan-Feb weekends only 10am-5pm, March Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, Apr-Oct. Tue-Sun 10am-6pm, Nov on weekends only 10am-5pm, Dez. Closed. The little ferry runs every 30 minutes and is located next to the main ferry terminal in Kaub, price is 2.50 € p.P.

The town on the right is KAUB.

Kaub was first mentioned in 983 BC, and received its town charter by Ludwig the Bavarian in 1324. It was a town of river pilots, fishermen and wine-growers. 110 meters above town there is Burg Gutenfels (known as castle Caub) It was built in 1220. Once one of the most important defense facilities of the Rhine river valley it serves as a castle hotel these days.

OBERWESEL Germany and beautiful SCHOENBURG CASTLE are on the left.

Of all the old towns and Rhine river cities along the river no other demonstrates such an impressive towns-cape, still fully characterized by the Middle Ages. 16 of the original 21 defensive towers along the city wall are still preserved today.

Parts of the city wall are still accessible and walk able. The Gothic Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenkirche) also defines the appearance of the town. All the vineyards around town are accessible by public trails without any gates, so feel free for a walk.

There are many events in Oberwesel around the year, the Mediaeval Spectaculum and Stadtmauerfest in early summer, the splendid firework Rhine in Flames (always 2nd Saturday in Sept.), or the pretty wine market (always 2nd and 3rd weekend in Sept.), or the magical Christmas market on every first Advent weekend in Dezember.

Schoenburg Castle is a 1000 year old medieval beauty high above the Rhine river.

Like many of its neighbors it was destroyed in 1689, since 1885 it has been rebuilt into its current condition. It´s not open to visitors, but you can enjoy a dinner in the fantastic restaurant, or enjoy the wonderful sights while walking around the castle garden, or even better stay overnight in one of the fantastic guest rooms. Read more below.

Oberwesel – Schoenburg Castle — is truly one of the best German castle hotels.  High above Oberwesel, this castle-turned-hotel looks like something straight off an animated movie featuring a princess and you’ll be treated like a VIP. Thinking of romantic vacations? I can’t imagine a better place. Rooms are all different sizes, with very individual historical interior, but modern amenities.

Prices for a small double room start at 220 € in low season and 250 € in high season, including a rich breakfast buffet, four-course dinner, served in the castle restaurant or, with good weather, outside at the romantic Rhine Terrace, Welcome sherry and free minibar.

Restaurant tip Oberwesel: Historische Weinwirtschaft, Liebfrauenstr. 17, phone 06744 8186. The restaurant is Located in an old wine cellar, the food is fantastic, a wide selection on local wines, regional cuisine and excellent steaks. They also have a nice outdoor seating Surrounded by lush greenery too.

Passing Oberwesel and the Seven Sisters, this is the deepest and most narrow part of the river Rhine and, therefore, the most difficult stretch to navigate.

The bank of the river Rhine on the right rises abruptly to a great height, and the precipice is called the Lorelei. There is an old folk tale about a nymph named Lorelei (Loreley in German), who once lived atop a steep rock and her seductive song would lure sailors.

Well, that´s not the true story. Originally the fantasy story was set up in 1801 by a German poet called Clemens Brentano. He tells the story of a beautiful maid named Lore Lay, no men could not resist her beauty and charms. She was betrayed by her sweetheart, and accused of bewitching men and causing their death in the river. Rather than sentence her to death, the bishop consigns her to a nunnery. On the way to the monastery she was allowed to take a last look at her beloved river and fell to death from the high cliff.

A few years later Heinrich Heine adapted the story and made her a mermaid and Rhine siren. Heine’s lyrics were than set to music by Friedrich Silcher, which made it even more popular.

The statue of the Loreley is almost as famous as the little mermaid in Kopenhagen, but it´s difficult to find and not on top of the hill as you might think!

How to get there: The Loreley bronze statue is located on the mole in St. Goarshausen, located on a little  half peninsula that goes in to the river. Follow the main road (B42) from Sankt Goarshausen to Rüdesheim, you will see it on the right after 1 – 1.5 km. Across the parking lot there is a pavilion with seats, this is the entrance, from there it’s a short bumpy footpath to the statue.

Hiking up to the top of the Lorelei Rock is not worth it, yes, you´ll have a great view, but that’s it.

ST. GOARSHAUSEN – the town with two castles on the Rhine river.

High above town you sell you see magnificent Castle Cat (Burg Katz). Count Wilhelm II. of Katzenelnbogen built the Katz Castle in the 14th century. Formally the castle was named Burg Neukatzenelnbogen, but that seems too long for the locals, they simply called it Katz (cat).

Unfortunately it is in Japanese private possession, and not open for visitors.

Located right next to it is Mouse Castle (Burg Maus), the entry for visitors is limited to several days a year.

The main attraction is the falconry.  Visitors can watch eagles, buzzards, falcons, vultures and owls in 3 performances daily. Demonstrations: Mo-Sun 11am, 1.30pm, 3.30 pm, entrance fee 7€.

