Things to do in Rhineland Palatinate
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Eisgrubbräu
Grab a seat in this down-to-earth microbrewery's warren of vaulted chambers, order a mug of Dunkel (dark) or Hell (light) - or even a 3L/5L Bierturm (beer tower; €17.90/28.40) - and settle in for people watching. The Monday-to-Friday lunch (€5.90) - an all-you-can-eat buffet from October to March - and the daily breakfast buffet (€6.90; available 9am to noon) offer good value.
reviewed
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Konstantinbasilika
The brick Konstantinbasilika was constructed in AD 310 as Constantine's throne hall. Its dimensions (67m long and 36m high) are truly mind-blowing considering that it was built by the Romans. Later part of the residence of Trier's prince-electors, it is now a typically austere Protestant church.
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Dom
Mainz' famed cathedral, entered from the Marktplatz, is one of Germany's most magnificent houses of worship. The focal point of the Altstadt, this richly detailed 'mountain' of reddish sandstone, topped by an octagonal tower, went through a literal 'baptism by fire' when the original burned down just one day before its consecration in 1066. Most of what you see today is quintessential 12th-century Romanesque.
Inside, a solemn ambience pervades the nave which, surprisingly, has a choir at each end. The grandiose, wall-mounted memorial tombstones form a veritable portrait gallery of archbishops and other 13th- to 18th-century power mongers, many portrayed alongside their pr…
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Monastery
If you saw the 1986 film The Name of the Rose, starring Sean Connery, you've already seen parts of this one-time Cistercian monastery, in which many of the interior scenes were shot. Dating from as far back as the 12th century and once home to 150 or more monks and perhaps 400 lay brothers, this graceful complex - in an idyllic little valley - went through periods as a lunatic asylum, jail, sheep pen and accommodation for WWII refugees. Today visitors can explore the 13th- and 14th-century Kreuzgang (cloister), the monks' baroque refectory and their vaulted Gothic Monchdormitorium (dormitory), as well as the austere Romanesque Klosterkirche (basilica).
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Schloss Stolzenfels
With its crenellated towers, ornate gables and medieval-style fortifications, Schloss Stolzenfels, 5km south of the town centre above the Rhine's left bank, exudes the timeless, sentimental beauty for which the Romantic Rhine is famed. In 1823, the future Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm IV fell under its spell and had the castle - ruined by the French - rebuilt as his summer residence; during the Victorian era, guests included Queen Victoria. Today, the rooms remain largely as the king left them, with paintings, weapons, armour and furnishings from the mid-19th century.
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Landesmuseum Mainz
The rich and far-reaching collection of the Landesmuseum Mainz, housed in the former prince-elector's stables, traces the region's cultural history from the Stone Age to the present. Treasures include the richly festooned facade of the Kaufhaus am Brand, a 14th-century trading house, and the famous Jupitersäule (on display again in 2010), a Roman triumphal column from the 1st century. Also of special interest are Dutch and Flemish paintings, faience and art-nouveau glass.
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Dom St Martin cathedral
Mainz' famed cathedral, is one of Germany's most magnificent houses of worship. The focal point of the Altstadt, this richly detailed mountain of reddish sandstone, topped by an octagonal tower, went through a literal baptism by fire when the original burned down on the day of its consecration in 1009, an event whose millennium was marked in 2009. Much of what you see today is quintessential 12th-century Romanesque. Over the centuries seven coronations were held here.
reviewed
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Porta Nigra
Top billing among Trier's Roman monuments goes to the Porta Nigra, a brooding 2nd-century city gate that's been blackened by time (hence the name, Latin for 'black gate'). A marvel of engineering and ingenuity, it's held together by nothing but gravity and iron rods. In the 11th century, Archbishop Poppo converted the structure into St Simeonkirche, a church named in honour of a Greek hermit who spent a stint holed up in its east tower.
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Druckladen
In the Gutenberg museum's Druckladen, across tiny Seilergasse, you can try out Gutenberg's technology yourself - on the condition that you're at least five years old. You'll be issued with a smock (the unique odour of printers' ink may, for many, conjure up the nobility of making the written word available to the masses, but the gloop is hell to get out of fabric) and instructed in the art of hand-setting type - backwards, of course.
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Burg Rheinfels
The sprawling ruins of Burg Rheinfels was once the mightiest fortress on the Rhine. Built in 1245 by Count Dieter V of Katzenelnbogen as a base for his toll-collecting operations, its size and labyrinthine layout are truly astonishing. Not only kids will love exploring the subterranean tunnels and galleries. To get there, you can walk for 20 minutes up the hill from the youth hostel or drive (parking fee required).
reviewed
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Gutenberg Museum
A heady experience for anyone excited by books, the Gutenberg Museum takes a panoramic look at the technology that made the world as we know it - including this guidebook - possible. Highlights include medieval manuscripts and early printed masterpieces - kept safe in a vault - such as Gutenberg's original 42-line Bible. Many of the signs are in English; a quarter-hour film is available in seven languages.
