The most popular river cruises in Germany are on the Rhine and Danube Rivers. Bodensee and continues its journey through Germany to the Netherlands’ border west of Duisburg, the Rhine has already traveled 375km or 233 miles.. At Lake Constance, the Rhine … Rhine. In this flat-floored section the Rhine has been straightened. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The Mosel is the Rhine's peaceful little sister — with romantic villages slipped between steep vineyards and the river, lots of friendly B&Bs, and a sprinkling of castles. cruise instead. Until the 19th century the goods transported were of high value but relatively small in volume, but since the second half of the 19th century the volume of goods conveyed on the river has increased greatly. Below Bonn the valley opens out into a broad plain, where the old city of Cologne lies on the left bank of the Rhine. Neuschwanstein castle crafts, Black forest cuckoo clocks, Gifts from Germany, German souvenirs from Lorelei rock and castles on the Rhine river valley www.online-shopping.cc. The city of Laufenburg on the Rhine River in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Author of. Rudesheim Choo-Choo Train. Boat, train, and car traffic here is a trickle compared to the roaring Rhine. Former Reader in Geography, Queen Mary College, University of London. Vineyards mantle the slopes as far as Koblenz, where the Moselle River joins the Rhine at the site the Romans called Confluentes. The Alpine section of the Rhine lies in Switzerland, and below Basel the river forms the boundary between western Germany and France, as far downstream as the Lauter River. The Rhine is a fascinating river. Rhine River Hop On Hop Off Cruise on Castle Route 34 Revel in the beauty and history of one … Unlike Heidelberg Castle, this palatial fortress has been carefully maintained and survived the last two centuries intact. Its name comes from the original Celtic and its meaning is Flow. Starting high up in the Swiss Alps and flowing through Germany to the Netherlands, the Rhine River travels through some of Europe’s best-loved landscapes, passing majestic hillside castles, pretty medieval towns and lush vineyards. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The last section of the Rhine lies below the frontier town of Emmerich in the delta region of the Netherlands. Famous British artist William Turner adored it, and included its partly crumbled battlements in several of his works. Ehrenbreitstein Castle, Koblenz. Here, you can step into a corner of the world where time has stood still. Learn how to create your own. Rhine River meets Moselle River at the small town of Koblenz. Düsseldorf, on the right bank of the Rhine, is the dominant business centre of the North Rhine–Westphalia coalfield. (The Hinterrhein rises about five miles west of San Bernardino Pass, near the Swiss–Italian border, and is joined by the Albula River below Thusis.) Germany’s longest river, and one of the longest in Europe, the Rhine (German: Rhein) originates in the Alps of the Swiss state of Graubünden.By the time it flows into Lake Constance a.k.a. The Rhine is an important waterway. Below Bonn the Rhine emerges into a broad plain, and west of Emmerich it enters The Netherlands to… This is the Rhine of legend and myth, where the medieval Mouse Tower (Mausturm) lies at water level near Bingen and the castle of Kaub stands on an island in the river. Night view of Cologne, Germany, on the Rhine River. From there to its bend at Basel, the river is called the Hochrhein (“High Rhine”) and defines the Swiss-German frontier, except for the area below Stein am Rhein, where the frontier deviates so that the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen are entirely within Switzerland. The cable car of Koblenz is a relatively new attraction that … The Rhine has been a classic example of the alternating roles of great rivers as arteries of political and cultural unification and as political and cultural boundary lines. You have the option of getting off an any of … The river was long a source of political dissension in Europe, but this has given way to international concern for ecological safeguards as pollution levels have risen; some 6,000 toxic substances have been identified in Rhine waters. To inspire you to take a Rhine River cruise in 2020, we've rounded up 10 of the most incredible sights you can see along the Rhine River. An impressive, ornate red-brick castle perched above the river, Heidelberg Castle has inspired artists and writers for centuries, especially the Romantic-era painters. In this flat-floored section the Rhine has been straightened and the banks reinforced to prevent flooding. Katz Castle, overlooking Sankt Goarshausen and the middle Rhine River, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. After crossing from Switzerland into Germany, the Rhine River winds its way through the magical Black Forest. Nearly all Rhine River cruises wind their way through the German heartland, and France, though it is recommended to cruise the full length of Rhine from between its headwaters in Switzerland all the way to Amsterdam.Float by castles nestled in famed vineyards, ride bicycles along charming river paths, explore cultures & architecture of Strasbourg and Cologne whose Cathedral … The Rhine has been navigable between Basel and Rheinfelden since 1934. The Danube flows from the Black Forest to port cities of Regensberg and Passau through eastern Europe flowing into the Black Sea. It flows from two small headways in the Alps of east-central Switzerland north and west to the North Sea, into which it drains through the Netherlands. High up on a hill above Koblenz is this vast Prussian fortress complex, built to defend against French invaders, which can be reached by a cable car. There the river is spanned by the modern Severin Bridge and by the rebuilt Hohenzollern railway bridge, which carries the line from Aachen to Düsseldorf and the Ruhr industrial region. