Cologne Chocolate Museum - by N.Angermannn

As one of the ten most visited museums in Cologne, it seems that visitors to Cologne find the Cologne Chocolate Museum irrisistable.  At this Cologne museum, chocoholics can learn all about the world of chocolate and also get to taste fresh chocolate from their famous chocolate fountain.

Founded in 1993, the Cologne Chocolate Museum (Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum) presents the history of cocoa and chocolate production on three levels of the Museum, starting from the time of the Olmecs, the Mayas and Aztecs and up to the present.

Chocolate Museum Attractions

Some of the more valuable exhibits include precious 18th and 19th century porcelain from the times when chocolate was a luxury andvessels for drinking chocolate from pre-Columbian central America.

Then there are vending machines, chocolate moulds and historical chocolate advertising – in the Chocolate Cinema you can watch chocolate commercials from 1926 up to the present.

There is a small conservatory where visitors can see live cacao plants being grown.

Much of one floor of the Museum is taken up by miniature versions of machines for the production of chocolate. Visitors can see the process of making the sample mini-chocolate bars which are given out at the entrance.

And the Chocolate Museum’s special attraction is the 3-metre high chocolate fountain which holds 200 kilos of warm, liquid chocolate.  Chocolate Museum employees dip wafers into the liquid chocolate for visitors to taste.

Cologne Chocolate Museum

Opening Times:

Tues to Fri  – 10:00 – 18:00
Sat, Sun, holidays – 11:00 – 19:00 (Closed on Mondays)

Where is the Chocolate Museum

The Chocolate Museum building sits on the tip of the Rheinauhafen peninsula.  Built of glass and metal it looks like a ship moored in the Rhine river.  It is  about 15 minutes walk south from Cologne Cathedral.

Address:

Am Schokoladenmuseum 1A
50678 Cologne, Germany

Map of Cologne:

Rudesheim Christmas Market

The pretty historic town of Rüdesheim has a special Christmas market. Called the Christmas Market of Nations or Rüdesheimer Weihnachtsmarkt der Nationen, there are 124 stalls at the market, representing the Christmas traditionsfrom 12 nations.

The market is held in the heart of the historic Old Town, on the Market Square. From the Marktstrasse via Oberstrasse into Rüdesheim’s famous Droselgasse and through to Rhine Street – the Rüdesheimer Weihnachtsmarkt is spread throughout the streets of the Old Town.

Christmas Market of Nations

For a whole month prior to Christmas, Rüdesheim puts on its Christmas charm with a full program of carols, entertainment and performances by well known radio and television celebrities.

At the 124 festively decorated Christmas market stalls you’ll find lots of handmade artwork and handicrafts and you can even watch candles, decorations, wood figures, wood carvings, glass engravings, “schwibbögen” arched candles, mangers, pewter casters and dolls being made before your very eyes. Then of course, you can try famous and traditional Christmas foods from the region, washed down with the famous Rüdesheim mulled wine.

Christmas is a special time for children and in the Market Square, Germany´s biggest nativity scene (life-size figures) stand on about 150 square metres of ground. Beside it is Rüdesheim’s well known Children’s Christmas Market made by children for the children.

Rüdesheim is a lovely travel destination at any time of the year but during the pre-Christmas season the atmosphere is magical.   Like most of Germany’s Christmas markets, a visit to Rüdesheim’s Christmas Market of Nations is well worth the trip.

Rüdesheim Hotels

Breuer’s Rüdesheimer Schloss is a family-run hotel in the Old Town. It’s located in an 18th century building and has a lovely beer garden. It also does a nice Asbach Uralt drink.

Other family-run hotels in the centre of Rüdesheim include Brühls Hotel Trapp and Hotel Rüdesheimer Hof. For the complete list of Rüdesheim am Rhein hotels, see Here.

Event: Rüdesheimer Weihnachtsmarkt der Nationen 2011
Dates: November 21 – December 23, 2011
Place: Market Square – Rüdesheim Old Town, Rüdesheim am Rhein
Website: www.w-d-n.de/

Map of Rüdesheim:

Hamburg Weihnachtsmarkt - Travelsignposts

Hamburg stakes its claim as the Christmas capital of the north.  This is because nowhere else in the north of Germany are there so many Christmas markets within such close proximity of each other. From the main train station to its Neo-Renaissance town hall alone there are no less than five different Hamburg Weihnachtsmarkt  to be enjoyed.