If you want to go to Burg Maus, you can take the bus (Linie 545) from the train station in St. Goarshausen to Wellmich, from here it´s a 20 minute walk uphill.

St. Goar and St. Goarhausen are opposite each other, on little shelves under the brow of the continuous range of hills which wall in the Rhine river for miles.

ST. GOAR is charming.

The lively, charming town is renowned for its wine and another great place to watch Rhine in Flames.

St. Goar is also home of Burg Rheinfels, a mighty castle ruin high above the town dating back to 1245.

Visitors of Rheinfels Castle are surprised by the sheer size of the ruins as well as by the labyrinth of trenches and tunnels to discover (bring a flashlight). You can get a picture of the castle’s military and cultural significance by entering the museum.

The walk up to Burg Rheinfels takes approx. 20 minutes, but you can get up with the Castle Express tram which runs every 30 minutes for 3€ only.

St. Goar — One of the most popular and scenic villages along the Rhine river, the town has a plethora of hotels for all budgets and the aforementioned fortress looming above.

Rheinhotel St. Goar is a lovely hotel with friendly staff. Rooms are simple and clean, but offer a beautiful view of the river. Price: double room with bath and river Rhine view starts from 80 € incl. breakfast.

Hotel Rheinfels gets high marks for its views out to the river. Although the hotel is not historic, it´s located within the castle ruins. Rooms are modern and comfortable, with modern bathrooms. Standard rooms are 165 € – 229 € per night.

St. Goar restaurant tip: Philipps Mühle, Gruendelbach 49, phone 06741 1606, open Tue-Sun 3pm-11pm. Nice restaurant with charming outdoor garden cafe surrounded by the vineyards.  Worth the 15 minutes walk from Sankt Goar!

On the right, opposite the small town of Bad Salzig, are the hostile brothers, castles Liebenstein and Sterrenberg. Their owners, bearing this relation to each other, unfortunately fell in love with the same beautiful lady, fought for her, and both were killed.

KAMP-BORNHOFEN

A stay at Hotel Castle Liebenstein is a unique experience. The spectacular views, exemplary service, and the authentic castle experience, make this the best of our trip! The staff makes you feel like royalty and the food is delicious authentic German dishes of the region, beautifully prepared and presented on antique china. Do NOT expect TV or Internet on your room, this stay is prepared to slow your pace down and to enjoy the views and 1st class hospitality.

Rooms at Burg Liebenstein are furnished in medieval style and most offer a magnificent view over the Rhine River. A unique and authentic castle experience for the value minded guest, as the prices are reasonable. 150,- € for a double room with river Rhine view including breakfast in main season.

The shelf of land on each side of the river, grows wider and the hills are farther from the stream now.

BOPPARD Germany is a quaint town on the shores of the Rhine

It revolved from a Celtic settlement into a Roman fortress. A place rich in history, with medieval fortifications.

Best thing here: the Sesselbahn. The chairlift at Boppard’s northern will get you in about 20 mins over the top of the hill and from here you have a fantastic view onto the largest bend on the Rhine river. It´s called Four Lakes View, because the visible sections of the Rhine river look disconnected. Open from 10am-6pm, return ticket is 7.50 €.

Tips for restaurants in Boppard: If you love Italian food and pizza: Einstein’s Place, Rheinallee. 33, phone 067425074. Open daily 10am-10pm. The nice views overlooking the river Rhine whilst drinking and eating is an extra bonus.
For fantastic German and European cuisine: Le Jardin, Rheinallee 41, open daily 11am-10pm. Try to  get a riverside table and enjoy watching all the river traffic.

BRAUBACH

Braubach is a historical city with medieval character, idyllic flair, full of lovely half-timbered houses, and guarded by the impressive Marksburg Castle. Braubach has some interesting things to see, an ancient Roman wall, a Cathedral, and a museum. But people come here to visit the castle.

Marksburg Castle, on the right bank of the Rhine river, was built in the 13th century on the right bank of the Rhine river. A walk through its deep dungeons hewn out of the rock, its torture-rooms, and its subterranean galleries, is enough to inspire a sensation novel. This magnificent fortification was never besieged or destroyed by its enemies.

You cannot visit Marksburg without a tour guide, but they are offered in English as well and very informative and entertaining. A little warning, the castle kept the original slate paths, so wear suitable footwear.

Braubach restaurant tip: Zum Goldenen Schlüssel, Marktplatz 14, phone 02627340. Open Mo-Sun from 10am, Thursday closed. Offering typical regional and international food in a nice atmosphere and biergarden. For example Wiener Schnitzel 9.80 €.

LAHNSTEIN – here the Lahn river flows into the Rhine.

The little city is of historical significance and still has some medieval sights for you to visit. The St. John’s Church and Abbey dates back to the 9th century, and the “Wirtshaus an der Lahn” is one of the oldest listed building Lahnsteins, the distinctive tower of the building served as an electoral a toll station.

