Since 2002 this area down to Koblenz has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, winding down the sides of the river for approx 66kms. It is dotted along both sides with castles and ruins dating back to 800, where different eras have added bits to them making them a total mixture of Carolingian(800), Romanesque(1050-1250), Gothic(1150-1450), Renaissance(1420-1600), Baroque(1600-1770), Classical(1770-1830), and New gothic(1700-1900).. roughly!!!. With all the bloody, cruel wars that have raged through this area we are surprised anything is left standing.. (here endeth the history lesson).
RUDESHEIM is a lovely lively town, full of beautiful old houses, a lot of them half timber, bars, cafes, music and lots of flowers. Even with lots of cruise ships stopping it doesn’t seem to make it crowded. We caught the Cable car up to see The Niederwald Monument, Bronze,38m tall, erected to symbolise the re-establishment of the German Empire following end of Prussian War in 1871. ( Only weighs 32 ton.!!) The centre piece is called Germania. Then we walked through the forest around to the other side of the hill and caught the slowest chair lift we have ever been on, down to Assmannshausen, had lunch, then ferry over to see the Rudesheim Castle, and back up-stream to Rudesheim.
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This signs reads..HOW CLASSY GIRLS GET WASTED..
Across on the ferry …….to Rheinstein Castle.
The Coat of Arms.
Back in Rudesheim, passing very steep vines and Castle Ehrenfels.
Met some neat new Kiwi friends, by actually unknowingly parking in their reserved spot in Rudesheim. Due to our size only a few marinas can take us easily as most are designed for smaller speed type boats. (( heh heh )) , Drinks with Robert & Sue Cooper, ( ChCh ) and their guests Merv & Wendy, and Max..
Max in his usual fashion decided to cycle up a huge hill(without me) and visit a Monastery that still has the Nuns making a tidy profit out of making\selling their wine and other products. He didn’t stay long enough for a confession though.
The Benedictine Abbey St Hildegard.
Rudesheim like every German town has Christmas decoration shops everywhere.. in Summer!!! The Germans love Christmas.
The barge behind us is the Club Bar, and we met a really nice German couple, Kurt & Beata (a pilot & Hostess for Lufthansa). AND the boat next to us—we thought they should really change the name.!!
We had cycled the 26 kms down to St Goar two days previously and stopped at Bacharach, a beautiful town on the left bank, and despite all the old old houses and castles around us we still managed to find a Lidl.(our favourite shop).. Just like to say, Max cycled back and it took him about 1.40mins. I caught the ferry back ( up stream) and it took me 3 hrs!
Couldn’t leave on Sunday as the marina was closed as the ‘’’Riesling Man ‘’ triathlon was being staged. They swam from the end of the pontoon in bunches of 50.
Finally left RUDESHEIM and we wanted a slow journey through the valley down to St GOAR. to enjoy the scenery but unfortunately the weather was overcast and our camera didn’t do any justice to the views.
The Rhine runs the fastest through this bit, faster than before, and although the boat said we were at 8.5 knots, & 1800 revs , our marking off said we were going an average speed of 19.5 knots down the 26 kms. That’s so cool !!!! I am going to miss this when we are back to 6 knots on the canals.
On the boat, leaving Rudeshein, down towards St Goar and Koblenz.
So first, Castle Ehrenfels. Rheinstein Castle ( which we visited)
Reichenstein Castle Sooneck Castle ( not our photo)
Heimburg Stahleck Castle
Pfalzgrafenstein Castle(actually on an island in the river) and Gutenfels Castle on the hill.
Gutenfels Castle..from the river showing the town on the water front
Schonburg high up above Oberwesel, , with the ever present camping sites along the river.
Katz Castle, as is and a painting from a sketch from 1607.
And past the ‘’Seven virgins’’ ( Die 7 Jungfrauen) The 7 large rocks the Loreley straight, in the middle of the river, that have sunken many a boat, and the statue, Loreley, who sings and lures them into their graves.. Apparently if you sing yourself as you pass her, the spell is broken,, BUT we missed her altogether and had to get a post card,.
And finally St GOAR, and Rheinfels Castle and Fortress. Which we visited in the next blog……We did miss a couple of castles so this isn’t a full picture of all of them.
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