The Rhine is not only one of Germany’s main waterways but also one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. It has its source in Switzerland, flows through Lake Constance and runs through Germany from south to north before joining the North Sea in the Netherlands.



Where the Speyerbach flows into the Rhine - 25 kilometres south of Mannheim - lies Speyer with the biggest Romanesque cathedral in Germany. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981.



50 castles, palaces and ruins are waiting to be discovered along the Rhine between Mainz and Bonn. The best way of experiencing this magical region full of legends is to take the time to follow the course of the river by bicycle or even on foot. One of the most spectacular ways of exploring this part of the Rhine valley, the cradle of German castle romanticism, is certainly by boat.

In recognition of its natural beauty and the many castles on its banks, the Middle Rhine region between Bingen and Koblenz was made a UNESCO World Heritage site. Practically every castle and every mountain has its very own legend. The most well known is the legend of the beguiling Loreley who sat on a rock, distracting sailors from underwater rocks and currents with her enchanting singing. Many a vessel came to grief...