Holidays in the Moselle region: Roman heritage, Riesling and romantic river valleys
When you think of the Moselle, steep vineyards, picturesque river bends and a chilled glass of Riesling immediately spring to mind. The Moselle region is one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in Germany. The river region between Germany’s oldest city (Trier) and the Deutsches Eck (Koblenz) simply invites you to enjoy a wonderful time.
As far back as 2,000 years ago, the Celts and later the Romans recognised the mild, almost Mediterranean climate. They introduced viticulture to this deeply incised, winding river valley. It is not without reason that the landscape along the Moselle is often described as a ‘wine-growing region of extremes’. The river winds its way through the Rhenish Slate Mountains. On the steep slopes, world-class wines are cultivated on ancient slate rock – mostly through painstaking manual labour, as machinery often cannot be used here. Walkers can often even explore signposted routes through the vineyards and climb steep steps to enjoy the view.
But the Moselle region offers more than just nature. With its monumental UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Porta Nigra and the Imperial Baths, Trier still bears witness today to its glorious past as an imperial capital. Along the banks of the Moselle, you’ll find countless medieval castles, monasteries and small half-timbered towns.
The region’s culinary scene is not to be missed. Visitors can sample regional specialities in the rustic wine taverns and traditional estate inns. It is definitely worth trying ‘Gräwes’ (also known as ‘Teerdisch’ – a hearty mixture of mashed potato, sauerkraut and bacon, which winegrowers used to take with them to the vineyard for sustenance) or the famous ‘Tresterfleisch’. This is traditionally cooked in a delicate wine-pomace broth and was once a by-product of schnapps distillation.
The Red Moselle vineyard peach, a fuzzy peach with deep red flesh, is an absolute delicacy of the region. Whether as jam, in a dessert, as a tangy liqueur in sparkling wine, or on its own – it’s an essential part of any holiday on the Moselle. The walnut tree is also one of the region’s culinary highlights. It was once planted by the Romans and can now be found on menus in the form of walnut cake or walnut bratwurst.
And of course, one mustn’t forget the wine! A freshly poured glass of Mosel Riesling straight from the winemaker or a local pomace brandy (the ‘Grappa of the Mosel’) rounds off the experience perfectly.
Beautiful destinations in the Moselle region
Spring on the Moselle has a very specific color: Bright pink! When nature slowly awakens from its winter sleep and the vines are still bare, the Moselle valley transforms into a veritable sea of blossoms. One of the most beautiful routes to experience this natural spectacle up close is the hiking trail from Neef to…
The Moselle is known for its loops, but hardly any place captures the magic of the river landscape quite like the tranquil village of Neef. As soon as you step off the train, the adventure of "Hiking in Neef" begins: the vineyard rises directly behind the tracks, enticing us with a short hike to one…
In the midst of steep vineyards, deeply cut river loops, and picturesque half-timbered backdrops rises the Reichsburg Cochem (Cochem Imperial Castle). It sits majestically on a prominent rock cone about 100 meters above the town.
Koblenz, the city where the Rhine and Moselle meet, is the oldest city in Germany. Here in the southwest of Germany, the city with Ehrenbreitstein Fortress forms the gateway to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley.
Koblenz is where the Moselle flows into the Rhine. Here is one of the most visited places in the city, the German Corner in Koblenz with the monumental equestrian statue of the German Emperor Wilhelm I.
Our adventure Brodenbach leads us to the Ehrenburg. We drive out of town along a road with switchbacks higher and higher into the Hunsrück and finally arrive at a large parking lot. From here we walk another 400 meters downhill until we reach the Ehrenburg.
On a culinary journey
Where the Moselle winds in picturesque loops around Europe's steepest vineyard, the Bremmer Calmont, lies the picturesque little village of Bremm. Right here, with a magnificent view of the river, you will find the family-run Weinhaus Berg.
The Moselle is known for its loops, but hardly any place captures the magic of the river landscape quite like the tranquil village of Neef. As soon as you step off the train, the adventure of "Hiking in Neef" begins: the vineyard rises directly behind the tracks, enticing us with a short hike to one…
The steep slopes of the Rhine and Moselle are known for the excellent wines produced there by many winegrowers. Due to its location on both rivers, Koblenz can score with regional wines from both growing regions.
Visit towns along the Moselle
Koblenz
Brodenbach
Cochem
Travel information for the Moselle region
Getting here
By plane
The nearest airports are Frankfurt-Hahn (in the heart of the Hunsrück, very close to the Middle Moselle), Luxembourg, Cologne/Bonn or Frankfurt am Main.
By train
The railway line between Koblenz and Trier runs largely along the riverbank. Many holiday resorts have their own station.
By bus
The local bus network connects the wine-growing villages with one another.
Long-distance buses serve the larger cities such as Trier and Koblenz.
By car
The region is well connected via the A48, A61 and A1 motorways.
By bike
The Moselle Cycle Route follows the river for over 240 kilometres and is entirely flat and excellently maintained.
Exploring the Moselle region
By car
The main roads along the riverbank are well-maintained. However, if you’re heading up into the Eifel or Hunsrück, be prepared for winding roads that are in places very narrow and steep.
On foot
The Moselle region is a premier hiking destination. There are hiking trails here to suit all levels of difficulty.
The Moselsteig long-distance hiking trail (365 kilometres) runs along both banks of the river from Perl to Koblenz.
By bus/train (visitor tickets)
Many accommodation providers issue VRM or VRT visitor tickets upon check-in. These allow you to use local public transport within the relevant transport network free of charge – ideal for getting back safely after a wine tasting.
On the water
Almost every larger town has landing stages for excursion boats that chug leisurely from village to village.
Parking
If you’re travelling by car, you’ll find parking spaces along the banks of the Moselle in almost every wine-growing village. These are usually subject to a charge during the day (day tickets are often available from parking meters).
For motorhomes, there are numerous beautifully situated parking spaces right by the water all along the Moselle.
Best time to visit
The season starts at Easter and runs through to golden October. Many establishments only open their doors then.