Cruises on the Rhine have many aspects and these can certainly be romantic. Cruises on the Rhine pass through areas where mystery and romance and folklore cross. The medieval mouse tower the Mausturm has a charming legend concerning mice famine and greed. It is a tower built  at water level near Bingen and built by the Romans, though it has been ruined and restored many times.

The Archbishop of Mainz Hatto II, restored the tower as a fortress in 968 its function was to ambush passing ships as they were flailed by oarsmen and demand a ransom for safe passage. During a famine in 974 the people rose up against his oppression and went to him to demand food and he told them to go to the food stores and collect free grain. This was a trick and once inside he set fire to all of them. His comment whilst burning them to death was reputedly

“They are like mice, only good for eating up the grain.”

Once Hatto, went back to his castle it was overrun by mice, causing him to flee across the River Rhine, to the Castle of Kaub on an island to escape them as he assumed they could not swim across the Rhine. Legend had it that although some drowned many more survived and went onto the island where they ate Hatto.

They almost devour me with kisses,
Their arms about me entwine,
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen
In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!

(Longfellow)
Ironically shortly after his death the island became an official customs post.

German cathedrals are some of the most majestic in Europe. In the Middle Ages one of the German Rhein’s great cities Cologne became an important ecclesiastic centre and a centre of learning. The magnificent Cologne cathedral dominates the skyline and it is the first landmark that can be seen from a Rhine cruise ship. Cologne Cathedral is the city’s outstanding landmark. It was begun in 1248 and completed 600 years later, is considered to be one of the greatest architectural triumphs in Europe. It has twin spires which are 515 feet or 157 m high.

Worms is one of the oldest of the German city made famous by Martin Luther and the rise of Protestantism in Europe., it was here that he delivered the famous Diet of Worms.  The city itself is in the heart of the German wine growing area, although it does have a few industries. Its most famous landmark is an imposing Romanesque cathedral, built in the 8th century and rebuilt during the 11th and 12th centuries.

There are many castles to be seen and combined with the romance of the castles and the cathedrals there is much to occupy you.

Cruises on the Rhine have always been popular but in recent years more and more people are discovering that cruises on the Rhine offer a truly romantic and memorable vacation.

Click here to learn more about cruises on the Rhine

One of the great delights when on a

Rhine river cruise

is the number of historic castles that you will see.
Some are now crumbling in ruins but there are plenty in good condition. Some have been totally redeveloped for modern day living and purposes. This feature article will give you more information on these castles. If you break away from your rhine river cruise group you can take various train jorneys that will expose you more historic castles and place of in terest. I will let Rick take it from here.

Happy Reading!

Castles Along The Rhine

By Rick Hendershot

The Rhine River is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions. This famous river has been at the heart of German history for centuries, dating back to at least Roman times. In fact the river marked the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire.

Julius Caesar himself conquered the areas of Europe to the south and west of the Rhine, and the Germanic tribes retained control of the lands to the north of the river.

When the Roman Empire collapsed in about 400 AD the Germans flooded across the river and created a succession of states which would later become the Holy Roman Empire and eventually modern day Germany.

Picturesque feudal castles guard the gorge

The Rhine is hundreds of miles long, flowing north from Switzerland through Germany and the Netherlands to the North Sea, but it is the 35 mile stretch between Bingen and Koblenz that is the destination of thousands of tourists every year. Along this narrow section of the gorge there are more castles than in any other river valley in the world.

Many of these castles are in ruins, but some have been restored as hotels and are open for tours. The castles stand like sentinels on the cliffs above both sides of the river creating the perfect environment for stunningly picturesque boat tours.

The castles are an unmistakable and unique feature of the mid-Rhine landscape. They were built by feudal overloards, to protect their lands from marauders who travelled up and down the river.

One of the most famous spots along this section of the river is the Lorelei Rock at St. Goarshausen. This is the deepest and narrowest points on the Rhine and is the inspiration for a famous German legend. As the story goes, a nymph lived in the Lorelei rock high above the Rhine. She is said to have lured fishermen to their destruction with her singing until she was overcome with love and plunged to her own death. A bronze statue of the nymph overlooks the river.

