Cruising the Moselle River

The Moselle River valley is just lovely.  Terraced vineyards fill the steep hillsides, fairytale towns with half-timbered homes line the banks, historic fortresses wait to be explored.  And if you enjoy wine, this area, well known for their delicious Rieslings, offers plenty of tasting opportunities.   

I sailed on Avalon Waterway's Imagery II last week along the Moselle and discovered this idyllic area is still the under the radar gem I've always believed it to be, and still not crowded as some other areas in Europe have gotten.  

My cruise started in Remich, Luxembourg, a small town near the borders between Luxembourg, France and Germany.  Remich, a short bus ride from Luxembourg City and Germany's oldest city, Trier, is where we started our first tours. Leaving Remich, we sailed to Bernkastel, followed by Cochem, before reaching the Rhine River for the remainder of the itinerary, ending in Amsterdam.

The 151 miles between Remich and Koblenz (where the Moselle meets the Rhine) is a very scenic stretch.  The river isn't very wide, allowing you to sit back and simply enjoy the tranquil beauty of both sides as the river twists and turns through the valley.  

Following is a photo story from the cruise - part one, focused on the Moselle section.

TRIER
Trier is Germany's oldest city, a Roman town founded by emperor Augustus in 15 BC.  It is home to 9 UNESCO World Heritage sites and is the birthplace of Karl Marx.   Trier has had quite a history - destroyed, rebuilt and occupied numerous times by Roman, Frankish, Viking and French empires.  We visited the Imperial Roman Bath complex and the Porta Nigra, the remaining city gate.

LUXEMBOURG CITY
Luxembourg City is the capital and largest city in Luxembourg.  Albeit a small country (population about 654,000), you will find 180 different nationalities here.  Luxembourgish is the official language, though most also speak French, German, Dutch and English.  The entire Old Town is a UNESCO site.

BERNKASTEL-KUES
​Bernkastel has a rich history in wine growing, dating back over 2000 years.  The Old Town area is one of the best preserved in Germany - the square with its gabled, half-timbered homes is truly fairytale worthy.

COCHEM
Cochem is an equally picturesque stop.  The town itself dates back to the early 1000's.  The town area is charming, however the Cochem (Reichsburg) Castle, perched high on the hill overlooking Cochem, shouldn't be missed.  The original castle built around the early 1000 ADs was totally destroyed in 1689.  It lay in ruins for 200 years, at which time a wealthy financier rebuilt it.  It was sold numerous times until 1978, when the city of Cochem took over the ownership.   The city still owns and operates the castle today.  

Without a doubt, the Moselle is one of my favorite rivers to cruise.  Lovely landscapes, incredible history, uncrowded ports - a slower feel.  Perfect!  

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