Overview: Castles and rolling river scenery are a photographer’s dream – and what fairy tales are made of!  RTT takes you there on the Mosel River Tour.  Explore one of Germany’s oldest castles and catch a glimpse of life from the high tower and inside the bedrooms of this family-owned fortress.  Learn about the Mosel wine culture and appreciate the wine varieties with a tasting in internationally famous Cochem – known as much for its castle perched high on a hill overlooking the town as for its surrounding vineyards and frequent festivals.  Cochem Castle is the most photographed site on the entire Mosel River!

Itinerary:  Travel with RTT to taste internationally famous wines at the vineyard. From a position high above the Mosel River, this wine area receives the sun and moisture just right for making wines that are exported all around the world!  See the wine cellars and the vineyards and appreciate the labours that give rise to both grape juice and the “juice of the gods”!  Enjoy a meal in the vineyard ambiance and eat heartily of the roasted turkey, salads and locally made fresh breads.  Children and youths (and adults, on request) will enjoy non-alcoholic beverages. Enjoy your lunch and then tour the winery and vineyards before tasting some of the local production for which these hills are famous!  Everyone is at liberty to dedicate themself to a study (tasting) of all these wines and thereby enlarge their knowledge of the area where wine is cultivated.  When you have found your favorite wine during this impressive wine-tasting experience and you wish to cement this newly found friendship, you may purchase the chosen wine at the wine shop on the premises. Purchases are, of course, possible, so bring your Euros and VAT forms. 

After the winery, continue touring with a drive through the scenic Mosel River Valley to Bernkastel-Kues. There the ruins of the Landshut Castle tower above the river and the town.  Built in 1277, it was destroyed by fire in 1692.  It is a popular viewpoint and has a small restaurant.  In the town center, medieval half-timbered houses and later constructions dazzle visitors with colors and history.  A walking orientation tour of the city shows the town’s marketplace and main churches. The old city walls no longer provide defences, but one tower is part of the church of St. Michael and the Graach Gate still stands as the only remaining medieval town gate.  Three fountains provide scenes famous to local history.  St, Michael’s fountain is on the Market Square, and nearby is the Bear Fountain on the site of the former “Bear Well”.  The Doctor Fountain depicts scenes of an ancient tale about a local wine the famous “Bernkasteler Doctor”.  Across the bridge into Kues, the birthplace of the famous Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa provides a historical anchor, and a library of fine ancient books.  The neighboring Hospice cloister and courtyard are worth a look, as is the gothic chapel where the heart of the great philosopher and scientist is entombed.  Next door, you can sample local wines at the Vinothek or tour the Moselle Wine Museum.

After some free time, during which travellers are free to wander its quaint streets or trek to the Landshut ruins (approx. 20 minute’s walk) for a personal visit, continue homewards in comfort on your coach, filled with good food and some “juice of the gods”.  The city of Bernkastel-Kues also provides a large selection of wine-inspired presents which you can purchase before departing at about 4:30 p.m., to return to the points of origin about 6:30 p.m..