Rhine River area-unique discoveries!
 

We will be staying in Oberwesel in May 2001 and are asking for any unique discoveries in the Bavarian region. <BR> <BR>

Forget the Rhine and travel the Mosel Valley instead. Much more charm and much less overrun with tourists.

Linda, whatever you do, don't forget the Middle Rhine region. From Koblenz to Mainz there must be twenty five castles in an 80 km drive along both sides of the river which can be traversed by ferry in several spots. Oberwesel resides in Hessen if I remember correctly, not Bavaria which is to the southeast. <BR> <BR>This is no knock on the Mosel River either, which is lovely in it's own right. <BR> <BR>Have a great time.

Thanks for the info!!!

How unique are you looking to go?? Do you know about the falconry exhibitions at Burg Maus just north of St. Goarshausen? There's a doll museum in St. Goar just north of Oberwesel, a chairlift ride in Boppard a bit further north that gives you a commanding view of the valley, a set of Roman ruins in the same town, and a castle tour in Braubach, roughly across the river from Boppard, that you won't forget for a while; and of course, the Lorelei cliffs loom large between Oberwesel and St. Goar. But I suppose these kinds of attractions are fairly pedestrian in the enchanting Rhine Valley and that you are already aware of them. The Mosel is terrific too, in a different way, but this fact doesn't detract from the magic of the Rhine.

Hi Linda! While there is always a lot of diverse opinions on the board, I think you will find the Rhine charming and not all that touristy. There are a lot of tourists there for the wine festivals, and the Rhine in Flames, but in particular Oberwesel is not touristy, especially by Americans. By that location, I wonder if you're staying at the Auf Schonberg? It's fabulous. Just walking around the thousand year old walls with the tremendous views is enchanting. I second the falconry show at Burg Maus. To get there, you drive north from Oberwesel to St. Goar and take the car ferry across the Rhine to St. Goarhausen. Just go north to the next town( Welmich) and turn right on the only cross street in the tiny town, parking on the street near a tennis court (you'll see a sign advertising the show). Then it's a 20 to 30 minute walk up a hill to the castle. Viewing the birds fly above the Rhine is gorgeous. There's also a little cafe up there, but unfortunately the castle is not open to the public. When we were there, didn't see a single American tourist - in fact, just schoolkids. <BR>Hopefully you meant sites in the Rhine area, and not Bavaria ...Marksburg castle that was suggested to you is excellent. Also less traveled by Americans is Burg Drachenfels at Konigswinter, where you can take a little train up the hill to the ruins. It's supposedly where Ziegfried slew the dragon. Although not an unknown, the Koln cathedral further north is outstanding. Like Oberwesel, it has quite a few Roman remains. <BR>Another short trip just for fun might be to the butterfly farm at Bendorf by Koblenz.

Some of the tributaries of the Rhine other than the Mosel are worth exploring for a little way, too. The Ahr and the Nahe enter from the south-west and both have fine wines as well, whereas the Lahn enters the Rhine from the north-east and is rarely visited by tourists, although it is well worth a day or two, especially if you can go all the way up to the university town of Marburg.