Beauty of the Rhineland

December 5, 2014

The Rhineland is commonly used to refer to the area of land around the banks of the River Rhine, which borders France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. The main body of the Rhineland, however, is in western Germany, and this is generally what people are referring to when they use the phrase.

The Rhineland is one of the most popular areas of Germany for tourists, mainly because of its natural beauty, but also because of the gorgeous castles, stately homes, towns and cities which dot the landscape.

The biggest of these cities is Bonn, a popular tourist city which attracts huge numbers of visitors every year. Often described as the northernmost city in Italy due to its Mediterranean café culture and pretty, winding streets, Bonn is a relaxed and friendly city which was surprisingly named the temporary capital of West Germany during the separation of east and west. Trier is another stunning city in the Rhineland area. An ancient Roman settlement which still exists to this day, Trier is home to some striking architecture and maintains an almost-Gallic charm in comparison to traditional German cities.

Outside of the city, the Rhineland is home to some of the most dazzling scenery in Europe, including the Rhine Valley and the Moselle Valley. Both of these areas are also home to a number of vineyards and wineries, as well as the infamous Wine Road, which takes you all the way from the Rhineland to the French border.

At just 50 miles, the Wine Road is fairly short, but with open-air wine festivals in the summer, as well as quaint little villages and towns on the way, it’s a wonderful route for drivers to discover. If you don’t fancy driving, then hire a bike from Radstation at the region’s main railway station, Hauptbahnhof, and discover the wonderful cycle trails in the Rhineland.  You can also go hiking, kayaking, sailing, fishing and more, all in the stunning setting of one of Europe’s most beautiful areas.

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