As you travel along the river, you see quaint, colorful villages that cater especially to tourists. The most popular are St. Goar and Bacharach, each with its own castle open for touring. And of course there are unlimited opportunities for sampling the German cuisine and exquisite Rhine wine.

In the heart of wine country

Most of Germany’s vineyards are located in the Rhine valley. At Bingen, the Nahe river flows into the Rhine and along its banks are some of the most perfect south facing vineyards. North of Bingen the wine growing region is called the Mittelrhein. It is a magical place with vineyards growing among the fairy tale castles and snuggled into the overhanging rock face.

All of the German wine regions along the Rhine produce distinctive styles of wine, but in general Rhine wine is fuller and richer than Mosel wines. As in the Mosel, the primary grape is the Reisling, but there are other varieties of grapes too. The German wine research facility at Geisenheim has created many new hybrids such as Ehrenfelser, Scheurebe, and Kerner, offering visitors a wide variety of different tastes.

The best way to see this area

There are several ways to see this scenic area along the Rhine. Several river cruise companies offer tours along the most spectacular part of the gorge. It takes about two hours to cruise from St. Goar to Bacharach, and most visitors agree this is the best way to get the maximum castle exposure.

But it’s not the only way. There is also a train that runs between the villages in the area, and you can stop at numerous points along the way to sample the local culture. Tourists can also drive the highway along the banks of the river. Or the more adverturous can ride a bicycle along the many trails, and hop on a ferry at various points to cross over to the other side of the river.

About the Author: See Linknet Travel News for more travel articles | Hotelkritiken – Hotelkritiken und Bewertungen | Cheap prepaid phone cards from USA to any country

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If historic castles are your thing I think Rick’s article will give you an idea of what to expect on the Rhine River Cruise.
There a few other articles on the site that give you an insight in to what to expect from a  Rhine River Cruise

Here are three unusual but valid questions.
Question 1: Which direction should I cruise ?  Upstream or Downstream?

Answer:
In general it does not matter which direction your river boat cruises. The  cruises stop at the same destinations whether travelling upstream or down stream. The actual arrival times at the various destinations along the river will obviously vary depending which direction you start from.  Basically you will not miss out on any stopovers/excursions. (I recommend you check this in your itineray to be 100% certain)

Question 2: What side of the riverboat should I book my cabin?

Answer:
The short answer is that  in general  it does not matter on what side you book your cabin.
From a docking point of view, some days, the port side cabins will be docked facing the shoreline , on other days it will be the star-board side that will face the shoreline. If you want to be 100% sure check with your travel agent once you have picked your particular cruise.

Question 3:  Do riverboats have bath tubs in the cabins?

Answer:
No not all riverboat cabins will have bath tubs. In general most cabins will not have cabins.  A lot depends on the cruise line company and the particular river boat. So if this is an issue for you make sure to check with your travel agent.

 There you have it. I hoped that enlightened you a little more about river boat cruising. If you have any interesting questions or suggestions about river boat cruises please leave a comment below.

J.

While on the Danube don’t miss the opportunity to visit the capital of Hungary, Budapest. It is truly a beautiful city with its own unique history and culture. A reader referred the article below to me. It will give you a taste of the city’s historic past and a useful list of sites to see. So I thought I would share it with you.

Enjoy!

Travel To Budapest: A Marriage Made In Danube

By Frank Johnson

What makes this Hungarian capital an endlessly diverse adventure is the fact that in 1873, two towns (yes, Buda and Pest) on opposite sides of the Danube River united to become known as the Queen of the Danube and one of the largest cities in the European Union today. Brace yourself for the most unique experience in Eastern (or all) Europe as Hungary is an outpost of cultural and linguistic distinction that stands abruptly apart from its Slavic and Germanic neighbors. The Magyar stronghold of Budapest, established around 900 AD by the formidable clan from Central Asia, became the center of the Kingdom of Hungary capable of withstanding the carelessly blundering Ottomans, Habsburgs and Nazis. Discover the grandeur of one of the oldest and most established cities in Eastern Europe!