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). …flowing through Germany is the Rhine. River Rhine Valley. About 766 miles in length, with an average width of about 1,300 feet, the generally north-flowing waterway also is exceptionally swift and deep. Its landscaped gardens, royal history dating back to the 1700s and location by the Rhine River make this attraction a must-visit. Rhine River, German Rhein, French Rhin, Dutch Rijn, Celtic Renos, Latin Rhenus, river and waterway of western Europe, culturally and historically one of the great rivers of the continent and among the most important arteries of industrial transport in the world. Want to experience the Rhine River this year? The Vorderrhein emerges from Lake Toma at 7,690 feet (2,344 metres), near the Oberalp Pass in the Central Alps, and then flows eastward past Disentis to be joined by the Hinterrhein from the south at Reichenau above Chur. Koblenz’ Electoral Palace is one of the most significant palaces in French early Classicism style that you'll find in Germany. Downstream the hills recede, the foothills of the volcanic Eifel region lying to the west and those of the Westerwald (Wester Forest) to the east. (see … Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Petite France in Strasbourg’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town will transport you back in time to the Middle Ages. The US Army's surprise capture of the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River at Remagen, Germany, broke open Germany's defenses in the west. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Rhine River cruise It was a fantastic couple of hours on the Rhine River seeing Castles and Vineyards. An international waterway since the Treaty of Vienna in 1815, it is navigable overall for some 540 miles (870 km), as far as Rheinfelden on the Swiss-German border. River in Germany, a tributary of the Rhine. The length of the Rhine was long given as 820 miles (1,320 km), but in 2010 a shorter distance of about 765 miles (1,230 km) was proposed. The Rhine River is one of the most important rivers in Europe, because it has become the most traveled waterway in the European Union. Rhine Gorge, Germany. One of the best ways to experience them is on a Rhine River cruise and next year, you can sail along the picturesque river on a special escape with Strictly Come Dancing star Pasha Kovalev, who will perform for you during a stop in the German city of Koblenz. It then flows through German territory as far as Emmerich, below which its many-branched delta section epitomizes the landscapes characteristic of the Netherlands. River in Germany, a tributary of the Rhine. O ne of the world’s great rivers, the Rhine marks a storied stretch of winding waterway that spans 765 miles and six nations—Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands—from the Swiss Alps on to the North Sea. Wide canals are lined with hanging baskets and quaint half-timbered houses - once home to fishermen, tanners and other ancient trades – all criss-crossed by narrow lanes and footbridges. It might be full of historical buildings, but Düsseldorf Old Town is by no means sleepy – visit for a lively and vibrant atmosphere in the numerous bars. Rhine: Glide through countries rich in history and spellbinding beauty. If you like to spend overnight on a cruise and can shell a little extra cash then this is a great way to travel. A popular way to see Rhine valley and castles in the German wine region is by taking a Rhine river cruise. 883 kilometres (549 mi) can be used by ships, and boats can go to the Black Sea using the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. European river cruise itineraries here most commonly glide through four of these countries in one whirlwind week, on … There the Rhine breaks up into a number of wide branches, such as the Lek and Waal, farther downstream called the Merwede. Where are the best Rhine valley castles? It’s among the palace's fabulous surroundings that you can see an exclusive performance by Strictly star Pasha Kovalev and his dance partner. Below Chur, the Rhine leaves the Alps to form the boundary first between Switzerland and the principality of Liechtenstein and then between Switzerland and Austria, before forming a delta as the current slackens at the entrance to Lake Constance. The mighty Rhine flows from Switzerland northwest through the German heartland entering the Atlantic at Amsterdam. