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  • UNESCO

Floating down a World Heritage Site

January 12, 2019 | Michael Turtle | 13 Comments

WORLD HERITAGE SITE

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany

As I sit on the boat, the landscapes floating by, I think how nice it is to see a World Heritage Site this way.

My journey through Germany to see all of the country’s UNESCO sites has been enjoyable but it’s involved a lot of walking, a lot of interiors of buildings, and a lot of active discovery.

Now, finally, I have a chance just to sit back and watch one reveal itself before my eyes.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany, World Heritage Site

This is the Rhine River – one of Europe’s grand waterways that winds its path through six different countries. Just one little section of 65 kilometres in Germany, where I currently am, has been included on the World Heritage List.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany, World Heritage Site

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany, World Heritage Site

This is called the Upper Middle Rhine Valley and the significance goes beyond the picturesque natural landscapes.

The small towns along the banks may look like quaint fairytale settlements, but they are representative of the enormous amount of trade that has flowed up and down this river for thousands of years.

This stretch of the Rhine connects the broad floodplain of the Oberrheingraben with the lowland basin of the Lower Rhine and there are at least sixty towns just on this 65 kilometre stretch that have emerged over the years to support the transportation industry.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany, World Heritage Site

Castles perched on the slightly higher ground look down at me as I float past as they have watched for centuries for potential attackers.

Around them on the hills are the terraced vineyards that the people in this region maintained as one of their main sources of income – there were plenty of boats to carry their wares and plenty of sailors to drink what couldn’t be transported.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany, World Heritage Site

It’s no surprise that artists and poets have been inspired over the centuries by the natural beauty and the charming human settlements nestled within it. With every turn around the river, another vista presents itself.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany, World Heritage Site

The spires of churches, the rows of waterfront houses, and the fortresses above all blend together so perfectly to create images that cry out to be captured on canvas or in words.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany, World Heritage Site

Visiting the Upper Middle Rhine Valley

There are many different way to see this section of the Rhine River. It’s possible cycle along paths near the bank, drive through the little towns, or catch buses and trains between the different hubs.

However, travelling down the river is one of the most authentic and scenic ways to approach a visit.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany, World Heritage Site

I cruised for the day with a KD ship, which gave me the flexibility to get on and off and different towns and explore them briefly on foot before the next ship came along.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany, World Heritage Site

I started in Bacharach and finished at Koblenz, stopping at Sankt Goar for an hour along the way. There is also the option to stay on the boat the whole way to Cologne.

Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Germany, World Heritage Site

Although it is possible to travel to this area and just see it for the day, there is something a bit magical about spending a night in one of the towns and seeing the colours change with the sunset and sunrise.

There are lovely little restaurants and bars with views across the valley that add more to the experience than simply passing through for the day by boat. It is worth the time to see this gorgeous mix of nature and history.

Departure times for KD ships

The KD ships have 5 or 6 departures each day in both directions of the river. Check the website for the exact times.

Price
The ticket I used between Bacharach and Koblenz with one stop along the way costs €36.40 for an adult.

Getting there
To get to the Bacharach or Koblenz, you can catch the train directly to the centre of town.

Accommodation
I stayed at the DJH Youth Hostel in Bacharach which is set in a beautiful old castle with stunning views across the valley and the river.

Top tip
Although it is popular just to cruise this section of the river, try to stop in a couple of the smaller towns to have a look around. Bacharach is a great option, for example.

Official website
You can find out more information here about the KD cruise ships.

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more info click here. You can see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites I’ve visited here.

Time Travel Turtle was supported by DB Bahn, the German National Tourist Board and Youth Hostels in Germany but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Arianwen |

    February 27, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    Reply

    How weird – I spent a night in Sankt Goar in December! Before I went, I mentioned it to loads of Germans and no one had even heard of it! I’d recommend it though. That stretch of river is astoundingly beautiful.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 16, 2015 at 5:41 pm

      Reply

      Oh, it’s so beautiful, isn’t it? That’s great you got to see a bit of it. I wonder whether Germans travel there much themselves? I get the feeling there are a lot of foreign tourists who see it because their river cruises take them down that way.

  2. Emma |

    March 8, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    Reply

    I usually visit Italy for summer holidays, but I visit Germany as well if I want to see some great and old castles.
    In Germany I like the towns located on the west side and for technology reunions I usually travel to Berlin to meet my colleagues.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 19, 2015 at 2:27 pm

      Reply

      Germany is great for castles and it has some really spectacular ones. These castles along the Rhine aren’t quite as large and grand as the ones in the south of the country, but you can’t go past the setting!!

  3. Roger Spires |

    March 10, 2015 at 6:47 pm

    Reply

    I have never visited Germany. Now I NEED to do so.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 19, 2015 at 2:29 pm

      Reply

      There are lots of reasons to visit Germany – but this one is as good as any!! 🙂

  4. Julie King |

    March 11, 2015 at 4:31 am

    Reply

    Many years ago I backpacked along the Moselle River then up the Rhine from Heidelberg. It was an amazing experience. Thanks for surfacing some wonderful memories.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 19, 2015 at 2:30 pm

      Reply

      My pleasure – I’m pleased to be able to bring back some of your favourite travel memories. I bet it hasn’t changed too much… which is one of the lovely things about the region!

  5. Uptourist |

    March 12, 2015 at 4:30 am

    Reply

    That shot beside the waters is simply breathtaking. It is like you’re docking in an unknown town in a video game.

    • Michael Turtle |

      March 19, 2015 at 2:35 pm

      Reply

      A lot of the towns were unknown to me – I still don’t know their names. But that doesn’t take away from their beauty, of course!

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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