Divine Rhine & Plenty of Wine

Day 1: We arrive at the charming Hotel Lindenwirt and enjoy a welcome glass of wine before freshening up in time for dinner.

Day 2: This morning it’s time to sit back and relax on a scenic cruise through the majestic Middle Rhine Valley. Departing from Rüdesheim, our round trip cruise passes Niederwald Monument, Klopp Castle, Mouse Tower, Ehrenfels ruins and Rheinstein Castle. After our leisurely cruise there’s free time for lunch before our travelling to the Kloster Eberbach, a former Cistercian Monastery, for a 90 minute guided tour and tasting of Eberbach Riesling wine from the onsite vineyard. Taste buds tingling, we make our way to the RheinWeinWelt wine cellar to sample more of the good stuff. Our visit includes a tasting of five wines, you will be spoilt for choice. With around 160 different wines from the Rhine region on offer you can select your personal preference from numerous self-serve dispensers.

Day 3: We spend today at leisure in Rüdesheim, a delightful town with traditional half-timbered houses and backed by terraced vineyards. At the heart of the old town, right on our hotel’s doorstep, is the famous Drosselgasse a 15^th century cobbled street dotted with quaint restaurants, cafes, wine bars and taverns serving regional dishes. Sample a glass of wine or two along the way whilst enjoying an abundance of live music.  Perhaps catch the cable car to the Niederwald Monument and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views across the Rhine and the sweeping vineyards. Another popular attraction in the town is Siegfried’s Museum of Mechanical Music, showcasing more than 400 self-playing musical instruments spanning three centuries. For those wishing to explore a little further afield you may wish to take the train to the fantastic cities of Cologne, Koblenz or Mainz for the day.

Day 4: This morning we head to the famous medieval city of Heidelberg. Nestled between the Neckar River and the foothills of the Odenwald Forest, this outstanding city is considered one of the most beautiful in Germany. We begin our day here with a 90 minute walking tour to get our bearings, meander through the pretty streets and discover some of the city’s fascinating history. The rest of the day is at leisure. The city boasts the oldest – and one of the finest – universities in the whole of Germany and is home to Alte Brücke (Old Bridge) and the majestic Heidelberg Palace which dominates the skyline overlooking the city. In the centre of the Old Town is the Marktplatz which boasts one of Heidelberg’s elaborate fountains, grand period houses and quaint shops, not to mention delightful cafes and bars to enjoy a coffee or glass of wine in the springtime sun.

Day 5: After breakfast, we begin our journey home.