e-travelguide
0871 508 8768

Search for a Hotel Anywhere

Search This Site

Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Make the most of your time in Rhineland-Palatinate, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links to plan your visit.

Located in the west of Germany amidst the Rhenish Slate Mountains, Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the most beautiful parts of Germany. Its idyllic river scenery, unspoilt mountains, historical towns, picturesque villages and romantic castles make  Rhineland-Palatinate a land rich in variety and as interesting and diverse as its people.

Rhineland-Palatinate is bordered by Luxembourg and Belgium to the west and culturally owes much to the Low Countries. Unlike the Low Countries, however, the geography of Rhineland-Palatinate is dominated by mountains, forests and river valleys. The Rhine Valley is bounded by the Eifel and Hunsruck mountain chains on the west bank and the Westerwald and Taunus mountains on the east bank. The unique landscape of the volcanic Eifel is studded with volcanic craters and well worth a visit. The Palatinate Forest Nature Reserve, the largest contiguous wooded area in Germany, is also to be found in Rhineland-Palatinate. This blend of forest, mountains and river valleys makes for a fascinating landscape that is home to many of the most historically significant places in Germany.

While the boundary of the Roman Empire was later drawn at the River Rhine, Rhineland-Palatinate was for a time part of the Roman Empire. Towns such as Trier, Mainz and Koblenz were originally founded as Roman settlements. Many of these sites have been preserved and provide a fascinating insight into Rhineland-Palatinate’s long history. Trier, known as Augusta Treverorum, is Germany’s oldest town. Founded by the Emperor Augustus in 16 BC, by the end of the 3rd century AD the town had become an imperial seat of Emperor Diocletian, underlining its significance to the empire. Trier's impressive Roman legacy includes the Porta Nigra city gate, the Römerbrücke bridge, amphitheatre, basilica and imperial thermal baths. Another site of interest in Rhineland-Palatinate is Speyer Cathedral, constructed in 1030, and the resting place for eight German emperors and kings.

Mainz is the state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate. Like Trier it has an impressive Roman legacy, while its magnificent Baroque architecture points to its status as an elector of German emperors. Koblenz is the gateway to the Middle Rhine and has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sitting at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, the town is is two-thirds covered by trees, water or green spaces. Innumerable museums document the 2,000-year history of the city, drawing visitors from all over the world.

So for the perfect mix of idyllic villages, unspoilt forest, mountains and river valleys and some of the most fascinating towns in Europe, Rhineland-Palatinate is the place to go.
 

©e-travelguide.info 2003 - 2009