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KD Rhine Pass from Mainz
1 Day (Departs Mainz, Germany)
by Viator
An easy way to start your romantic day on the Rhine: Present your KD ticket onboard any KD ship and enjoy all scheduled day cruises on the Rhine and Moselle riv…Not LP reviewed
from USD$37.62 -
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Weinstube Hottum
One of the best of the Altstadt wine taverns, Hottum has a cosy, traditional atmosphere, delectable wines and a menu - half of which appears on a tiny slate tablet - with regional dishes such as Saumagen (pig's stomach stuffed with meat, potatoes and spices, then boiled, sliced and briefly fried) and Winzersteak (vintner-style pork steak).
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Dom- und Diözesanmuseum
Dom- und Diözesanmuseum displays artwork from the Dom St Martin cathedral, including sculptures from the rood screen (1239) - the work of the renowned Master of Naumburg - that portray the saved and the, well, not-so-saved. The new Oberer Kreuzgang (Upper Cloister) showcases religious art from the late Middle Ages.
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Ehrenbreitstein
On the right bank, looming above the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, this mighty fortress proved indestructible to all but Napoleonic troops in 1801. A few years later, the Prussians took this as a challenge to build one of Europe's strongest fortifications. Behind the mighty bulwarks is a hostel, two restaurants and the Landesmuseum.
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Specht
Thanks to its ancient wood beams, smoked walls and Fastnacht (carnival) medals, 'Woodpecker' has a 19th-century feel, though the building itself dates from 1557. It serves German and regional cuisine made with fresh products from the nearby market. If the ancient beam ceiling doesn't look uneven and wavy, you've had too much to drink.
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St-Stephan-Kirche
St-Stephan-Kirche is a Gothic church rebuilt after WWII were it not for the nine brilliant, stained-glass windows created by the Russian-Jewish artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985) in the final years of his life. Bright blue and imbued with a mystical, meditative quality, they serve as a symbol of Jewish-Christian reconciliation.
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Stadtmuseum Simeonstift
Completely renovated in 2007, it brings alive two millennia of local history with carefully chosen objects, many of them exquisite. Highlights include the Trier Kino (Trier Cinema), where you can see 78 short films of Trier, some made as far back as 1904. Admission includes a free audioguide in German, English or French.
reviewed
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KD Rhine Pass from Koblenz
1 Day (Departs Koblenz, Germany)
by Viator
An easy way to start your romantic day on the Rhine: Present your KD ticket onboard any KD ship and enjoy all scheduled day cruises on the Rhine and Moselle riv…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$37.62 -
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Hauptmarkt
A farmers' market is still held daily (except Sunday) on the Hauptmarkt. Anchored by a festive fountain dedicated to St Peter and the Four Virtues, it's hemmed in by medieval and Renaissance architectural treasures such as the Rotes Haus (Red House) and the Steipe, a former banqueting hall that's now the home of the Spielzeugmuseum.
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Zur Kanzel
A classy place with a distinctly French flair and a nice courtyard, this Weinstube (wine bar) serves upmarket French and regional cuisine, including dishes made with grüne Sosse (light sauce made with fresh herbs, sour cream and soft white cheese). All ingredients are fresh, so the menu evolves with the seasons.
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Museum für Antike Schiffahrt
In 1981 excavations for a hotel unearthed the remains of five spectacular wooden ships of the Romans' Rhine flotilla, used around AD 300 to thwart Germanic tribes trying to intrude upon Roman settlements. They are now on display, along with two full-size replicas, in the Museum für Antike Schiffahrt.
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KuZ
Dance parties, live concerts, a summer beer garden with alfresco movie screenings, a world-music summer festival, kids' theatre…the happening Kulturzentrum (cultural centre) has something for everyone. It's housed in a neat red-brick building that began life in the 19th century as a military laundry.
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Parish Church
Medieval power woman Hildegard von Bingen's elaborate gold reliquary shrine, containing her heart, hair, tongue and skull, is prominently displayed inside the parish church, attracting pilgrims from around the world, especially on 17 September, the anniversary of her death.
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KD Rhine Pass - Nostalgic Route - Rhine Cruise from Koblenz to Rudesheim
11 hours (Departs Koblenz, Germany)
by Viator
Koblenz is the gateway to the Middle Rhine UNESCO World Heritage site and is happily situated on not one but two world-famous rivers - the Rhine and the Moselle…Not LP reviewed
from USD$37.62