Hamburg Christmas Markets

During the festive season, visitors to Hamburg can discover history, tradition and the city’s Hanseatic heritage at one of the many wonderful Hamburg Christmas markets. From the delightful to the unusual, there is a range of Christmas markets to experience.

Visitors can choose from the traditional Weihnachtsmarkt to the Romantic Christmas Market in Niendorf, the maritime flavour of the Christmas market on Fleetinsel or the somewhat risqué Christmas Market in the Reeperbahn, just to mention a few. But the prettiest of Hamburg’s Christmas markets is the one that is set up outside Hamburg’s impressive town hall.

Rathausmarkt Christmas Market

Hosted by Roncalli’s Circus, its lovingly decorated stalls are laden with confectionery, toys, crafts and the punch is even served by clowns and circus artistes. And its old-fashioned carousels never fail to bring a gleam to everyone’s eyes, not just the children’s.

Christmas isn’t Christmas without Santa Claus and every day at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm Santa Claus will fly his reindeer sleigh up to the sky, high over the roofs of the Christmas Market stalls, telling the story of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.

Other Hamburg Christmas Attractions

Hamburg Weihnachtsmarkt - Travelsignposts

Hamburg has so much to offer in the festive season: you can enjoy a mug of glühwein on a boat trip on the Alster, for example, or visit a Christmas exhibition in one of the city’s museums. Every Saturday during Advent there is a Christmas parade through the festively decorated city centre.

Hamburg is a city that is famous for its musicals and Hamburg’s theatres are a magical space for young and old alike as well as  the ‘fairytale ship’ anchored along the Jungfernstieg promenade. A visit to Hamburg’s Christmas markets is indeed an unforgettable experience.

Below are some of the Hamburg Weihnachtsmarkt to choose from:

Historical Christmas Market (21 Nov – 23 Dec 2011)
Rathausmarkt Square

Maritime Christmas Market (21 Nov – 23 Dec 2011)
Fleetinsel

Traditional Christmas Market (21 Nov – 30 Dec 2011)
St. Peter’s Church
Gerhard-Hauptmann-Platz, Spitalerstrasse:

Hanseatic Christmas Market (21 Nov – 23 Dec 2011)
Gänsemarkt Square

Christmas Market on the Jungfernstieg (21 Nov – 31 Dec 2011)
Closed on 24-25 Dec 2011

Santa Pauli on the Reeperbahn (24 Nov-23 Dec 2011)
5pm-11pm, Fri-Sat until 1am

Hamburg Winter Dom Fair (4 Nov – 4 Dec 2011)
Heiligengeistfeld

Where to Stay in Hamburg

There are no less than 260 hotels in Hamburg for visitors to choose from. Just within Hamburg Mitte (Central Hamburg), there are over 130 hotels so careful planning is required for your Christmas Market stay.

Luxury hotels like the Park Hyatt Hamburg, Sofitel Hamburg and the Steigenberg Hotel Hamburg are in the Altstadt (Old Town) which is convenient for the Rathausmarkt Historical Christmas Market. In the Neustadt (New Town), hotels range from the 5-star Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten on the beautiful Lake Alster to the very popular 2-star Motel One Hamburg am Michel. For those who want to enjoy Santa Pauli on the Reeperbahn, then the hotels in St. Pauli may be convenient. For the complete list of Hamburg hotels, see HERE.

© Uli Kowatsch/Nurnberg Tourism

With over two million visitors every year, the Nürnberg Christkindlesmarkt is one of the more popular Christmas markets in Germany.  Each year at 5:30 pm, on the Friday before the first Advent Sunday, the Christmas Angel declares open the Nuremberg Christmas Market in a ceremony that takes place on the Hauptmarkt (market square) in the old quarter.

Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt

In the medieval setting of the old town of Nuremberg, the 180 wooden Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt stalls are all decorated with red and white cloth.  This has earned Nuremberg’s Christmas Market the nickname “Little Town from Wood and Cloth”.

Visitors to Nuremberg’s Christmas market can enjoy traditional Christmas fare like the famous Nuremberg spicy gingerbread, fruit loaves, bakery goods and sweets. This is also a good place to shop for handcrafted Christmas decorations like Christmas tree angels, cribs, Christmas tree ornaments and candles, toys as well as handicraft products. You won’t find any plastic decorations at the Nuremberg Christmas Market as the stalls are monitored to ensure that the market is kept beautiful and tastefully decorated.

