Maira

This may be a toughie, but can anybody suggest a castle for an overnight stay alongside the Rhine on the stretch Cologne-Koblenz area? This will make a dream come true for my dear niece whom we are taking to Europe for her birthday in November. Any suggestions are welcome, including if you know of any Christhmas markets in the area . Thanks in advance for any ideas.

sardog10

I can't help you with a castle to stay at, but this website will give you the dates of many of the Christmas markets in Germany. It's a commercial site (sorry) but they have lots of good info about the markets. We live in Germany, and going to the markets is one of our favorite things to do here. Try very hard not to go on a weekend, as they are usually wall to wall people. The evenings can be magical. Also, Totensonntag on November 24th, is Remembrance Day and most of the markets will be closed. Have a great time!

http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/index1.htm

Maira

sardog10-- WOW! the website you suggested is incredible! Fortunately our itinerary is set up so that we will be in that area during weekdays, rather than the weekend. Thank you! So far the Castle Hotel Auf Schoenburg in Oberwesseland the Castle hotel Rheingau near Rudesheim are the front runners; suggestions are still welcome.

Meg42

We just got back from a one night stay at the Shoenburg castle in Oberwessel. It was wondeful. We have two teens and stayed in quite a large room with a view of the Rhine river. We took a short river cruise and spent some time in St. Goar.

Maira

Meg42, your post certainly gives Shoenburg Castle in Oberwessel some serious edge! Do you mind if I ask you about the room you stayed in? Was it comfortable for four people? We are also four travelers. Really looking forward to your advice!!

bettyk

We also stayed at the Schoenburg Castle Hotel last year and loved it! There were only 2 of us, but our room was quite large. The price is very reasonable for a castle hotel.

CharlieB

Maira - Auf Schonburg is indeed an idyllic hotel. You will love it and it will be the highlight of your trip for your niece. Remember it is a castle and was not built as a hotel. It only has about 20 rooms and I don't think any of them will accommodate 4 people. Check out their website at "rhinecastles.com" and make your reservations as soon as possible as it is very popular. Have a wonderful trip!

elberko

They have their own Web site, too:

http://www.hotel-schoenburg.com/

Russ

You are looking for...

"a castle for an overnight stay alongside the Rhine on the stretch Cologne-Koblenz"

To find your way to any of the castles mentioned above, be aware that they do NOT lie between these cities - they're all south of Koblenz on the way to Mainz.

Auf Schoenburg gets rave reviews from my in-laws.

Maira

Thank you all for the great input and suggested websites. I am checking them all. Russ, you are right about the route; obviously a dynamic itinerary at this point. Any suggestions in the Middle-Central Rhine is welcome. I have sent an inquiry to Castle Auf Schoenburg; we'll see.

CharlieB

Maira - hope you had luck finding rooms at Auf Schonburg. I know of only one "castle" hotel along the stretch of Rhine you are interested in and that is just outside of Bonn and more of a manor house than a castle. Other options are Gutenfels and Liebenstein again south of Koblenz where the Rhine gorge begins. Keep in mind that most castle hotels close for the winter as it is very hard and costly to heat these buildings.

Maira

Charlie-- the Auf Schonburg Hotel did reply and have availability as does the Gutenfels, we are in an interesting dilemma.

Intrepid

I really hope you can make this dream come true because I am sure the memories generated would last a lifetime. But please don't go thinking that those "Christmas Markets" are some sort of "spectacular" since IMO many of them, regardless of location, seem to be selling a lot of the same hand-made straw ornaments, etc. It is interesting isn't it that since some of those "castles" are so hard to heat that they close in the Winter..whereas I suppose they are just as hard to cool AND de-humidify in the Summer yet they remain open.

CharlieB

Maira - what a wonderful dilemma! If this is your 1st stay in a castle hotel, I would opt for Auf Schonburg. It is a little more elegant, with better furnishings and an excellent in house retaurant. Gutenfels is much more rustic and has no restaurant. Part of Gutenfels is still in ruins, but we enjoyed scrambling over ruins to isolated parapets overlooking the Rhine.
Don't let Intrepid dampen your enthusiasm for the Christmas Markets - though maybe not spectacular they are indeed magical. Though we have never purchased a straw ornament we have definitely enjoyed the ambiance, the wurst, and the Gluhwein! I might also add that I have stayed at many hotels and inns in Europe without AC, but I have never seen one that stayed open in the winter without heating. Though this has been a most unusual summer in Europe (Temp. in Paris expected to be 104 tomorrow) the average high in August is only 75 and the night time low is 57. Definitely not a temperature range that demands AC. Last year in early June on the Rhine we had to turn on the heat as the temperature dipped into the 40s. Have a wonderful trip and please report back on your experience.

Maira

WOW! what great replies and top-notch advice. All of it. I will certainly take all advice into account and intend to report back. I have to admit that I am looking forward to visiting a Christmas Market with great anticipation, but will keep an open mind, so not to be tremendously dissapointed (just in case...). I have made reservations at the Castle Hotel Auf Schoenburg in Oberwesseland. This is a surprise for my niece; she has no idea and the reservation happens to be for her birthday (Sweet Sixteen!). We are all keeeping our fingers crossed! Thank you all!!