Hello, we are traveling to the Mosel Valley for 10 days in mid-Sept...7 days in Bernkastel-Kues, 3 days in St. Goar. I would welcome some tips from people who have visited the Mosel region...we are planning on the Trier-Koblenz route, Luxembourg City/Vianden, and possibly Metz, France....we have a car...any restaurants or favorite places?
Thank you,
Mikek

In Nov 2003, we took our niece to that region for her 16th birthday and I used the following website quite a bit when planning a castle route (her expresss wishes! ).
http://www.rhinecastles.com/

We also stayed for one night at the following castle:
http://hotel-schoenburg.com/ It was amazing! Sept must be definitely even more beautiful; our Nov date was budget-driven. Have a great time~!

Burg Eltz, one of Germany's finest castles is perched high over the Mosel not far from Cochem, a fairy-tale wine town with its own awesome castle.

For years Burg Eltz was pictured on the German 500 mark banknote, that's how famous it was (think 500 but some huge denomination)

IN Bernkastel to the North of the river is a wine museum. For just a few euros they let you lose with a wine glass and 120 wines. Some v ery good wines but spitting is a good idea.

The trains are pretty good as are the boats

Loved the town of Bacharach on the Rhine. Also, the chairlift in Boppard was a favorite.

Burg Eltz is a must see and I would also recommend a stay at the Auf Schoenburg Castle Hotel. Their restaurant is also wonderful but on the pricey side.

We will also be staying in Bernkastel for 3 nights in mid Sept. at the Hotel Binz. We have stayed previously in Beilstein on the Mosel and Bacharach on the Rhine. It's a beautiful area.

Thank you all for your thoughts&ideas...looking forward to the Mosel!
Mikek

Another vote for Burg Eltz - one of the most amazing castles I've seen in Europe. Most of the furnishings are original and have been passed down through the family. The tour was only in German when I was there in October but you can get a handout in English and follow along.

Bernkastel-Kues is a lovely town - good choice! Trier is fascinating and is considered the oldest city in Germany - be sure to seek out the various Roman ruins (Porta Nigra, amphitheater, baths) and the fortress-like Dom; have a meal on the Marktplatz. Restaurants we liked include Zum Domstein (either on the Marktplatz or in back looking at the Dom) and Weinstube Palais Kesselstatt (a casual place across from the Dom where you order from a wall menu at the counter and they bring your meal to you).

I've stayed in Beilstein - this is a lovely little village to wander through and you can climb up to the castle above the town for a great view of the Mosel river. There's also a beautiful Baroque monastery church at the top of a LONG flight of steps. A lunch in Beilstein at one of the shaded terraces overlooking the river is a real treat. We loved our hotel/restaurant, Hotel Haus Lipmann.

There are some nice little Moselle cruises out of Remich, Luxembourg.
(www.navitours.lu)

Haus Lippman hotel/resto in Beilstein has gotten loads of great rave reviews from FodorFriends for several years.

Also a cute village at, arguably, the most scenic bend of the sinuous Mosel.