The Rhein is the river of Europe in its truest sense. Beginning at the Swiss Alps in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, Rhein reaches Austria while passing through Germany. It forms a parts of the – Swiss-Austrian, Swiss-Liechtenstein border, Swiss-German and then the Franco-German border. Eventually the river flows into Rhineland and finally flowing into the North Sea in the Netherlands.
Cologne, Germany is the largest town which is located on the river. It has been classified to be the second longest river in the Central and Western Europe right after Danube. The Rhein along with Danube together formed the northern inland frontiers of the Roman Empire. The Rhein was and still is a major navigable waterway which has been facilitating trade for centuries. Today, the Rhein is considered to be symbolic of German nationalism.
The Origins
As far as the origins of the name are concerned, it is said to have been derived from the Gaulish name Rēnos. The modern day spellings beginning from the Rh- in English, German and French languages came about because of the influences from the Greek orthography.
The length of the Rhein is measured in terms of Rheinkilometer or Rhine-kilometres. It is a scale which was first introduced in the year 1939. This scale begins from the Old Rhine Bridge at Constance and ends at Hoek van Holland. There are numerous canals constructed on the river which has considerably reduced its natural length and course. In the year 2010, the objective length of Rhein was measured to be 1232 kilometres or 766 miles by the Dutch Rijkswaterstaat.
When visiting the Rhine Valley
Not only being considered as one of the most beautiful rivers of Europe, the Rhine holds immense amounts of prominence as the most important waterways. The river travels a distance of about 1320 kilometres beginning from Switzerland and then reaches the Netherlands and finally flows into the North Sea. When the river Rhine reaches Germany, as is regarded, the most appealing section of the river begins. The river hear forms a valley which is known as the German Rhine Valley forming a region so marvellous and nothing beats it in terms of sheer natural beauty. Each year hundreds of thousands of tourists flock in this valley to rejuvenate themselves.
The river stretches in the southern regions from Mannheim to the northern where it reaches Koblenz. Across these regions the river boasts of nothing but pure, splendid and spectacular locations. A large section of the Rhine Valley is protected and also has achieved the tag of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are many castles and historic towns that can be found dotting certain amazing locations throughout the spans of the river and the valley. The region has been inspiring artists, authors and composers for many centuries. Today the site has become a location for a day long getaway. People come here for varied durations aiming for seclusion, adventure, peace and being immersed in the natural.
Following is a list of the top rated tourist attractions in the Rhine Valley:
- Museums of Mainz: On the western bank of the river Rhine, right opposite to the mouth of the river Main is the Old Cathedral city of Mainz. They are located at a mere distance of about 44 kilometres in the west of the city of Frankfurt. Mainz is located almost in the middle of all the important attractions of the Rhine Valley; it also serves as an ideal location for exploration of the wonderful region. Other than this, there are many spectacular sites that can also be visited which are located alongside the river Rhine. For instance there is the Old Town of Worms which is famous for its cathedrals along with Mannheim which is popular for its medieval architecture. Towards the northern side you can find the Middle Rhine Valley which is the actual protected as the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Mainz by itself is of immense historical importance. The city and its heritage fates back to the Roman times. The city boasts of its excellent museums such as the: Roman-Germanic Central Museum, and the Museum of Ancient Navigation. The Museum of Ancient Navigation features full-scale replicas of Roman galleons. Another important museum is the Gutenberg Museum which displays the life and times of the inventors of the moveable metal type printing technique which was in-fact born here sometime in the year 1398.
- Worms Cathedral: Worms is known as the Cathedral City of Germany. It is situated on the west bank of the River Rhine and is considered to be one of the oldest towns of the German lands. Among the many features of the city, the one on the must visit list is the 11th century Cathedral of St. Peter. This cathedral, its grandeur, its four towers and the twin domes enables it to be ranked along with the cathedrals of Speyer and Mainz. These cathedrals are representative of the best that the High Romanesque style had to offer. The nave of the cathedral holds a particular importance, it is considered to be impressive because of its height which measures 27 metres and also its dome which is of 40 metres in height. The old cloister of the cathedral includes five Late Gothic sandstone reliefs. There are also beautiful choir stalls and the Baroque high alter is among the most precious highlights of the tradition. Another major tourist site is the 18th century Trinity Church along with the church of St. Magnus which dates back to the 10th
- Mannheim: The city is situated on the eastern banks of the river Rhine. It also has one of the largest inland harbours in the whole of Europe. Mannheim, in comparison with other European cities is considered to be among the newer cities. Its foundational plans were laid down in-between the 17th and the 18th The aims and designs of the city was laid out on a grid of rectangles which holds similarity to the many cities in the North American continent. Evidently enough in the very planning process nuanced thought and techniques of modern day living were applied here. Here you can find that the city is immensely pedestrian friendly among the many sites to visit include the cultural centre of the city which revolves around the historic Marktplatz along with the Old Town Hall or the Altes Rathaus, in addition to these there is also the Lower Parish Church or the Untere Pfarrkirche which was erected in the year 1723. There is also a Jewish Centre which is known as: Jüdisches Zentrum and its Synagogue which should also be on the must visit list if you happen to be in the city. the city is not all about history, there are shopping destinations which focus on the Planken and the Kurpfalzstrasse. Their intersection takes place in Paradeplatz. It would be a crime and disrespect to not visit the port area if you are in the city. At the port area you can go on hiring cruises along with the historic paddle steamer. In the same regard the city decided to open a museum which is solely dedicated to the history of navigation on the Rhine.
