Rhine in Flames Extravaganza

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INCLUDED EXCURSIONS  PANORAMIC COLOGNE

Join us as we explore this historical city! Cologne has strong Roman ties and is the fourth-largest city in Germany, with more than one million inhabitants. The city is located on both sides of the River Rhine and is home to the famous Kolner Dom (Cologne Cathedral). During World War II, the inner city of Cologne was completely destroyed and was then fully reconstructed in the 1950s. 

With our expert guide, we see many of Cologne’s fascinating sights, including the ancient Roman city walls, which were the longest in Germany; the impressive medieval gates; and the twelve large Romanesque churches, which are located in the confined area within the boundaries of the medieval city walls. Many of Cologne's churches rank among the most important in Western Europe.

We also see the world-famous 4711 – the original Eau de Cologne headquarters; the medieval Old City with its impressive town houses, dating back to the 14th century; and the historical Rathaus (City Hall).

RHINE IN FLAMES

On Saturday afternoon we head off to join our river cruise trip for the spectacular Rhine in Flames extravaganza. See fire, water and light combine as the dazzling displays of fireworks illuminate the night sky above the Rhine. This stunning pyrotechnic display is an experience not to be missed, which has enthralled visitors in their thousands for more than 50 years. 

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS  A TASTE OF BOPPARD

Discover Boppard, the 'Pearl of the Rhine', as we join the Rhine Express tourist train, which takes us around Boppard in approximately 30 minutes. We see the Romanesque-Gothic St Severus Church, and the town's Roman excavations dating back to the 4th and 5th centuries.  We then head through the south gate of Boppard’s medieval town wall, the Binger Gate, at the end of the Old Town and pass the charming district of 'Balz'. The tour continues, passing the Electoral Castle, along the Rhine front to the Carmelite Church. After this, we take the chairlift from the valley station in Muhltal to Gedeonseck, rising to a height of nearly 240 metres.  After arriving at Gedeon’s Corner, it is only a short walk over to the panorama restaurant. From here, we can enjoy fantastic views of the largest bend on the Rhine. Just a few minutes' walk from Gedeon’s Corner is the Four Lakes View, which showcases the Rhine like a chain of sparkling lakes.  After descending by chairlift, we join the tourist train again as we head to the Market Square to a traditional local cafe for tea/coffee and cake. 

AHR VALLEY

Today we explore this beautiful region, known locally as the ‘wildest daughter of the Rhine’. The origins of this name are quite obvious when you look at the spectacular scenery, as the Ahr River meanders its way through the picturesque valleys, with breath-taking rock formations, idyllic castles, ruins and terraced vineyards rolling down the hillsides. 

We visit the charming town of Ahrweiler, known as the ‘metropolis of red wine’. The town is surrounded by medieval town walls, and many of the buildings are original, giving it a truly medieval atmosphere. We continue our journey back to the ship, passing through pretty little villages along the way.

BOPPARD - PEARL OF THE RHINE 

Known as the ‘Pearl of the Rhine’, Boppard has over 2,000 years of cultural history, making it a fascinating place to visit. This town’s treasures can be best seen on our guided walking tour, as we pass through the romantic squares and small lanes of the Old Town. 

We then join Ralf on his Rhine Express tourist train as he takes us around Boppard. The trip around this picturesque town takes in the Romanesque-Gothic St Severus Church and the Roman excavations dating back to the 4th- and 5th-centuries. We also head through the south gate of Boppard’s medieval town wall, the Binger Gate, at the end of the Old Town and pass the charming district of ‘Balz’. The tour continues, journeying past the Electoral Castle, along the Rhine and to the Carmelite Church before arriving back at our ship.

COCHEM AND IMPERIAL REICHSBURG Join us on our guided walking tour as we explore the pretty little Moselle town of Cochem. The old quarter is dominated by the late-Gothic imperial castle and is dotted with medieval squares and lovingly restored timber-framed houses – architectural gems typical of the Moselle region.  We see the market square, the baroque town hall, the Martinsbrunnen (a feature of the town's historical water supply), St. Martin's Church, the former Capuchin monastery (now an arts centre) and sections of the old town walls, including the town gates.  We then continue to the mighty Reichsburg Castle. The castle perches on a rock 100 metres above the town of Cochem. Originally dating from the year 1,000, from 1868 to 1877 it was completely reconstructed and, since then, it has become the most-visited monument in the valley of the River Moselle.  There are many impressive things to see inside the Castle, including the Knights' Hall, the Weapon Room, the Hunting Room and the medieval ladies' rooms. The castle is well-equipped with Renaissance and Baroque furniture, weapons, armours, crockery and all kinds of beautiful decorations, including mural paintings.   DISCOVER BONN 

Once the capital of West Germany, Bonn lies on the banks of the river Rhine. The city is best known culturally as the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven and is often referred to as the 'Gateway to the Romantic Rhine'.  Bonn is very much an atmospheric city with a rich culture. We explore this magnificent city on foot with our expert guide as we walk along Poppelsdorf Avenue to Bonn University, the former residence of the electors of Cologne. We see the Minster Cathedral, the Beethoven monument and the market place with the old town hall. 

