The Castles of Rhineland-Palatinate

If you’re anything like Realtravelers, Shatrick, a couple of newlywed jetsetters from Calgary, there’s something about roaming the gilded hallways of a medieval castle that is simply breath-taking. This January, the couple took a trip to Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, viewing 20 castles in just two days while driving down the beautiful, winding Rhine—the legendary 850 mile river that cuts through the German mountains and plains from the North Sea to as far south as Cologne. The adventurous couple, who have vowed to take a trip a month all throughout 2008, had this to say about their tour of Rhineland’s numerous castles:

“It was a lot of fun, driving into all these villages and towns trying to get up to the castle. And generally the direction of the castle was up. They are mostly built on hills above the cities. All with the exception of one, Burg Eltz, which was our favourite. It is actually in a valley and you drive down to find it. On your way down you get some amazing vistas of the castle. It was like stepping into a Disney movie…” (more…)

Burg Eltz is a medieval castle that has stood for nearly 900 years overlooking the Moselle River. To this day, the castle is still owned by the descendants of its original inhabitants from the 12th century. The Kempenich family occupies a third of the castle’s homes, but the Rubenach and Rodendorf homes are open to the public.

There are over 25,000 castles throughout Germany, and over 100 dotting the lush hillsides of Rhineland-Palatinate. A federal-state divided into seven culturally-diverse regions, the Rhineland is a great destination for any traveler interested in taking in the beautiful German countryside. Visitors may even want to follow in Shatrick’s footsteps and see the countryside along the Rhine; car rental is a simple task, and the roadways offer a stunning view of Rhineland’s fairy-tale vistas. Following the river will take travelers through cities large and small, from the sleepy, idyllic wineries of Moselle to the bustling city streets of Duesseldorf, a peaceful, rich experience well worth the drive.

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