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. You can visit Heidelberg and its castle on our Rhine River cruise with Pasha Kovalev. This map was created by a user. It runs from Cologne via Bonn and Koblenz to Mainz. It then flows through German territory as far as Emmerich, below which its many-branched delta section epitomizes the landscapes characteristic of the Netherlands. Hotel Castle Liebenstein in Boppard. Duisburg, which lies at the mouth of the Ruhr River, handles the bulk of the waterborne coal and coke from the Ruhr as well as imports of iron ore and oil. Keeping it flowing may require new boats, once-taboo locks, and even changing the current of the river itself. The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including grains, minerals, coal and oil products including heating oil. Our Rhine River cruise with Pasha Kovalev ends in Amsterdam, with a visit to the spectacular Keukenhof Gardens. I get motion sick so I preferred mixing trains and a road trip along with a mini K.D. Its most recognisable part is from Koblenz to Bingen where the trains run directly along the Rhine and its numerous bends. The Rhine River (German: Rhein, French: Rhin, Dutch: Rijn) is 1,230 kilometres (760 mi) long.The Rhine is the second longest river in Europe.Its name comes from the Celtic word "renos", which means 'raging flow'.. At a glance: The best Rhine River cruise German River cruises include the Danube, the Rhine and the Moselle Rivers, but the Rhine has the most beautiful castles. Often referred to as the ‘Garden of Europe’, during spring some seven million of Holland’s most famous flower - the tulip - sprout from the ground, along with hyacinths and orchids of every colour. Major rivers include the Upper Rhine tributaries Lauter, Queich and Speyerbach, as well as Schwarzbach and Glan in the west. Worms Cathedral. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The main tributary from Alsace is the Ill, which joins the Rhine at Strasbourg, and various shorter rivers, such as the Dreisam and the Kinzig, drain from the Black Forest. The river sources … Built in the 13th century, the castle is one part of the … The Alpine section of the Rhine lies in Switzerland, and below Basel the river forms the boundary between western Germany and France, as far downstream as the Lauter River. Small picturesque towns occupy the river’s bank while the castles’ towers are reaching for the sky on the top of the hills. Firework on Rhine and Moselle rivers, Rhine Aflame, Rhine in Flames, Flaming Rhine river … With 20 cruise itineraries in our Rhine vacation portfolio, Avalon Waterways offers more ways to discover the Rhine River Valley, year-round, than any other river cruise line. Discussion of castles along the Rhine River, with a look at their upkeep. A hillside vineyard along the Rhine River. In this stretch the Rhine is joined by its Alpine tributaries, the Thur, Töss, Glatt, and Aare, and by the Wutach from the north. Below Basel the Rhine turns northward to flow across a broad, flat-floored valley, some 20 miles wide, held between, respectively, the ancient massifs of the Vosges Mountains and Black Forest uplands and the Haardt Mountains and Odenwald (Oden Forest) upland. On the right bank, the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein dominates the Rhine where the Lahn tributary enters. Nonetheless, the middle Rhine (the section between the German cities of Bingen and Bonn), with such steep rock precipices as the Lorelei crag and numerous castles, still presents breathtaking vistas and attracts tourists. The cathedral city of Worms, located on the west bank of the Rhine, is one … In this 90-mile (145-km) stretch the Rhine has cut a deep and winding gorge between the steep, slate-covered slopes of the Hunsrück mountains to the west and the Taunus Mountains to the east. The Rhine leaves the lake via its Untersee arm. Beginning in the Swiss Alps, it flows north through Germany and The Netherlands, creating natural borders for France and Liechtenstein, before flowing free into the North Sea. The West Rhine Railway is one of the most beautiful and famous railway lines in Germany. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site thanks to its historical and cultural importance, as well as the different plants and wildlife that thrive in its fertile microclimate. It has its source in east-central Switzerland and flows west through Lake Constance (Bodensee), skirting the Black Forest to turn northward across the Central German Uplands. Historically the Electoral Palatinate and several other territories were part of the Palatinate, but today belong to other German territories. Downstream, the regulated Neckar, after crossing the Oden uplands in a spectacular gorge as far as Heidelberg, enters the Rhine at Mannheim; and the Main leaves the plain of lower Franconian Switzerland for the Rhine opposite Mainz. German companies faced … BOOK NOW, 6 of the best mother-daughter holidays for 2020, Best cruises for every type of traveller in 2020, The one trip people will be taking when it's safe, This train gliding through snow is simply magical, No-fly cruises from the UK after lockdown, 5 brilliant holidays to book a year in advance, Get £50 off a Good Housekeeping escape in 2021, 10 beautiful places on our 2021 wish list, 12 greatest train holidays on our 2021 wish list, 9 reasons to ride the Rocky Mountaineer in 2021, Good Housekeeping, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network. This region is a classic German landscape of cuckoo clocks, oompah bands and timber houses, and was the inspiration for so many of their legendary fairytales, as well as more modern versions - Neuschwanstein Castle, for example, inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Step inside to see beautifully detailed stained glass windows and lofty arched ceilings, giving the building an inspirational atmosphere whether you’re religious or not. See how the Rhine, Main and Moselle river systems unfold to create a spellbinding display of storybook villages, Dutch windmills, German vineyards and Gothic cities. Since the time when the Rhine valley became incorporated into the Roman Empire, the river has been one of Europe’s leading transport routes. At Andernach, where the ancient Roman frontier left the Rhine, the basaltic Seven Hills rise steeply to the east of the river, where, as the English poet Lord Byron put it, “the castle crag of Dachenfels frowns o’er the wide and winding Rhine.”