A favourite souvenir is the Zwetschgenmännle or “Nuremberg Plum People” which are little figures made from prunes. And to fend off the cold, there are always the special Nürnberger bratwurst on rolls and mugs of mulled wine.

Christmas in Nuremberg

Nuremberg’s old quarter is beautiful at any time of the year but at Christmas this delightful medieval city puts on its Christmas magic. There is a lot to see, do and experience during the Christmas season including enjoying Christmas concerts in the churches, traditional Nativity scenes in the baroque St. Egidien church, and in Spitalgasse, an exhibition of historical market stalls in the town hall, the Christmas market for children on Hans-Sachs-Platz and the ‘star’ theatre at St. Katharine’s Abbey.

Other highlights include:

• the international market on Rathausplatz featuring Nuremberg’s twin towns, arts and crafts in the Handwerkerhof, a torchlight procession to the castle, the ‘Christmas cinemas’ and rides in a horse-drawn mail coach.
• the famous Windsbacher Knabenchor Choir will perform Christmas music for choir, trumpet and organ at the Meistersingerhalle Nuremberg. This is a one-off Christmas concert on December 13th.
• the Christmas Angel appears daily at 3 pm from Tuesday to Friday and at the Christmas market for children at 2.30 pm.

Nuremberg Hotels

Visitors to Nuremberg have a wide range of hotels to choose from.  In central Nuremberg many of the hotels such as the NH Nürnberg City, Le Meridien Grand Hotel and the Holiday Inn Nurnberg are all close to the Nuremberg Central Station, which is within walking distance of the Old Town.  For the complete list of Nuremberg hotels, see HERE.

Christmas Market Information

Address:
Christkindlesmarkt Nürnberg (Christmas Market)
Hauptmarkt
90403 Nuremberg

Christkindlesmarkt Opening Times: 25 Nov 2011 – 24 Dec 2011

Mon – Thu 09:30 – 20:00 | Fri & Sat 09:30 – 22:00 | Sun 10:30 – 20:00

Opening day: 25 Nov 2011 from 09.30 – 22:00
Opening ceremony at 5.30pm
Christmas Eve: 24 Dec 2011 from 09.30 – 14:00

If you’re flying into Nuremberg, here is some information on airport transfers at Nürnberg Airport.

Map of Nuremberg Hauptmarkt

Munich Christkindlmarkt © Travelsignposts

Munich has over 20 Christmas markets, but the main Christkindlmarkt and the oldest in the Bavarian capital is held at the historical Marienplatz each year.

Munich Marienplatz

Marienplatz is a beautiful square at any time of the year but at Christmas the atmosphere is magical. A sparkling giant Christmas tree overlooks the traditional Christmas market in the square.  There are over 150 stalls that are packed with all kinds of Christmas decorations, handicraft and Christmas gifts. Chocolate Rudolfs, Kletzenbrot, gingerbread houses and glühwein are just some of the Christmas treats you’ll find at the market stalls.

Santa visits Munich’s Christkindl every afternoon from 16:00 to 18:00 and chats with grown-ups and children alike. If you’d like to capture this Santa-moment, he loves having his picture taken as a reminder of this
of this memorable Christmas market visit.

During the Christmas season, visitors will have more than the Glockenspiel to enjoy at the Rathaus.   There is live music every day from the Rathaus balcony.  And if you see some mythological characters running through the Christmas market, you’ll know that the traditional Krampus Run is on.

Other Chriskindl Activities

ChristkindlTram:  Every year the Munich Transport and Tariff Association runs a ChristkindlTram ride through the city centre.  Get on board the tram and in addition to your sightseeing highlights, you will be served with hot mulled wine, gingerbread and other surprises. The ChristkindlTram runs from Nov. 26 – Dec. 23, 2011.

Munich Christkindl

Nativity scenes: For Nativity scenes, head to the Kripperlmarkt, one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Christmas Market tours:  With more than 20 Christmas markets in Munich, let a local guide take you to the best on a Christmas Market Tour.  The itinerary for this tour covers Sedlinger Tor, Marienplatz, the Nativity Scene at the City Hall, Christmas Village in the Royal Palace Courtyard and the Medieval Market near Odeonsplatz.

Children’s Activities: Kids can play and do handicrafts free of charge at the ‘Himmelswerkstatt.

You can also visit the Christmas market held by artists and artisans in Schwabing, Munich’s Bohemian district that goes back over 1,200 years.