- The Palatinate Forest: Or as it is otherwise locally known – The Pfälzer Wald, it is a dense wooded area located in the Upland region of the left banks of Upper Rhine. The Palatinate Forest roughly covers a massive area of 1770 kilometres squared. This in-fact makes this forest the largest of its kind in the while of Germany. Interestingly enough the Palatinate Forest area is surrounded by towns such as: Kaiserslautern and Pirmasens on all sides, this gives it a very different character. Beginning at the Saar basin in the west you can find a gradually rising hill which then falls rather steeply down in the east where the plains of Rhine are located. In this region you can easily find some of the highest peaks such as the 673 metre long Kalmit. The highlights of the forested area are definitely the myriad ruinous castles. The region welcomes hundreds and thousands of tourists each year who come to experience the magical trails which make it a splendid location for hiking and biking trips. When you travel towards the eastern side of the forest there lays the town of Wachenheim. Wachenheim is particularly renowned for its tradition of grape cultivation along with presenting an awe-inspiring view of the Rhine Valley. There are castles and fortifications such as: Schloss Wachenheim which was created in the year 1730. Also, the Kurpfalz-Park which is famous for the big games along with Toboggan which takes place during the summer time align with other fun filled activities. Just a few minutes away from Wachenheim is the town of Bad Durkheim which is famous for its spas and the grape growing tradition.
- Wiesbaden – the Spa Town: The capital of the Land of Hesse is the town of: Wiesbaden. It is situated right at the foot of the Taunus hills and is most famous for the many thermal springs that are located here. All of these features in-fact have enabled the town to be classified as an important Spa town of the country. You can also witness the spectacular Fountain Colonnade in Kurbezirk along with the imposition of the Kurhaus which is a building carrying a massive Ionic portico which was built in the year 1907. There is also the Aukammtal spa district which particularly has the many thermal baths and the saunas. Also don’t forget to visit the Kochbrunnen which is home to 15 springs and more fascinatingly, the average temperature here reaches 66 degrees centigrade. Historically speaking, the Kaiser Friedrich Baths which were founded in the year 1913 hold considerable importance, also there is the Biebrich Schloss which was constricted between 1698-1744. This castle is an epitome of the Baroque tradition. The 245 metre long hill, Neroberg must be visited. Here you can find a strange little Greek Chapel and also the Opel Baths.
- Koblenz: Apart from Koblenz itself, the most beautiful site to witness is definitely the location. It is situated right at the confluence of the River Mosel and the Rhine. The town of Koblenz is renowned for its grand old castles and fortresses such as that of Ehrenbreitstein, the Koblenz Schloss which was built by the last Elector in the year 1786, along with the church of St. Castor which dates back to the year 836. St. Castor’s Church is crucial in history because it is here in 843 AD the Treaty of Verdun was signed which resulted in the division of Carolingian empire. Among the natural phenomenon’s of the region is the German Corner or Deutsches Eck. It is a narrow piece of land between Rhine and Mosel.
- Braubach and Marksburg Castle: These castles are located in the very centre of the UNESCO World Heritage section of the Rhein Valley in the town called Braubach. They are further situated on the eastern banks of the river Rhein. The town offers wonderfully crooked streets and the alleyways where you can find the rather exquisite medieval half-timbered buildings which have been a source of delight for many tourists. Also, dating back to the year 1117 is the Schloss Marksburg, the only castle which is situated atop a hill in the entire Rhine Valley which managed to survive all these years. This is also a very important reason which makes it a hotspot for tourists.
- Boppard’s Roman Legacy: The Rhine was extremely crucial for the Romans and this importance is best understood from the town of Boppard. Here nearly 200 years ago a fortress was constructed to specifically guard the river. Historical evidences originating from the Roman Camps have shown that there were many fortifications of similar kind for the same purpose. This particular fortification is one of the most well preserved legacies dating back to the Roman times. This site dates back to the 4th century and comprises of twenty eight semi-circular towers and sections of large old walls that reach heights of 9 metres. When it was constructed this fortification spanned an area of 12 acres. St. Severus Church, the first Christian church of the town adorning late Romanesque styles of construction was also located here. Ritter-Schwalbach-Haus is another such building hailing from the 15th century that is located here which is a must visit. This building used to be home to the members of the town’s aristocracy.
The Upper Middle Rhine Valley
The Valley has performed the function of being the main route of cultural exchange for nearly 2000 years. It connects the southern and northern European regions spanning across the current administrative boundaries through bridges leading to the ultimate romantic destinations. The Lorelei or Loreley, the rock which sits firmly on the eastern banks of the Rhine near to St. Goarshausen has since forever been a symbol of romanticism in the valley. As per legends, there used to sit a siren atop the rock combing her hair, luring many sailors who crossed her paths – this ordeal would ultimately lead to the death of the sailors. Heinrich Heine composed a song of the Loreley recounting this legend.
The many romantic towns and winegrowing villages located in the Upper Middle Rhein Valley have been attracting many people for millenniums. At the end of the valley you can find the Deutsches Eck or the German Corner in Koblenz where the two rivers Moselle and the Rhine meet together. There are cable cars which will enable you to explore the area in the most fantastical manner possible. This trip crosses the river along reaching the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is a journey of a lifetime and must not be missed by all means. In any case there is also an interactive exhibition which depicts the fabulous beauty of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley which can be experienced on a virtual steam ship in Koblenz.