Any conversation about European river cruises has to include the Rhine, one of the largest rivers in Europe that flows through Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands. And any conversation about the river at some point lands on the section known as the Romantic Rhine.
A Region of Spoils
Named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2002, the Romantic Rhine is the section of the river between the German towns Bingen and Bonn. It's difficult to say what is more memorable about this region: the steep vineyards rising up from the river banks, which produce most of Germany's famous Riesling grapes, the small towns with their countless wine-tasting opportunities and festivals, or the 40 medieval castles that have watched over the river for hundreds of years.
History Lessons
In truth, it's probably the combination of the three that makes this stretch of the Rhine so beautiful. After every turn of the curvy river, another castle rises up on the hillside, surrounded by vineyards. Many of them are still tourist destinations today, allowing you to gain perspective on medieval life in Western Europe. Others are mere ruins, eternal reminders of the fleetingness of history.
A Wine Paradise
Every town seems more quaint and offers more wine tastings, allowing you to sip on your glass (don't be surprised if it's Riesling, the region's dominant wine and most famous export) while appreciating the nature and buildings around you. If you visit during summer or fall, you'll almost inevitably run into one of the many local wine festivals; many cruise lines actually plan their itineraries around these events.
Not surprisingly, you'll find the mentality of locals to be very proud, but also very calm and relaxed. It's almost as if, surrounded by history and wine, they have gained an appreciation of their surroundings and a sense of place that's not found in many other places around the world. They live in paradise, and they know it.
The Unquestioned Highlight
A river cruise on the Rhine allows you to explore a larger area of the river, and discovering towns and their local wines from Strasbourg, France to Basel, Switzerland is an experience not soon forgotten. But the unquestioned highlight of any Rhine cruise is undoubtedly the two days you'll spend among the medieval castles and ancient vineyards of the Romantic Rhine, sipping a glass of wine while overlooking the river that Germans so respectfully call "Father."
To get more information on booking a river cruise on the Rhine River, get in touch by requesting a luxury travel consultation.
