Rheinland-Pfalz
(Rhineland-Palatinate)

The Count of the Palatinate (Pfalz), along with the Archbishops of Mainz & Trier, were once amoung the seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire. It should come as no surprise that the modern-day state of Rheinland-Pfalz features some of the most outstanding cathedrals, castles, and palaces in Germany. It is also famous for its wines, grown not only along the "Deutsche Weinstraße" but also in the valleys of the Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer rivers.

We lived in a small village near Kaiserslautern for 3½ years.
Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) overview Kaiserslautern-American: local KMC newspaper Ramstein AB: largest American community outside the U.S.		Broadway Kino: American movies in Landstuhl 1.FCK: Kaiserslautern's Bundesliga "Fußball" team

Mainz
The famous cathedral stands next to the Gutenberg museum

Worms
Martin Luther sparked the Protestant Reformation after the Diet of Worms

Speyer
This former Imperial residence is also famous for its Romanesque cathedral

Mosel Valley
Trier The ancient Porta Nigra & Roman baths still stand in Germany’s oldest city, once home to the Roman Emperor Constantine	Idar-Oberstein The "church in the rock" looms above this town known for its gemstones

We took Carol & Randall through the Mosel Valley, famous for its delicious wines and beautiful scenery, during their 2000 visit.

Bernkastel-Kues
is the most picturesque town along the Mosel.
The Markt is surrounded by half-timbered medieval houses.

Bernkastel boasts the largest single vineyard in Germany, stretching along the hillsides to the castle above the town.

Farther down the river lie some of the most spectacular castles in Germany, Reichsburg & Burg Eltz.

Reichsburg sits above the village of Cochem. It was destroyed by the French in 1689, but later rebuilt in a new style.

Burg Eltz, never destroyed, has been in the same family for over 800 years.

At the end of the Mosel, where it flows into the Rhine, lies Koblenz.

Craig at the Deutsches Eck, with Kaiser Wilhelm, from an earlier visit

The Deutsches Eck (German Corner) sits at the confluence of these two rivers.

	The town derives its name from the Latin "confluentia". A gigantic equestrian statue of Emperor Wilhelm I presides over this spot.
Across the Rhine lies the Ehrenbreitstein fortress.

Rhine Valley

Marksburg, the only castle on the Rhine never destroyed, is now home to the German Castle Association.

	We took cruise along the Rhine River with Carol & Randall aboard the "St-Niklaus"
We started the cruise at St. Goar, about 20 miles upstream from Koblenz. Burg Rheinfels, once the most powerful fortress on the Rhine, now lies in ruins.

	Burg Katz lies across the river above St. Goarshausen. We brought Laura's Aunt Cindy back here in September for "Rhine Aflame," a spectacular hour-long fireworks display.
		The narrowest and deepest point along the Rhine is at the rocky cliffs of the Loreley.
Legend claims a maiden once lured sailors to their deaths here with her siren song.
Schönburg castle looms above Oberwesel, a former free Imperial town, with the best-preserved medieval fortifications in the area.
The Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Oberwessel gave rise to the famous "Liebfraumilch" wine.

The fortifications surrounding Bacharach are also remarkably intact, as are many of the town's half-timbered houses. Burg Stahleck overlooks the town.

Burg Reichenstein was a haven for infamous "robber barons" who preyed on passers-by.
Emperor Rudolf destroyed the castle and executed the outlaws in 1282.		Kaub is the spot where Prussian Field Marshall Blücher crossed the Rhine in pursuit of Napoleon in 1813.
Burg Gutenfels overlooks this town, as well as the Pfalzgrafenstein ("Die Pfalz") in the middle of the river.

Emperor Rudolf sat in judgment of the robber barons at nearby Burg Rheinstein.

The "thinking basket" gave outlaws time to ponder their fate

Prince Friedrich Wilhelm renovated the castle in the 19th century.

The Burgundy Garden's 500-year-old vine still produces grapes

Rüdesheim was the last stop on our Rhine River tour, where we sampled the local Rheingau wines. The Drosselgasse is famous for its lively atmosphere, featuring outdoor music and plenty to drink!
	We spent the afternoon sightseeing with our new friend, Nancy, who was visiting from the States.