Christmas Concerts: There’s nothing like some of your favourite Christmas music to put you into the spirit of Christmas. Visitors to Munich at Christmas can enjoy Christmas concerts at some amazing venues. See the list of Christmas concerts HERE.

How to get to Munich Christmas Market by public transport:

There are no parking facilities in the vicinity of Marienplatz so travel by public transport is best way to get to the Christmas Market. Marienplatz train station is right on the square.

• By Train – Marienplatz Stop – S1–S8, U3, U6
• By Bus     – Lines 52 and 131 to Marienplatz
• By Tram – Tram 19 to Theatinerstrasse.

Places to Stay in Munich

Visitors have a large choice of luxury and budget hotels in Munich to choose from.

• Munich hotels near Marienplatz
• All Munich hotels

Munich Christkindlmarkt Info:

Dates: 25th November – 24th December 2011
Place: Marienplatz

Opening Times:
Mon – Sat : 10:00 – 20:30
Sun           : 10:00 – 19:30
Dec. 24     : 09:00 – 14:00

Map of Munich Altstadt:

© Frankfurt Tourismus+Congress / Holger Ullmann

The Frankfurt Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) is one of the oldest and prettiest in Germany. It seems that there has been a Christmas market in Frankfurt since 1393.

With its rich history and steeped in traditions, the Frankfurt Christmas Market is a huge attraction for visitors from all over the world. Each year more than three million visitors flock to Frankfurt to enjoy this city’s Weihnachtsmarkt, making Frankfurt one of the more important Christmas markets in terms of visitor numbers.

Weihnachtsmarkt in Frankfurt Old Town

Frankfurt’s Altstadt is a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year but at Christmas, Römerberg, Paulsplatz and Mainkai (Main Quay) are transformed into a Winter Wonderland. There are more than 200 stalls at the Frankfurt market and like most Christmas markets in Germany, they offer arts and crafts and lots of traditional Christmas treats. The Christmas Market is a good place to shop for Christmas gifts and decorations and also to stock up on Christmas specialty foods.

Around the 30-metre Christmas tree, a wide range of entertainment takes place, including concerts, trumpet fanfares from the balcony of St. Nicholas Church and the church carillon. And as you stroll around the Christmas market, enjoy the aroma of roasted nuts, cinnamon, gingerbread and mulled wine.

Christmas Market Tour

And for those who want to learn more about Frankfurt’s Christmas market, Frankfurt’s Tourism Authority runs guided tours where visitors can learn more about glühwein and other Christmas culinary specialties, hear stories about Frankfurt’s Christmas traditions and learn more about the city’s history along the way.

Tours run on Mon – Friday at 13:30 and Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 and 13:30. Meeting point is the Tourist Information stand on Römerberg

German Christmas Markets

Christmas markets are a part of the German holiday tradition and once you’ve visited markets like the Frankfurt Weihnachtsmarkt, it is easy to be charmed by its magical atmosphere. For those who are hooked on Christmas markets, there is a four-day Christmas markets tour from Frankfurt that will take you to Leipzig, Dresden and Plauen where you can have a taste of Christmas markets in other German cities.

How to Get to the Frankfurt Christmas Market

Frankfurt is an important transport hub and visitors will find it easy to get to the Frankfurt Christmas Market. In fact, it is only 15 minutes away from Germany’s largest airport.

Getting to the Frankfurt Christmas market by public transport is easy:

The trams No. 11 and No. 12 both stop at the Römer/Paulsplatz

Places to Stay in Frankfurt

Visitors have a large choice of luxury and budget hotels in Frankfurt to choose from.

• Frankfurt hotels near the Altstadt
• All Frankfurt am Main hotels

Frankfurt Christmas Market Info:

Place : Römerberg Square, Paulsplatz and Mainkai
Dates : 23rd November – 22nd December 2011

Opening Times :
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 21:00 | Sunday 11:00 – 21:00

Map of Frankfurt Altstadt:

Porsche Museum - Photo by G /Wiki

For lovers of fast and expensive cars, the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart will delight. This automotive museum, located in the Zuffenhausen district in the northern suburbs of Stuttgart, is just outside the Porsche headquarters.

Although the mere mention of the Porsche 911 is enough to get automotive enthusiasts excited, these expensive and iconic cars are very much the things that many can only dream of. But for a mere €8.00, visitors to the Porsche Museum can enjoy a host of exhibits including some 80 vehicles which provide a comprehensive account of the company’s heritage.

