by Lynn-Nore Chittom

Created on: August 07, 2009

The charming city of Rudesheim is a must-see stop for anyone touring the Rhine River region. With vineyards stretching high along the hillside and the city nestled along the river bank, this quaint little village is the embodiment of the romantic Rhine.

To catch the best view of Rudesheim, you must approach the city on the ferry from Bingen. Looking up you will see the Niederwalddenkmal statue proclaiming German unity. If you are fortunate enough to be traveling on a sunny day, you will see the beauty of the statue gleaming in the sunlight as you travel across the water. Below the gleaming German lady, the city of Rudesheim begins at the river bank and winds part way up the hillside. In the evening, shops are aglow and music is flowing from the Drosselgassethe smallest tourist street in Germany. Travelers along the Drosselgasse are window shopping and deciding about dinner and moving to the music flowing out from the beer gardens.

Niederwalddenkmal

The impressive Niederwalddenkmal statue is located high above the city and can be seen from miles around. The monument itself is 32 meters tall with the central figure, Germania, weighing over 30 tons and contributing 10.5 meters to the total height of the monument. In comparison, the entire Niederwalddenkmal monument is approximately equal in size to the American Statue of Liberty, not including her base pedestal.

Construction on the Niederwalddenkmal took place between 1877 and 1883. It was built to commemorate the Franco-German War of 1870-1871 and the re-establishment of the German Empire. Presently it expresses German unity and freedom and is frequented by patriotic Germans as well as foreign tourists.

Drosselgasse

While most of the small villages along the Rhine River are famous for the castles which are located high above each town, the village of Rudesheim is more famous as a shopping and dining spot. Home to the smallest tourist street in Germany, the Drosselgasse, Rudesheim is filled with tiny shops, beer gardens and wine taverns each more welcoming than the next. Along the Drosselgasse, visitors can purchase tourist memorabilia, beautiful artisan stoneware, exquisite porcelain dolls, and delicious German food. While the price for dinner may be a little higher on the Drosselgasse than on neighboring streets, the ambiance is well-worth it.

While visiting on the Drosselgasse, be sure to try some of the regional Rhein wines. A particular favorite of many is the Rheingau Riesling, a fairly sweet white wine. If you are interesting in trying something a little sweeter, you might want to try a Rheingau Spatlese.

Glockenspiel

A trip to the Drosselgassse wouldn't be complete without a stop at the famous Glockenspiel, or clock tour. A remnant of the old Rudesheim castle, the Glockenspiel rings at the top of every hour and opens to reveal various wooden figures which represent the four main wine vintages of the twentieth century.

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