Guide to Visiting the Mosel River Valley

If you've spent time on the Rhein you may feel as if you've had enough of Germany's river valleys. Surely, how could the Mosel be any different? I find the Rhein to be slightly pleasant but also extremely commercial. The charm of what could be is more alluring than what really is.

The Mosel River, on the other hand, is a dream. The river is peaceful and meandering. It winds it's way through the land, carving a path for itself between lush hills and grapevines. Picturesque little villages dot the river banks as if they'd been there all along. Man, buildings, and scenery seem to work together and the region is relatively untouched by the hectic pace that plagues it's older cousin, the Rhein river valley. Yes, the Mosel is a lot more peaceful and in my opinion is worth visiting as much as possible.

If you find yourself passing through Germany, this destination might not be on your radar. However, if you have the time I would make it a point to visit at least one of the small villages and at least have a bite to eat. You just may not want to leave!

Visit the Smaller Villages

Sure, there are things to do in Cochem but there are also plenty of tourists that sort of dilute the authenticity of the town. If you want to get into the heart of the real Mosel - the place where locals spend their Sundays, you need to venture into the smaller villages that are literally everywhere. In fact, if you do navigate to Cochem, all you need to do is drive a few kilometers away from it and you'll find such a village. One of the best villages is called Beilstein which barely makes it into the tour books (but Rick Steves has discovered it and sings its praises). But you don't need to go out of your way to visit Beilstein to visit a smaller village with plenty of charm.

Mosel Valley Wine Tasting

The Mosel is one of the most bustling wine regions in all of Germany and the Riesling that is produced here is world class. In fact, one could argue that the Riesling is made for this soil and this soil alone. Riesling produced in the Mosel falls under three classes. Trocken which is a dry wine, Halb Trocken which is semi dry, and Lieblich which is sweet. Try all three of these and select your favorite. A good Riesling will have dominant fruity notes paired with various grades of acidity depending on the style.

Hiking and Biking in the Mosel

The Mosel is filled with hiking and biking opportunities. Follow the path of the river on foot or on your bicycle or trek up into the hills for a bigger climb. As a treat, a lot of these bigger climbs lead not only to gorgeous vantage points that give you a glimpse of the Mosel from above, but there are also wineries and wine tasting opportunities up into the hills. One of the best is the Klettersteig in Klemm. You hike up a fairly steep hill for a few kilometers and can then enjoy a snack and a glass of wine at the top. You can take your car here, too - but what fun is that?

Visit Nearby Burg Eltz

If you want to visit one of the best and most intriguing castles in Germany, Burg Eltz has enough charm to rival even Mad King Ludwig's Bavarian projects. In fact, I find Burg Eltz to be slightly more intriguing - maybe because the history is so rich. You can reach the castle by car and is about thirty minutes from Cochem. Germany is a well labeled country so you'll start seeing signs for Burg Eltz when you are in the area of Cochem. Follow them and you'll get there without fail.

With the Mosel, you really don't need an itinerary. You can get a feel for the place just be driving around until you see an intriguing village to stop for a bite to eat, a glass of wine, and a short stroll. But if you do have more time, you can engage in some of the more leisurely pursuits like taking a boat ride, hiking, or letting the winemakers taste test their vintages. The nice thing about it is that there are no rules - just go and enjoy the environment for what it is.