Porsche Models at the Stuttgart Museum

At the Stuttgart museum there is a big focus on Porsche classic cars, and each exhibit features an explanation of what makes it so special. Models including the 356, 550, 911 and 917 are joined by rarities such as the ‘Pink Pig’ racing car, so called because of its distinctive livery, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1971.

Among the highlights of the collection are Porsche’s most famous road and racing cars.

At the Museum, you can learn about the achievements of Professor Ferdinand Porsche, the man who initially designed electric and hybrid cars, and who actually developed the first prototypes of the Beetle – a cult classic that also features in the exhibition.

The Museum building itself is pretty impressive.  To have a greater insight into the exhibits, the Porsche designs and the architecture of the museum you can join one of their guided tours.

Museum Shop

And if after the visit you feel that you must have something Porsche to take back home with you, head for the Museum Shop. There you’ll find small souvenirs, a unique line of model vehicles, and even  sought-after collector’s items to choose from.

The Porsche Museum is open from Tuesday through Sunday.  Opening times are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

How to get to the Porsche Museum by public transport:

From the main Stuttgart station, take the S-Bahn S6 towards “Leonberg / Weil der Stadt”.  The Porsche-Museum is located next to the “Neuwirtshaus” station.

Address:

Porsche Museum
Porscheplatz 1
D-70435 Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen
Tel.: +49 (0)711 9110
Email: info@porsche.de
www.porsche.com

Map of Stuttgart:

The Allianz Arena - Photo by GNTB/G.GARP Hänel

FC Bayern Munich, Germany’s most successful football club, is opening its Bayern Munich Club museum at The Allianz Arena in the course of the current season (2011/2012).  This will be no ordinary museum – the Club is creating The Bayern Munich Experience where fans and other visitors can enjoy the best and most innovative exhibition anywhere in the world which covers the history of a single football club.

The Allianz Arena

The Allianz Arena is home of FC Bayern Munich and in fact the stadium is owned by the Club.  Located inside the impressive stadium, the FCB museum will serve as a beacon for Bayern Munich and for German football in general.  It tells the story of the team’s success from its foundation in 1900 up to the present time.

The Club’s great history will be brought to life through cups and trophies, tributes to famous Bayern Munich players , video clips, documents and much more.

And if you happen to visit when there is no match or other events on the day, you can also take a guided tour of this Munich arena, said to be one of the finest football stadiums in the world. The VIP tour in particular is not to be missed as it gives fans the chance to sit in the manager’s seat, enjoy views of the pitch from a hospitality box, and take a look inside the dressing rooms.  But these get booked out quickly, so you’ll need to plan in advance.

How to Get to the Allianz Arena by public transport:

If you are travelling by train from Munich’s main station or from Munich East, catch the S-Bahn to Marienplatz and then change to underground line U6 (in the Garching-Hochbrück direction).

Address:
Allianz Arena
München Stadion GmbH
‘Erlebniswelt FC Bayern’
Werner-Heisenberg-Allee 25
80939 Munich
Tel.: +49 (0)89 699 310
Email: erlebniswelt@allianz-arena.de
www.fcbayern.telekom.de

Information on how to order Bayern Munich tickets

This FAQ provides information on how to order tickets for FC Bayern Munich matches. Alternatively, you can also buy tickets through Viagogo, one of the official ticketing partners for FC Bayern Munich. (In the Search box, type “FC Bayern Munich”)

Map of Munich:

Concorde and Tupolev - Photo Coutesy of Sinsheim Auto & Tecknik Museum

Sinsheim is a town in the southwest of Germany, about 22 kilometers southeast of Heildelberg. Its main tourist attraction is the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum, the largest privately owned museum in Europe with more than 1 million visitors a year.

A Unique Sinsheim Museum

With more than 3,000 exhibits ranging from the Concorde, Tupolev TU-144, Formula-1s, locomotives, vintage cars, military vehicles and more, the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum is indeed unique. It’s not often that one gets to look around the cockpit of an aeroplane or a real space shuttle, wander through a submarine or ogle at some vintage and new racing cars, all in the one location. For anyone with an interest in the history and milestones of technology, this Sinsheim Museum is a must to visit.

