Bernkastel-Kues is a touristic town in Germany. The town is located on the Moselle, between the vineyards. It has 6,907 inhabitants. It consists of two parts: Bernkastel on the right bank of the Moselle and Kues on the left bank. These are connected by a bridge. The Moselle forms the border between the Eifel in the north and the Hunsrück in the south in this area and makes many sharp bends. The Moselle and Bernkastel-Kues are situated at a lower elevation than the surrounding area. The vineyards are located on the slopes of the Moselle valley. Bernkastel lies to the east on the outer bend of the Moselle, on the side of the Hunsrück, and Kues to the west on the inner bend. The Bernkastel part in particular is a tourist attraction. It has a old centre. Here, alleys and narrow steps lead up to the vineyards. Kues is bigger and more modern than Bernkastel.

Back in 706, the name of the city was written as Epternacus. The name may have been derived from the personal name Epternus and the suffix -(i)acum. This (reconstructed) name was found on a tombstone from the first century AD within the city, but there are doubts about it. Supposedly, only -ternus could be read on the stone. To the south of the city, on the lake of Echternach, you can find the remains of a Roman villa. The English monk Willibrord came to Echternach from the Netherlands and Belgium and built the great abbey of Echternach in 698 under the protection of Plectrudis, the first wife of Pepin van Herstal, and her mother Irmina of Oeren. The monastery now houses a school and offices. Willibrord's grave is located in the abbey church. Since the Middle Ages, the Procession of Echternach has been held annually on the Tuesday after Pentecost in honour of Willibrord. The participants of this Echternach procession, also known as the hopping procession, are tied together with white handkerchiefs and jump forward to the rhythm of the processional march, alternating on their left and right feet. This was set up in 1947 because the rhythm at the time (three steps forward and two back) caused chaos. Central to the city is the historic Gothic-style town hall from the 15th century. In World War II, Echternach was heavily bombed, destroying a large part of the city. Echternach is an important tourist attraction where the number of tourists regularly exceeds the population.

In 963, Count Siegfried built a castle on the Bock Rock with a simple defensive wall. This is where the city of Luxembourg emerged from. Over the centuries, two more defensive perimeters were built on the west side. Several engineers, including Vauban, built the city to become one of the strongest fortresses in Europe. This gave Luxembourg the nickname Gibraltar of the North. At the London Conference of 1867, Luxembourg was declared neutral and the fortifications had to be dismantled. As a result, only 10% of the fortress has been preserved, including the casemates that served as a shelter during World War II. The Old Town and some surviving fortifications were placed on the World Heritage List in 1994. In 1995 and 2007, Luxembourg was the European Capital of Culture, a status it shared with Romanian Sibiu in 2007.

Miscellaneous

Nikolaus von Kues

Moselweinmuseum Bernkastel- Kues

Heimatmuseum Bernkastel- Kues

Historische Ölmühle Morbach

Deutsches Telefonmuseum Morbach

Holzmuseum Morbach

Archäologiepark Belginum

Flugmuseum Hermeskeil

Dampflok-Museum-Hermeskeil

Hunsrückhaus am Erbeskopf

Edelsteinmuseum Idar- Oberstein

Spielzeugmuseum- Ikonenmuseum Kloster Machern

Volkskunde- und Freilichtmuseum Roscheider Hof, Konz

Reichsburg Cochem is a hilltop castle situated on a mountain cone in the German town of Cochem on the Moselle. The very iconic imperial castle is located 100 metres above the city and served as a toll castle in the Middle Ages. According to the latest research, the castle was probably founded around 1100. Open: March to November from 9:00 - 17:00 PM.

A little way off the Moselle, in a forest on a steep rock in Wierschem, lies Burcht Eltz. During 40-minute guided tours, the knight and princess era in the castle comes back to life. There are also beautiful hiking trails to follow around the castle. Open: 1/4/15 – 1/11/15. 09:30 – 17:30.

Trier is the oldest city in Germany and has a very compact and atmospheric city centre. There are many important sights such as the Dom, the Imperial Baths, the Basilica, the Porta Nigra, and much more. Tourists have the option of exploring the city on their own or opting for a guided tour.

The relaxing landscape of Brodenbach is a state-approved climatic health resort. The two side valleys carry clean healthy air. The village with its beautiful half-timbered houses often serves as a base for walks through the Ehrbachtal and Brodenbachtal.

Koblenz is located at the mouth of the Moselle and Rhine. Old fortress walls, fortress towers, castles and patrician houses form the remains of an eventful past. The ‘Deutsches Eck’ is the point where the Moselle flows into the Rhine. Part of the Orange Route runs through Koblenz.

To many tourists, the medieval townscape of Beilstein is the pinnacle of Moselle romanticism. It is also known as the ‘Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle’. This town has often served as the backdrop for German films.