Rhine Castles & Moselle Vineyards
Day 1 – UK – Basel
Fly from the UK to Basel then transfer to Emerald Cruises Star Ship.
Day 2 – Breisach – Colmar
Start a magical morning with a tour of Colmar. As we walk down the cobblestone lanes, it’s easy to imagine the characters from the Grimm’s Fairy Tales here, where window boxes full of colourful blooms adorn the half-timbered façades.
Day 3 – Kehl – Strasbourg
This morning, we’ll dock in Kehl and take a coach transfer to the medieval capital of France’s Alsace Region, Strasbourg. The best way to discover Strasbourg’s charm is via its quaint waterways so we take a canal boat tour.
We pass through petite France, full of storybook canals, half-timbered houses, and narrow lanes and see the covered bridges and the Vauban Dam before reaching the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Neustadt imperial quarter, where many of Strasbourg’s administrative buildings are based.
Day 4 – Mainz
Today a guided tour of Mainz and a visit to the impressive sandstone cathedral of the tremendous Old Town with medieval market squares and half-timbered houses. The town is famous as the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg who invented the first printing press and manufactured his first books in the 15th century, including the Gutenberg Bible.
Day 5 – Rüdesheim
Today is a visit to the grand Schloss Johannisberg Winery. Set in the breathtaking Rheingau region, the legendary Schloss Johannisberg is steeped in history, cultivating exquisite wine for over 1000 years. The first Riesling winery in the world, at Schloss Johannisberg, discover a unique wine culture and fabled history during this exclusive tour. Set over 50 hectares in front of the Taunus mountains, the onsite 300-acre forest grows native oak to make the wooden barrels used for producing this exemplary wine. These extra-special barrels are then kept in the 900-year-old abbey cellar, known as ‘Bibliotheca Subterranea’, where over 25,000 precious wines are stored.
Day 6 – Bernkastel
Dating back to 3000 BC, Bernkastel is situated along the banks of the Moselle River and is home to well-preserved buildings dating back to 1416. A nice guided tour then a stroll through the medieval marketplace with its gabled timber-framed houses, castle ruins and town gate.
Day 7 – Cochem
Today it’s the enchanting town of Cochem during a guided tour of its well-preserved sites, remains of the historic town wall with its old fortifications, alongside the town hall and its many other gems.
Day 8 – Koblenz
Wonderfully maintained inside and out, Marksburg Castle boasts a selection of typical interiors including the castle kitchen, the knight’s hall, the armoury and an inviting wine cellar. The attractive light-stoned walls of the castle are protected by an outer fortress, with a single tower peering over the turrets and castle walls, it resembles something you would find in a Brothers Grimm tale.
Day 9 – Nijmegen
This morning is a relax as we sail along the Dutch waterways, passing quaint, time-honoured villages. This afternoon is a visit to the Paleis Het Loo, which once served as the summer residence of the Dutch royal family. Today, the palace stands as a magnificent museum and its decorations and gardens are stunning.
Day 10 – Utrecht
We start the day by exploring a canal cruise through the Oudegracht or Old Canal, which is not only the oldest in Utrecht but it is also older than the canals in Amsterdam. For centuries, along the water the wealthiest have built their mansions with the peculiarity of having warehouses and service entrances just above water level. Undoubtedly, the castle of Oudaen stands out among all the rest: an urban castle preserved despite being more than eight centuries old.
Day 11 – Amsterdam – UK
After breakfast, it’s time to say farewell and head off.