by Fiona Thompson

Created on: February 08, 2007   Last Updated: April 17, 2007

Germany is a country noted for its beautiful landscapes and historic cities with wonderful architecture but the Rhine Valley is my recommendation for the best place to visit. The Rhine, one of Europe's major waterways may be heavily used to carry freight but it is also a place where you can spend hours walking the banks or enjoying the river by boat, maybe even enjoying an evening cruise and meal in summer, taking in the scenery as you sail.

It is an area full of fairytale castles which tower over the Rhine, high up, perfectly placed to watch for enemies coming; most memorable is Marksburg which watches over the quaint little town of Braubach. Marksburg is the only remaining medieval castle just as it was when it was built all the others were ransacked by the French.

It is also a place where wine is produced and the vineyards line the slopes leading to the rivers Rhine and Moselle; each riverside town has a "weinstube" or two where you can sample these wines. Otherwise try a Rhineish "Wirtshaus" or inn where you can drink wine or beer and eat hearty meals based on German favourites like pork or sausage.

Some interesting towns and cities lie along the fifty limes or so of meandering river that make up this section of the Rhine. At the northern End is Cologne with its impressive cathedral, a little south is Bonn the city was temporarily Germany's capital when the country was split into two after the Second World War. Both have wonderful museums and pleasant parks. At the southern most end of this section is the attractive and stylish city of Mainz, always popular with tourists.

It's a great area for walkers and hikers but there are good train services for those with less energy. There's an excellent mix of private accommodation and hotels with something to suit all budgets.

Summer is the best time to visit for everything to be open but accommodation costs will be higher at that time. Spring and early autumn may see one or two places closed and fewer ferries operating but accommodation will be more affordable. We went there in winter and found many places closed but enough to get by for five days. No pleasure boats operate during winter however.

The Rhine Valley is an excellent introduction to Germany and those who do not speak German will be delighted to find most people who come into contact with tourists speak English. But why not learn a word or two and make the experience even better. The friendly Rhine folk will love it!

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