A luxury river cruise on the Rhine

Cologne, that’s the city’s “Tünnes and Schäl”, that’s gabled houses on the Rhine front, that’s the Old Market with cafés and streets through which the carnival passes in spring and the gay community moves in summer at Christopher Street Day. These are residents of the city who are known for their casual, humorous and friendly yet direct manner. These are temples of art like the MAKK or the Museum Ludwig with the most extensive Pop Art collection in Europe. And, of course, there’s the cathedral, the Gothic masterpiece, 157 metres high, with the world-famous altar of the Three Kings and the treasury and viewing platform, which you can reach via 509 steps. And Cologne, that’s “Kölsch”, a wonderfully drinkable beer that you drink out of small glasses, and which you can enjoy two, three or four at a time. Well then, cheers!

No other city between Constance and Rotterdam has integrated the Rhine into its city life as grandly as Basel. Pretty Art Nouveau baths have been installed in the river, there are small restaurants and pubs and bars on its banks, pop concerts are held here, and the residents are all too happy to plunge into the waters for a swim. Another detail not to be missed in Basel is probably the most beautiful museum in Switzerland, perhaps even in the whole of Europe: The Fondation Beyeler, whose transparent building was designed by Renzo Piano. The best thing to do in the Old Town is just to drift along, and then at some point you will automatically come across the red cantonal Town Hall or the stately guild houses on Barfüsserplatz, which got its name from the “Barfüssler” monks.

In the past, Rüdesheim was regarded by young people as stuffy German and highly provincial. Today, even hipsters from Berlin can be seen here. The town is best known for its long, narrow “Drosselgasse”, the venue for wine events in small, half-timbered houses and garden pubs. If you want insight into the history of the Rüdesheim nobility, visit the beautiful courtyards on Oberstrasse such as the Frankensteiner Hof.

One pretty detail in Old Town Koblenz is the “Augenroller”. It is discovered under the clock tower of the old department stores on Florinsmarkt. To the beat of the pendulum, the man with the moustache and helmet twists his eyes – and every half hour he sticks out his tongue. According to legend, robber baron Johann Lutter did this in front of his executioners. But that’s just a small feature in a city that otherwise has great things to offer. The equestrian statue of Wilhelm I at the Deutsches Eck, for example, where the Moselle and Rhine rivers meet. Or the Electoral Palace and, of course, right outside the city gates, the castle Burg Stolzenfels, which was built in 1250 and extensively restored, indeed almost rebuilt, in 1826 according to plans by Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

Not too many towns have such a lofty landmark as Breisach: the enormous cathedral with Romanesque and Gothic elements is enthroned on the 230-foot (70-meter) Münsterberg. A magical work of art can truly be admired there. The high altar from 1525, hand-carved and positioned right at the center, depicts the coronation of Mary. Just around the corner from the cathedral is a large black marble bull, the work of the artist Helmut Lotz. From the cathedral, the view all around is also worth taking in. To the west into Alsace, to the northeast to the Kaiserstuhl, to the south to the Eckartsberg with the remains of a fortress, to the east to the southern Black Forest. It is only a stone’s throw from Breisach to Furtwangen. There, the German Watch Museum boasts thousands of exhibits from all over the world. 

It developed from a Roman military camp and is one of the oldest cities in Germany. It has been a bishop’s seat since the 7th century. And it is not without reason that the cathedral dominates the city of Speyer and is considered the largest Romanesque church building par excellence. At 134 meters long and 37 meters wide, it is protected by UNESCO. Right next door is the Episcopal Palace. In the Middle Ages, Speyer also had one of the most important Jewish communities of the time. The former Judenhof is now a museum. The fact that people in Speyer also enjoy life is evident in wine taverns, cozy pubs and, of course, at the “Brezelfest”, the largest festival on the Upper Rhine, which takes place every year in July. Anyone who sins here as a citizen of faith in the city can absolve himself of his guilt immediately afterward at confession. After all, there are plenty of churches in Speyer.

Alleys, canals, and Van Gogh around every corner. Amsterdam is one of the most exciting cities in Europe. The historic center was built on five million spruce trunks. The experiences this city has to offer are limitless. Paintings by famous artists can be admired in the newly designed Museum Square. Rembrandt and Vermeer in the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh has his own museum dedicated to him – the audio tour is a real experience: a touching journey into the life of the artist, who cut off his ear in Arles in southern France after an argument with Gauguin. The Anne Frank House tells a different but equally touching story. And if you stroll through Amsterdam’s Old Town, you will experience real contrasts – Chinatown with the first Buddhist temple built in Europe and the infamous red-light district.

We love Maastricht. And not without good reason. Fashionistas may lose their hearts and a bit of money in the trendy Wyck district, where boutiques and grandiose design and antique shops can be found. Even more exclusive are Stokstraat and Wolfstraat with exciting fashion in small shops. Maastricht is also home to the oldest brewery with an interior that is over 100 years old. And then there is Bisshopsmolen, the oldest working watermill in Holland. Those interested in history can walk through the casemates, an underground defense system from the 18th century. Back in the present, a visit to one of the terrace cafés or a cozy pub is a highlight.