Germany: Moselle Tour, Koblenz – Merzig or vice versa

The Flora awaits you in Koblenz, where the crew will welcome you on board from 2pm. You will spend the first afternoon and night in Koblenz, an inviting city to explore. “Koblenz” is a corruption of the Latin word confluentes, which means confluence. The Romans gave that name to the camp they built around the year 14 AD, at the spot where the rivers Rhine and Mosel converge. In World War II the town was almost entirely destroyed, but a number of precious monuments are still worth a visit, such as the Deutsches Eck, the Romanesque basilica of St. Kastor and the Kurfürstliches Schloss.

Your tour starts this morning as the Flora sails to Alken where, following the distribution of bicycles, you will cycle to Moselkern. The village of Moselkern is world famous for its Burg Eltz. This stronghold is one of the most impressive medieval buildings of Western Europe. It’s not easy to reach though, you need to hike the last section to reach the castle. After visiting Burg Eltz, you continue the bike tour to Cochem, one of the Mosel region’s most frequently-visited wine towns. Cochem is a cozy, characteristic town with wine cellars and half-timbered houses.

After breakfast you will cycle to Beilstein, one of the best-preserved historical villages along the length of the Moselle. The ruins of Castle Metternich sit towering above the village, and you’ll have the opportunity to explore them. After leaving Beilstein you will pass Europe’s steepest vineyard – with slopes inclining between 50 and 55 degrees – at Bremmer Calmont. Today’s tour ends in the wine village of Zell on the Moselle, well known in the industry for the wine “Zeller Schwarze Katz”. In Zell you should take the opportunity to get to know the good wines of the Mosel.

Today you’ll cycle from Zell on the Moselle to the romantic village of Traben-Trarbach, located on the left bank of the Moselle and famous for its Jugendstil (art nouveau) architectural style. From there you pass through the wine city of Kröv – well-known for its popular Kröver wine, to Bernkastel-Kues, your destination for the night. The grand half-timbered houses that surround Bernkastel-Kues’s marketplace date back to the Middle Ages, and are a photographer’s delight. You will reach the barge in Kues after a tour through town.

Upstream from Bernkastel lovely vineyards stretch out in many places. This area’s white Moselle wine has become a household name both locally and abroad.

Today you cruise past Piesport and Trittenheim, both big names. Piesport produces a number of beautiful white wines. The “Piesporter Goldtröpfchen”, in particular, enjoys great popularity. Trittenheim lies in a sharp hairpin bend of the Mosel. It is surrounded by mountains covered with extensive vineyards. The Laurentiuskapelle, with its gothic choir, is located right in the middle of the vines. From Schweich, you’ll rejoin the barge to Trier, an interesting and lively city, the oldest in Germany. According to the Romans, Trier was founded around the year 15 BC by Caesar Augustus under the name of Augusta Treverorum. As a trading town and administrative center, Trier flourished during the late imperial age.

This Roman golden age has left Trier with a fair number of impressive monuments. Most authentic is the city gate Porta Nigra, which was built around 18 AD.

Today you’ll follow the Saar river to our next destination, Saarburg.
Saarburg is an intriguing old town situated in the most beautiful part of the Saar valley, where the river banks are densely forested. The castle of Saarburg was built here in the middle of the 10th century. In the town’s center we’ll encounter a 20-meter-high waterfall. At the foot of this waterfall there is an old mill driven by a stream. Most of the old houses in this part of town are fully intact and date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, giving Saarburg a picture book look. Dine in town tonight according to your own wishes.

Your last cycling day takes you first through the Saarschleife, a natural wonder at Orscholz. From the top of the Cloef you can take in this beautiful river loop as the Saar meanders through the densely forested valley. Later you continue to Mettlach, where you can visit the famous ceramic factory of Villeroy & Boch.
After that you’ll return to the barge in Merzig, where you will enjoy a farewell dinner.

End of your tour: disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30am.