Castles along the Rhine
 

I posted a similar question before. My thought I was going to take a day river cruise along the Rhine. Some people suggested a better way would be to drive or take the train. If I drive I might start from Cologne. What would be my best route to travel to see the most or best castles.
Thanks for your advice,
Mike

Hi M,

See http://www.spotlightgermany.com/articles/rhine.htm

We traveled from Rudesheim to Cologne and got "castled out". :)

((I))

Ira, Did you drive or how did you do it?

This is the website for the Burgenticket which you might be interested in. My son and I are trying to see all ten of these this summer. We went to Marksburg and Lahneck last week and loved them.

http://www.burgen-am-rhein.de/sites/index_1024.htm

sardog10,
Can I get that site in english?

mike: I don't think it's available in English but I just used www.babelfish.altavista.com to translate the parts I needed help with. It basically says that the ticket is 19 euros for adults and 9.50 for kids. It's good for two years and is transferable. It can be bought at any of the listed castles
and is good for one visit to each of the castles. Just be aware that not all castles on the Rhine are on the ticket, so if there's a special one you want to see you may have to pay extra for it.

Another good website is: http://www.tal-der-loreley.de/rheino...e.karte.en.php

sardog10,
Thanks,
One more question. Did you leave from Cologne? Also does the bus make stops so you can visit some of the castles?
Mike
I guess that was two questions.

there are relatively few castles between Cologne and Koblenz - the castles begin in number where the Rhine Gorge begins - castles of course not built on flat land that mainly borders the river from Koln to Koblenz but on clifftops such as in the Rhine Gorge.
Marksburg Castle is the only Rhine Gorge castle intact - others are largely ruins - supposedly Napoleon knocked most of them down in a few fell swoops. I like the K-D boat that floats thru the Rhine Gorge as only from this vantage point can you see both sides of the river at once. Otherwise by road or rail the roads or rails hug the Rhine (on both sides) and in this deep gorge can only see well for a distance the opposite bank. www.k-d.com

That last post I think was meant for Ira. I wanted to know about the bus tour.
Thanks

Pal Q,
The KD cruise sounds good but I would like to stop and visit some castles not just see them.

As K-D boats run about hourly thru the Rhine Gorge from April thru October you can easily get off and reboard a later boat. And each dock also has a train station with frequent trains to Mainz and Koblenz. Marksburg is a good castle to get off the boat.

Has anyone taken the bus tour of the Rhine that Ira posted?
How was it?
Thanks

TTT

Sardog 10,
How does the Burgenticket work, do you need a car or what. Can I leave from Cologne?
Thanks

The Burgenticket is just a ticket with the ten member castles printed on the back. For the price of 19.50 euros, you get free admission over the course of two years to each of the listed castles. Yes, you would need your own transportation, although I imagine some of them could be reached by train. There are many castles along the Rhine that aren't on the ticket, so you don't have to buy that one. We did just because we live an hour from the Rhine and were looking for something to do this summer.

How long are you planning for the Rhine? Don't forget that the most interesting and scenic part is from Koblenz and south to Rudesheim. Train, boat or car would all work.

Or by bike on paths along the river - rentals at train stations i believe. Best riding part: Boppard to Bingen - use small pedestrian ferries to cross the river.

I will be in Cologne for two days, and plan on driving along the Rhine on a Sunday. What is the best route to travel?
Thanks

There are very frequent local trains along both sides of the Rhine, so you can take the train, get out at near a castle you would like, walk uphill to it, return to the station and take the next train, or get over to the other shore by ferry and take a train there. It is certainly cheaper.

Thanks for all the help.
I think I will drive. What castles if I have one day should I must not miss?

my favorite castle is Burg Rheinfels in St. Goar