by imposing castles perched on
impossibly sheer rocky outcrops,
each one hiding stories and legends
of dynastic battles and evil-doing.
At St. Goarshausen, the river twists
around jagged rocks in a series
of deep whirlpools; it is here that
the Lorelei nymph, according to
legend, lured sailors to their deaths
with her voice's haunting beauty.
e pretty little town of
Boppard reveals layer upon layer
of history; here, you can see the
remains of what was once a series
of 28 Roman watchtowers, and
the town's original medieval gates.
In Cologne, ships moor close
to the heart of the city, which is
dominated by the magnificent
Dom (Cathedral). Bonn and
Düsseldorf, meanwhile, have a
wealth of superb art museums and
some of Germany's finest shopping.
Amsterdam, the final port on
many Rhine voyages (or the first,
depending on the direction of
the trip), is packed with sights,
from the graceful canals to the
magnificent and newly re-opened
Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank
House and the Maritime Museum.
Each season on the Rhine has
its own charm. Spring is the time
for admiring the glorious Dutch
bulb fields, swathes of scarlet, blue,
yellow and orange forming vast
stripes across the landscape, and
Keukenhof Gardens putting on a
beautiful display of colours.
Summer is the season of festivals,
of long afternoons in riverside beer
gardens and lazy days on deck as
the ship drifts gently through lush
vineyards and sunny meadows.
In autumn, the woodlands in the
Middle and Upper Rhine turn
yellow and gold and the wine
harvest comes in, which is always
a cause for celebration. December
is the season for Advent cruises,
exploring a new Christmas market
every day, shopping for handmade
gifts and sampling mulled wine.
Whatever the time of year, a
voyage along the Rhine is a glimpse
into the way this waterway has
shaped European history.
Clockwise, from
far left: Viking
guests are able to
enjoy lunch whilst
appreciating the
landscape of the
Rhine region;
Strasbourg comes
to life at sunrise
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