The Rhineland, Germany

The Rhine River winds through Germany amidst a fertile valley of villages, castles, mountains and vineyards. The Rhine has been an important trade route for the last two millennia, and the towns that have sprung up along its banks exhibit all the tradition and charm of that rich history making it a popular region for tourism and a really exciting area to explore.

Each section of the Rhineland has its own attractions, including the winelands of Rheinhessen, hiking trails of Westerwald, mineral springs of Ahr, and historic Roman and Celtic settlements of Hunsrück. The region is full fairy tales and mythology, and has inspired tales like Wagner's epic Ring Cycle, where Siegfried killed the dragon and Brunhild plotted revenge. The Rhineland has also been immortalised in stories by Lord Byron, Goethe, and Mark Twain.

Today you can visit bustling small towns along the river, each with its own charm, including Mainz, Trier, Koblenz, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse and Worms. Larger cities like Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf are attracting business to their growing metropolises and offer more cosmopolitan shopping and dining. The variety of experiences makes the Rhineland a perfect holiday destination for just about anyone! One of the best ways to explore is by cruising down the river.