Take a Bath with the Queen

A great place to start your Hungarian journey is on the Western Bank of the river in Óbuda, the very oldest part of Budapest. Two thousand years of human life surround the excavated Roman city of Aquincum where Europe’s largest open-air amphitheater remains. Main Square is beyond charming with taverns and quaint single story houses and shops. From Óbuda to neighboring Buda, the hilly landscape is sprinkled with ancient Roman and Turkish Baths, fed by some of the 100 thermal springs that run through the area. The Art-Nouveau Gellért Baths in Buda are the most famous to relax in, although the Rudas and Rac baths, build by the Turks 400 years ago, are more interesting and less crowded. All three are located on top of scenic Gellért Hill inside the Citadel, an old military fortification from the 1800s. The pinnacle of Buda is the eponymous Castle Hill where the 14th century Baroque Royal Palace presides imperially over the city.

Grandeur in the City

Cross the historic Széchenyi Chain Bridge, the oldest of nine, and enter Pest, the more compact and metropolitan eastern side of the Danube. A walk along the regal Andrássy Boulevard past stunning mansions will lead to the Hungarian State Opera House, a true gem of acoustic and neo-Renaissance architectural prowess in all of Europe. While in the center of town, visit the noteworthy Inner City Parish Church, which happens to be the first church built in the city. On a grander scale, the enchanting Jewish quarter is home to the largest synagogue in Europe, the Dohány Street Synagogue, complete with an extensive Judaic art collection and Holocaust Memorial. Another monumental must-see is Budapest’s neo-Gothic Parliament building, Europe’s largest and arguably most beautiful. Take a peek at King Stephen’s legendary crown jewels that have been stolen and moved in and out of the country a near comical number of times.

Budapest is truly a traveler’s city. The enormous size offers experiences on every level, from simply local, musical or explorative to historic, artistic or commercial. Budapest is particularly noteworthy for its exceptional array of museums and galleries that litter the city, particularly the Hungary National Museum on Castle Hill, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Antique Picture Gallery, with the most extensive Spanish collection outside of Spain.

About the Author: For more information on international travel and discount airfare to Budapest, visit www.cfares.com, your source for cheap airfare on the web.

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My thanks to Frank for this informative contribution.  I think you will agree there is plenty to occupy a visitor Budapest. Just one of many stop overs on a typical Danube river cruise.

Uniworld Cruises offers some of the most luxurious cruises on some of the most breathtaking rivers in Europe. When travelers think of cruises they are often met with images of the tropical beaches and wide open seas, but when you are looking for a cruise with a little more adventure and the amazing history of Europe, river cruising is a completely different experience.

There are many great advantages to river cruising including the floating hotel you stay in, you only have to unpack once and yet you get to see it all. It’s like traveling around Europe to all the places you want to see without constant flights, hotels, and unpacking. With river cruising, you also pay once for your package and stay, then sit back and relax. River cruise ships are also smaller than standard cruise ships, so you get the benefits of a cruise with the intimacy of a trip with no long lines or scheduled activities you have to attend.

The Uniworld cruises Europe package offers a variety of destination choices all over Europe designed to help you experience the areas of Europe that intrigue you the most. Whether it’s a 9 day cruise along the Rhine looking at ancient castles or a 32 day excursion from Paris to Budapest, a Uniworld cruise can be the European vacation you are looking for. There are over 27 different European river cruise destinations during 2009, including six holiday cruises featuring many different European holiday markets and celebrations.

If you are looking for a vacation like no other and have never considered the advantages of river cruising, you should take the time to consider the European, and other, river cruises Uniworld Cruises has to offer. With beautiful ships, amazing destinations and all the comforts of home all in one place you will be able to sit back and enjoy your European vacation in a way you never imagined. With ample 2009 destination packages to choose from, it will be easy to find just the right river cruise for you. You can choose the destinations in Europe you’ve always wanted to see and then match those destinations to one of over 25 different river cruises offered throughout Europe.

With reasonable prices and plenty of selections to choose from your first river cruise, certainly won’t be your last. Also offered are travel protection packages, add-ons and other amenities to make your trip the best it can be. When you are looking to travel Europe and as the first time on a river cruise you want to make sure everything is taken care ahead of time to allow you the security and safety of an enjoyable trip. Those additional amenities are available and should be checked into with your travel agent or through Uniworld Cruises site.

So if you think river cruising may be for you have a look at the Uniworld Cruises site.

uniworldrivercruises.com