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Queen and Castle Tour

£595.00

The ‘Queen and Castle’ walk, is a 7day independent walking tour following the pilgrimage path on the Mosel peaks west of Koblenz to the historic city of Trier with its 7 UNESCO heritage sites. You will stay in family run accommodation where our guests are genuinely welcomed by their owner. Walking is moderate on good surfaces with ascents/descents generally up to 500m. The average daily walking distance is between 20-25 km (5 hrs). Each day will see your baggage transported ahead. Should you feel the need to give your feet a break, you could travel a section by train as the train track runs parallel to the river Mosel in the valley.

The pilgrimage path on the Mosel peaks between Koblenz and Trier takes in cloisters, ancient Roman remains, wayside chapels and crosses that have witnessed the prosperous trade of medieval times. Your overnight stays will be in selected family run accommodation in romantic wine villages. You will taste a variety of homemade food accompanied by the famous Mosel Riesling wine that can be anything from bone dry to seductively rich and fruity.

Day 1: Settle in to your hotel, an 800 year old converted castle. Stroll around the wine village of Karden or take a circular walk through the vineyards before returning to your hotel for dinner.

Day 2: Your footpath winds through ancient vineyards and up to a plateau with views over the Mosel, before descending into a valley leading to Castle Eltz which is surrounded by dense forests. This fairytale Castle dates back to the 12th century. Over the years it has remained completely intact and is unreachable by car. After a guided tour through the castle you follow the footpath to the historic train station of Moselkern where you will take the Moselbahn, a scenic 30 minutes train ride to the small wine town of Bullay.

Day 3: Today, in an almost magical meeting between nature and culture, you enjoy magnificent panoramic views from Marienburg, a former Augustinian monastery built near the ruins of a Roman fortress, visit the wine village of legendary ‘Zeller Schwarze Katz’ and stopover in Traben-Trarbach, renowned for its brilliant Art Nouveau architecture.

Day 4: The walk takes you through vineyards, past a defensive fortification before descending through the 13th century town gate of Bernkastel into the town. Take some time exploring the colourful medieval market square and the Mosel Wine Museum before continuing along the Mosel into a forest and back onto the Mosel ridge path to Monzel.

Day 5: Walking west on the Mosel peak trail with views onto the Eifel hills, you walk through forests and wonderful open fields enjoying amazing views over the distant Hunsrück (a low mountain range). The final passage leads through flourishing vineyards into the wine village of Klüsserath.

Day 6: The route through the vineyards takes you to the ‘Thörnischer Ritsch’ viewing point and the old mule path along which farm animals would carry precious harvest. Where the vineyard trail ends, the track continues through a valley into a forest and up to a plateau before descending into the small town of Schweich where at the train station the journey continues with a short (20 minutes) train ride to Trier. A 10 minute walk takes you into the heart of the centre to your accommodation, just off the fabulous medieval market square, where you will be able to explore the impressive history and culture to the full.

Day 7: A day to explore Trier.

Tour includes:

Return airport/train station transfers
Maps and detailed description of the area in English
6 nights bed & breakfast in selected family run establishments
5 evening meals
Baggage transfers
Packed refreshments
Germania Travel notes to restaurants and sightseeing
24 hour telephone assistance
Free children spaces available

TAILOR MADE

This trip can be tailor made into a cycling or canoeing trip as well as a combination of walking, cycling and canoeing. Please get in touch to put togehter your unforgettable experience in some of Europe’s most picturesque countryside.

Optional Guided Vineyard Walking:

Guided Vineyard Walk including light meal: Walk with our local nature guide through the vineyards and visit a Roman temple. Finish with lunch of wine and Winzerplatte (vintner’s platter: bread, cold meats and cheeses) at a picnic in the vineyards or at a local wine grower. Approx. 3hrs, minimum 2 people or on request, £30

Guided Climb of Europe Steepest Vineyard including light meal: Hike through Europe’s steepest vineyard via a narrow footpath. You will need a solid pair of walking shoes and be free of fear of heights Finish with lunch of Wine and Winzerplatte at a picnic in the vineyards or at a local wine grower . Approx. 3hrs, minimum 2 people or on request, £35

WINE FESTIVALS

In a group, a family or as a couple you might want to experience the special atmosphere at a Mosel wine festival.

The Weinfeste or wine festivals are as diverse as the wines they celebrate and some date back hundreds of years. Most of the wine festivals feature some form of music – be it traditional oom-pah, classic or contemporary music. The atmosphere is unformal and relaxed and some include market stalls and a fun fair providing entertainment for all the family. Sampling local wine is all the tastier when complemented with freshly prepared specialities such as asparagus with Palatinate ham.

Wine and Gourmet festival along the Mosel, 28th March – 28th April 2008

Wine and cheese festival, Graach 12th April 2008

Food and Wine, Bernkastel-Kues, 18th – 19th April 2008

Roman wine festival, Schweich, 18th – 19th April

Old town festival, Trarbach, 7th – 8th June

Old town festival, Trier, 20th – 22nd June

Mosel wine festival, Traben-Trarbach, 11th – 14th July

Moselfestival, Trier (along Mosel river bank), 11th – 14th July

Trier, wine festival (held in the wine quarter, Olewig), 1st – 4th August