Mosel Valley
The Mosel Valley in Germany is a picturesque region known for its winding river, steep vineyards, and charming medieval villages. The Moselle River is a tributary of the Rhine. This region is known for world class Riesling wines. It is so tranquil and beautiful here. It is also a great place for cycling and river cruising. It is definitely worth checking out!
getting to the mosel valley
The Mosel Valley consists of several towns lining the Moselle River. Some of the best known historic towns include Cochem with its fairytale castle and Bernkastel-Kues known for its half-timbered houses. Depending on where you start your journey the travel times will vary. Cochem from Frankfurt is about a 2 hour drive and from Cologne is about 1.5 hour drive. The easiest way to get here is by car. Most towns have easy park or meters. Another common way to travel to this area is on a river cruise.
getting around
Getting around by car is the easiest. Once in the small towns getting around on foot is ideal. Those who enjoy cycling can bicycle between the towns.
Where to stay
You can stay in any of the small towns along the river. When we went we stayed in the small town of Beilstein at the Hotel Haus Lipmann. Bremm is a cute town that sits at top of a narrow bend and offers panoramic views. Another popular area to stay in is Bernkastel-Kues which is ideally located near several vineyards.
top things to do
visit a winery (or more)
The Mosel Valley is known for its incredible Riesling. There are wineries all along the area. Some of the top wineries of the area include Dr. Loosen, Joh. Jos. Prüm, Willi Schaefer, Walter J Oster, Treis, Koll & Cie, Richard Bocking and more. Learning about the wine making process and sipping on these wines is what it is all about!
cochem castle
This striking medieval fortress sits above the town of Cochem and dates back to the 11th century. It was reconstructed in the 19th century in Neo-gothic style. The Reichsburg Cochem Castle is open daily from 9AM-5PM. There are guided tours every 15 minutes in German and certain hours for English. There is a castle restaurant that is open 10AM-6PM. Currently the cost is 8.5 euros per adult and 4.5 euros per child.
Cycling
A great way to explore the region is by renting a bike and pedaling down the river. There are flat bike paths along the river which make it easy to bike from town to town fairly easily. From Cochem to Beilstein is about 10 km each way.
River Cruise
You don’t have to be on a multi-day river cruise to get out on a boat and explore this area from the water. There are several options for cruising with ferry between cities or to take an hour panoramic river cruise from Cochem. It is a great way to experience the area.
My trip
I visited the Mosel Valley in 2015. It was part of a trip that included Belgium and Germany. I went with a friend who had a friend living in Germany. They knew of this region and had a car so it was a perfect little getaway.
Plan your trip
The Mosel Valley is quaint and beautiful area that is serene and amazing to visit. It is a bit more off the beaten path than the more internationally visited Rhine Valley. It is stunningly gorgeous and the wines are incredible! Trust me you will love this area!
