AAA Traveler - Winter 2018 - 19

Near Oberwessel, Germany

Dutch windmills, the Netherlands

HIGHLIGHTS

The stretch of the river most steeped in lore and
spellbinding scenery is the Upper Middle Rhine Valley,
a deep gorge between the German cities of Mainz
and Koblenz often called the Romantic Rhine. A
UNESCO World Heritage site, the 36-mile route is
marked by turreted castles looming high above rocky
cliffs at nearly every turn. A number of the castles,
including such gems as Schonburg Castle overlooking
the medieval town of Oberwessel, date from the 10th
and 11th centuries and have been beautifully restored.
One such castle, Reichenstein Castle, houses a museum
with original artifacts that document its long history.
The Romantic Rhine's most famous natural landmark
is the Lorelei, a soaring rock named for the siren said
to have lured sailors to their shipwrecked doom when
they heard her seductive call.
While the Romantic Rhine is the river's most scenic
section, it's only one of many intriguing facets. Some
of central and northern Europe's most culturally rich
destinations lie along the banks of the Rhine. An
especially grand and convenient way to experience
them is on the wide assortment of Rhine cruises
available, some offering seven-day or longer itineraries

that frequently start in Basel, Switzerland and conclude
in Amsterdam. Not long after leaving Basel, where
a visit to the Basel Museum of Fine Arts is a great
introduction to the history and art of the region, the
hillside vineyards of France's Alsace region come into
view. On the French side of the river is Strasbourg, with
its half-timbered houses and canals, while the German
side brings the opportunity to explore the historic spa
town of Baden-Baden and the Black Forest.
Heading down river and deeper into Germany, ports
steeped in history include Speyer, site of a stunning
double-domed cathedral and the innovative Technik
Museum, and Heidelberg, a lively university town
spreading below the magnificent ruins of Heidelberg
Castle. Others are Koblenz, with its medieval old
town and cozy wine taverns, and Cologne, where
its cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a
Gothic masterpiece that took six centuries to complete.
Amsterdam, with its wealth of art museums and
colorful canal houses, awaits as the Rhine turns west
and enters the Netherlands. Here the river divides to
form a number of waterways, creating the largest delta
in Europe.

CRUISE OPTIONS

There are many ways to experience the Rhine by
boat, everything from short excursions through the
Upper Middle Rhine Valley to multi-day itineraries from
Switzerland to the Netherlands. The cruising season is
generally from April through October. In March through

early May, tulip time cruises are a popular option in the
Netherlands, where flower fields along the river delta
put on a spectacular display. During the winter holidays,
several companies offer Rhine cruises focusing on the
Christmas markets of Germany.

AAA Preferred Partners like Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, AmaWaterways and Viking River Cruises provide varied
itineraries to choose from. Call your local AAA Travel Agent at 800-750-5386 to book your Rhine River adventure!
TRAVELER WINTER 2018

AAA Traveler - Winter 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AAA Traveler - Winter 2018