2 Best Sights in Rudesheim, The Rhineland

High above Rüdesheim and visible for miles around is Germania, a colossal female statue crowning the Niederwald Monument. This tribute to German nationalism was built between 1877 and 1883 to commemorate the rebirth of the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71). Germania faces across the Rhine toward its eternal enemy, France. At her base are the words to a stirring patriotic song: \"Dear Fatherland rest peacefully! Fast and true stands the watch, the watch on the Rhine!\" There are splendid panoramic views from the monument and from other vantage points on the edge of the forested plateau.

You can reach the monument on foot (allow an hour), by car (via Grabenstrasse, Zum Niederwald-Denkmal, and the L-3034), or over the vineyards in the Seilbahn (cable car;  Oberstraße 37;  www.seilbahn-ruedesheim.de; open mid-March through October). There's another chairlift to and from Assmannshausen, a red-wine enclave, on the other side of the hill; a \"Ringticket\" covers the cable car up from Rüdesheim to Niederwald, the cable car down from Niederwald to Assmannshausen, and the boat trip back to Rüdesheim; allow three to four hours for it all.

Less than 500 feet long but a major local attraction, Drosselgasse is a narrow, pub-lined lane between Rheinstrasse and Oberstrasse that buzzes with music and merrymaking from 10 am until well past midnight every day, all year round. The first wine tavern here, the Drosselhof, opened in 1727. Stop at the street's Art Cafe for a legendary Rüdesheimerkaffee—made by flambéeing Asbach Uralt brandy and sugar in a specially made cup until the sugar dissolves, pouring strong coffee over it, and garnishing with mountains of whipped cream and chocolate flakes—and, if you still have space, pair it with a Baumstriezel (chimney cake).