The loveliest section of the Mosel Valley in terms of landscape lies between Koblenz and Trier. Especially between Bernkastel-Kues and Cochem the scenery is shaped by beautiful vineyards, small wine-growing villages, and numerous fortresses and castles situated on the surrounding banks and in small side valleys. Here the course of the river is so serpentine and the valley so narrow that larger towns simply did not develop. One of Germany’s finest and best preserved fortified castles is not far from the Mosel nexus in the Eltz valley: Burg Eltz with its countless oriels, towers and gables is still accessible to the public today, and the regular guided tours afford a glimpse into the richly stocked treasure vault, amongst other things.

One of the best-known wine-growing regions in Germany, the middle Mosel Valley is mainly famous for its classic white wines. Hence, the main grape varieties are Riesling, Sylvaner and Müller-Thurgau.

Koblenz is located at the point where the Mosel flows into the Rhine. The promontory juts directly into the mouth of the river and enjoys fame around the world as the “Deutsches Eck”. It boasts marvellous views of the town and the Ehrenbreitstein fortress towering high above the banks of the Rhine that shapes the town’s profile.
From Koblenz head further south-west towards Trier – through the heart of the Eifel, a low mountain range with scenery carved out in part by volcanic activity. Lava mounds of extinct volcanoes and maars, old volcanic craters filled with small lakes, are characteristic of this region. Incidentally the Eifel is also the site of the Nürburgring – a popular destination for Formula 1 fans.

A visit to Trier is like a journey back in time. Trier is thought to be the oldest town in Germany, and many impressive Roman buildings – more or less well-preserved - bear witness to this. Undoubtedly the best known is the Porta Nigra, one of the massive town gates from the town fortifications built by the Romans in 2 BC. As well as the ruins of one of the largest bath complexes in the Roman Empire, the Kaiserthermen, you can also visit the house where Karl Marx was born. Many buildings dating from the Middle Ages, like the splendid cathedral and the Jerusalem Tower, are equally impressive. It is the oldest surviving tower from what used to be at least nine residential and defensive towers in Trier, built in the 11th and 12th century.