. For nature-lovers, the most unmissable stretch of the Rhine Valley is the Rhine Gorge, a stunning 40 mile length of rolling vineyards, dramatic cliffs and picturesque villages between Bingen am Rhein and Koblenz. No other river in the world has so many old and famous cities on its banks—Basel, Switzerland; Strasbourg, France; and Worms, Mainz, and Cologne, Germany, to name a few—but there are also such industrial cities as Ludwigshafen and Leverkusen in Germany that pollute the waters and mar the scenic attraction of the riverbanks. ; Germany: Float through lush wine regions to the timeless town of Cologne. March 6, 2020 The Rhine is no ordinary river. Rhine Falls, on the upper Rhine River near Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Omissions? The Rhine River and the Danube River were responsible for creating the northern European border, that is, the boundary with the Roman Empire. ; River cruise: Stretch your legs and explore the stunning riverside towns. Greater flexibility Our Rhine itineraries range from 5 to 16 days, offering travelers a wide selection of vacations to suit a variety of needs and schedules. Rhine river cruises. Updates? Low water after dry weather in past weeks continues to prevent cargo vessels from sailing fully loaded on the river Rhine in Germany, traders said. The must-see castles, towns and gardens you can visit on a Rhine River cruise. For nature-lovers, the most unmissable stretch of the … The "choo-choo" train transports river cruise passengers from … The Rhine River Valley in Germany with lots of Drone DJI mavic pro Travel Video + Lots of drone footage. It’s the perfect place to sample a glass of Düsseldorf’s renowned Altbier (old beer), still brewed from an ancient, traditional recipe. When you think about seeing the famous castles on the Rhine River, Germany, you are actually thinking about the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. On the way up, and once you get to the fortifications, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views over the Rhine River and the vivid greens of the surrounding landscapes. As one of the longest rivers in Europe, with a length of 760 miles, the Rhine River passes through dozens of breathtaking destinations, each with their own character and must-see marvels. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? This valley is one of the most beautiful areas in Germany. Another World Heritage Site, Cologne’s Cathedral is one of the city’s most memorable and recognisable landmarks, thanks to its imposing Gothic architecture. This part of the valley even is part of the World Heritage. The Rhine rises in two headstreams high in the Swiss Alps. The middle Rhine is the most spectacular and romantic reach of the river. The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including grains, minerals, coal and oil products including heating oil. Since 1872, however, the New Waterway Canal, constructed to improve access from the North Sea to Rotterdam, has been the main navigation link between the Rhine and the sea; along this canal was built Europoort, one of the world’s largest ports. Its catchment area, including the delta area, exceeds 85,000 square miles (220,000 square km). Float down the romantic Rhine River on this 1-hour sightseeing cruise from Düsseldorf and admire panoramic views of the city’s waterfront sights. Low … . Downstream the Rhine flows swiftly between the Alpine foreland and the Black Forest region, its course interrupted by rapids, where—as at Laufenburg (Switzerland) and Säckingen and Schwörstadt (Germany)—barrages (dams) have been built. The Rhine is Germany’s main economic artery. Join Strictly Come Dancing favourite and 2014 winner Pasha Kovalev on a Rhine River cruise from Basel to Amsterdam. River Rhine is the second largest river in Germany with 764 miles. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/place/Rhine-River, Rhine River - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Rhine River - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Lake Constance. With the completion of the huge Delta Project in 1986—constructed to prevent flooding in the southwestern coastal area of the Netherlands—all main branches of the Rhine were closed off; sluices and lateral channels now allow river water to reach the sea. ; Cruise ship: Cruise and discover the sights, sounds and flavours of Europe. The river also has been enshrined in the literature of its lands, especially of Germany, as in the famous epic Nibelungenlied. Rhine River. The Rhine cuts the Rhenish Slate Mountains into a dramatic landscape. ; River: Explore fairytale castles and vineyards along the riverbanks. The fact that cheap water transport on the Rhine helped to keep prices of raw materials down was the main reason the river became a major axis of industrial production: one-fifth of the world’s chemical industries are now manufacturing along the Rhine. Strictly cruise: How you can join the stars, Join us on the ultimate Mekong river cruise, Join us on a foodie cruise with Michel Roux Jr, Join Darcey Bussell on a Strictly-themed cruise. Until the straightening of the upper Rhine, which began in the early 19th century, the river described a series of great loops, or meanders, over its floodplain, and today their remnants, the old backwaters and cutoffs near Breisach and Karlsruhe, mark the former course of the river. Rises in two headstreams high in the Swiss Alps car traffic here is a trickle compared the... The valley even is part of the Rhine is a trickle compared to the timeless town of Koblenz a... 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