Sinsheim Museum Highlights

One of the most important exhibits of the Sinsheim Museum is the Air France Concorde, a member of the iconic supersonic fleet. Although the Concorde was grounded for good in 2003, this is the opportunity for most of us, who didn’t get to fly the Concorde to visit Sinsheim and take a tour of the plane and imagine what it must have been like to cross the Atlantic in three hours. By way of contrast, in the Sinsheim Museum compound is a Lufthansa jumbo jet and visitors can even walk along one of its wings.

The astronautics exhibition hall contains another treat: a real space shuttle! The Soviet craft completed 25 missions in all and was transported to Sinsheim Museum by ship, down the River Rhine. The space suits on display show just how flimsy the astronauts‘ protection actually is.

Cars that Thrill

Blue Flame - Photo Courtesy Auto & Tecknik Museum Sinsheim

2011 celebrates the 125th anniversary of the German automobile industry and those interested in seeing what a racing car looks like close up, or which car designs were cutting edge in the 1950s, should make a bee-line for the automotive section, where 60 Formula-1 racing cars and more than 300 classic cars are sure to draw lots of oohs and aahs.  Blue Flame, the fastest rocket car of all time, is another exhibit not to be missed here.

And after all that walking, the Sinsheim Technik Museum’s Imax dome is the perfect place for resting weary feet. Projected onto the cinema’s domed ceiling instead of a screen, the film submerges visitors into a world of Pharaohs, astronauts and jet aircraft pilots.

The Sinsheim Auto & Tecknikmuseum is a truly amazing Museum and one that the whole family can enjoy. For technology enthusiasts and fans of vintage cars, it is recommended that you allow a whole day for your visit.  The Museum is open 365 days a year and is located directly opposite the Rhein-Neckar arena.

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Sinsheim, the Hotel Sinsheim is just next to Sinsheim Museum train station. You can search for other Sinsheim hotels, read hotel reviews and book your Sinsheim hotel online HERE.

How to get to the Sinsheim Museum

By Train

The Deutsche Bahn station “Sinsheim Museum / Arena” is just a five-minute walk from the Museum main entrance.

By Car

About an hour’s drive from Frankfurt, the Auto & Technik Museum is located directly next to the autobahn A6 between the cities of Mannheim and Heilbronn (Southern Germany) . Leave the autobahn at the exit Sinsheim-Süd (Nr. 33b) and follow the directional signs which will guide you to the museum.

Address:
Auto & Technik Museum
Museumsplatz
D-74889 Sinsheim
Phone: 0049-7261-9299-0
www.sinsheim.technik-museum.de

Map of Sinsheim:

Schloss Rheinfels - Rhine Castles

Perched on a hill above the Rhine River, at the town of St. Goar, is Burg Rheinfels, one of the many castle ruins along the Middle Rhine Valley.  When Burg Rheinfels was built in 1245, it was the largest and most important fortress on the Rhine.  And, up to this day, the extent of the fortified castle ruins is still impressive.  So it is with good reason that the site was chosen for the Romantik Hotel Schloss Rheinfels in 1973.

The Romantik Schloss Rheinfels

The Middle Rhine Valley, often referred to as the Romantic Rhine, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage region in 2002.  As far as choice locations for a relaxing  holiday on the Rhine is concerned, few can beat Schloss Rheinfels.

The town of St. Goar, on the Rhine River, is at the heart of some of the most beautiful countryside in Europe.  In addition to the sweeping views of the Rhine Valley, guests at Hotel Rheinfels also have a grandstand view of the famous Loreley Rock where, according to legend, the Loreley bewitched many a sailor on the Rhine with her song.

Schloss Rheinfels also bears the hallmarks of its medieval past and myths, legends and stories of German poets and philosophers abound. The antiques and paintings inside the hotel give it a medieval feel. True to the period, the gym is known as the ‘Folterkammer’ (torture chamber) and antique equipment from the early 20th century is available for guests to use.

Schloss Rheinfels - St Goar

Both the restaurant and the terrace cafe offer magnificent views of the Rhine.  The hotel’s spa suite is the perfect place to rest and relax after a workout. The facilities include a pool with counter-current canal, an outdoor plunge pool, sauna and steamroom, tepidarium, solarium and a wellness area with lounges and a cozy bar.

Sports enthusiasts and nature lovers are also well catered for in the local vicinity.  Two excellent walking trails and two tennis courts are only a short distance away.  Mountain bikes can be borrowed free of charge and scooters can be hired, and two golf courses are only a short drive away from the castle.  And of course, the castle ruins are at your doorstep to explore.

You can book your Schloss Rheinfels hotel online HERE.