Burg Lahneck is a medieval fortress located high above the city of Lahnstein. It belonged to the order of Knights Templars, which was founded, in 1118, for the protection of pilgrims, and the defense of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. The institution became renowned, and extended all over the world. It was very rich and powerful, and therefore disliked by the clergy, who finally overthrew it. Those residing here were attacked in their castle, which was captured only after the last of its brave defenders had been slain.

There are guided tours in Lahneck castle from mid March till the end of October, Tue-Sun at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm, tickets 6.00 €.

In Oberlahnstein there is Martinsburg Castle (Schloss Martinsburg) a toll castle in the Electorate of Mainz. It offers a powerful look with its huge hexagonal tower, it was built by the end of the 14th century.It´s not generally open to the public, but you can visit to the Mint, the kitchen and the carnival museum within the city tour on Wednesdays, 14 pm. Starting point is Hexenturm.

Ruppertsklamm is the highlight (gorge) of the last stage of the Rheinsteig walking tour. Great for a short trip (2 hours) through a beautiful part of nature. You absolutely don’t have to be a true hiker to enjoy it, but good hiking shoes are a must.

Camping at Burg Lahneck – If you are looking for the ideal camping spot at the Rhein river, this is it. The campsite is located high above the romantic Rhine river, in the immediate vicinity of the. You find grass soil and terraces with old trees, it´s also next to the municipal swimming pool. They have a budget restaurant (for great dining visit the castle restaurant), small food shop, and heated sanitary facilities.

Dining tip: a good old typical traditional German Gasthaus with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Winzerhaus, Burgstr. 34, phone 02621-2896, open Tue-Sun 4pm-12am + Sun 10.45am-2pm.

On the other side of the Rhein river there is BURG STOLZENFELS.

Stolzenfels castle is one of the few that is in almost perfect condition, the structure is gorgeous, especially the chapel, the garden is like a fairytale and the views are fantastic. It was rebuild on the ruins of an old 13th century castle in the 19th century, it´s pure Prussian Rhine river romance. Quite a climb uphill but worth the effort.

It´s open March to November, Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Entrance is 5 €, including the guided tour (in German only but they have English guide books). You´ll shuffle along the old wooden floors you can get a pretty good understanding of how those living within the castle walls controlled the area and Rhein river below back in the day.

KOBLENZ Germany is our final destination.

Where is Koblenz in Germany? Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine river surrounded by four low mountain ranges. Koblenz is Germany’s oldest and most beautiful town, more than 2000 year old, founded by the Romans in 9 BC. A walk to the German Corner (Deutsches Eck) is a must. Here the Rhine river and Mosel river meet and Emperor William 1 on horseback watches over it.

Discover the old town of Koblenz with its romantic narrow streets, picturesque courtyards and small, cozy squares with numerous lovely cafés. Visit a “Weinstube” (wine tavern) or beer garden and taste the local wine. A walk from “Florinsmarkt” to “Münzplatz” and “Jesuitenplatz” will take you past lots of historic monuments and beautifully restored historic houses. Here you can enjoy some fancy shopping in historic surroundings, or wine and dine in one of the various indoor or outdoor restaurants at the Rhein river.

Take the cable car from here to Festung Ehrenbreitstein for the scenic views. The “Seilbahn” runs from the waterfront across the Rhein river and up to the Ehrenbreitstein fortress sitting high above the city. The fortress is a superb example of 19th Century military architecture.

Every year in August, the fantastic fireworks Rhein in Flammen (the Rhine in Flames) takes place.

My tips for hotels in Koblenz Germany:

Hotel & Weinhaus Zum Schwarzen Baeren, is very traditional, clean and tidy. It represents basically everything you could ask for. Here you have a pub, a beer garden, a wine room, and a nice traditional German restaurant with great food. The owners speak excellent English and help wherever they can. With hospitality like that, you’re in good hands! The Rhein river promenade is only a five-minute walk away. Best value for your money, double room from 89 Euro incl. breakfast.

Brenner Hotel looks unprepossessing from the outside, but turns to a surprise inside. The rooms are lovely and spacious with views over a well-tended garden. Expect friendly staff anywhere, a really nice breakfast, overall good value, prices range between 81 € and 118 € for a standard room.

Koblenz dining tips: If you are looking for excellent, authentic German cuisine: Gerhards Genussgesellschaft, Danziger Freiheit 3 (close to Deusches Eck), phone 026191499133, open Tue-Sun 12pm-10pm. Lovely Restaurant, great service, nice outdoor terrace.

For freshly prepared delicious breakfast food and great cakes: Cafe Guglhupf, Emil-Schueller-Str. 31. Sweet little place, with a nice atmosphere.

Koblenz Germany Weather

Koblenz Germany Weather Forecast for the next 7 days with Koblenz sunrise and sunset. The weather forecast Koblenz Germany includes sun, rain, wind and temperature.

Hope you enjoyed our photos of Rhine River Castles and our tips on the Rhine river.