EVENING WINE TASTING AND SIEGFRIED’S

Join us this evening as we board the Little Tourist Train to our first port of call, the world-famous Siegfried's Musik Kabinett just off the famous Drosselgasse.  This Museum is home to one of the world’s biggest collections of self-playing musical instruments, where visitors can admire over 350 exhibits. Our tour concludes with a visit to Adolf's wine cellar to taste his famous local wines.  Here, we learn about the different wines of this region, the history of winegrowing in the region, the way the wines are produced and their particularities. Following this we get to taste the local wines, which are served with a pretzel to neutralize the taste of the different wines. A great way to spend an evening in Rudesheim!

EVENING WINE TASTING IN COCHEM Join us for a visit to a local wine cellar in Cochem this evening, as we taste and sample some of the town’s locally produced wines. These include the famous and traditional Riesling, which is grown on the sloping hills of the Moselle Valley. Come and compare the different quality levels, colours, grape varieties, and characteristics, and learn how the different wines of this region are produced.   GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF LINZ AND ST MARTINS PARISH CHURCH

Join us for our guided walking tour of Linz, a pretty little town. Linz was first mentioned in the official documents of 874, and our guided walking tour will take us past the colourful half-timbered houses, picturesque squares, winding little streets and the impressive town hall - one of the town’s main sights. 

We then continue to the parish church of St Martin’s; the church was built between 1206 and 1214 at the most elevated spot of the town. A former church, which was located at the same place, had been destroyed during the fights of Otto IV and Philip of Swabia in 1198. During reconstruction work in 1981 the remains of graves and foundations belonging to the previous church were discovered.   HISTORICAL KOBLENZ AND EHRENBREITSTEIN FORTRESS Get to know one of the oldest towns of Germany on our guided walking tour around the historical Old Town. The charming and romantic streets between the St. Castor’s Basilica and Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Beloved Lady) represent today’s main tourist attraction of Koblenz. Of course, our sightseeing tour would not be complete without a visit to the Monument of Emperor Wilhelm I at Deutsches Eck (German Corner), and the town’s landmark, the Schangel Fountain in the courtyard of the present Town Hall.  We then ascend by cable car from Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer to the impressive Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, which rises 118 meters above the Rhine River, offering fantastic views over Koblenz and the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle at Deutsches Eck. The Fortress is Europe’s second largest preserved fortress - behind Gibraltar - and was constructed by the Prussians between 1817 and 1828. However, its origins date back to the first century AD.  The fortress is home to the Rhineland-Palatinate State Museum, with its permanent exhibition on photography, the ‘Greif’ cannon - once the largest in the world, and an exciting collection of technical relics. The small climb to the top of the new observation platform is rewarded with breath-taking views of the distant Eifel Mountains on a clear day. We descend by cable car.   MAJESTIC HEIDELBERG AND CASTLE

Join us as we head to the beautiful city of Heidelberg. Considered as one of the many jewels in Germany’s crown, this city is one of the most popular destinations in this country and is situated on the banks of the Neckar River. Heidelberg is home to the oldest university in Germany, dating back to 1386 and has over 28,000 students. The city's main attraction is its stunning castle, perched on the hillside overlooking the city. 

Our comprehensive panoramic tour takes us to the Altstadt (historical city centre) and Hauptstrasse (main street), approximately one mile in length, which is reputedly the longest pedestrian shopping street in Germany. We will also explore the Philosophenweg, which provides wonderful views across the oldest part of the city, before we enjoy a leisurely drive along the river Neckar. 

We then head to the castle. Nestled 300 feet above the city, Heidelberg Castle is a combination of several buildings surrounding an inner courtyard, put together with a haphazard look. Each building highlights a different period of German architecture. 

The castle has a history almost as old as the city itself, with the first parts of the castle being constructed around 1300. From the Great Terrace and gardens, enjoy amazing views of Heidelberg, the Neckar River and the Neckar valley, and on a clear day Mannheim is even visible on the horizon.

OBERWESEL ‘CITY OF TOWERS’

Join us on our guided walking tour as we explore the pretty little town of Oberwesel. This historical town is almost surrounded by its medieval walls, gates and towers that have been painstakingly restored over the past few years.  During our tour we see the town walls, 2,575 metres in length; and the medieval towers, dating back to the year 1220. We continue to the Church of Our Lady - one of the most important high Gothic churches in the Rhineland, and famous for its impressive gold altar.  We also see St Martin's Church, with its impressive bell tower, as well as Werner Chapel, the abbey ruins, and Schonburg castle, which is perched on a narrow rocky ridge overlooking Oberwesel.   

ROMANTIC RUDESHEIM AND ASBACH Explore pretty Rudesheim with us, a town famous for its winemaking. Located in the scenic Rhine Gorge, we'll be surrounded by stunning scenery and will get to soak up the amazing atmosphere here. We'll then visit the wonderful Asbach Visitors' Centre, where we'll get to learn more about this incredible brandy.