The Moselle Cycle Path

The Roman city of Trier is the starting point for your adventure through the vineyards of the Moselle Valley. Founded in 16BC, Trier is arguably Germany’s oldest city and literally overflowing with classical historical sights. The Imperial Thermal Baths (Kaiserthermen) are the highlight but other attractions include the medieval Hauptmarkt square, St. Gangolfs Church, the Red House, the Porta Nigra, the Benedictine Abbey of St. Matthew and the fortified residential towers.

Trier is easily reach by train from Frankfurt (2h50) and Cologne-Bonn (2h30) airports and is only a 4 hour drive from Calais.

Begin your journey on the Moselle Cycle Path by pedalling north east out of Trier, soon passing the town of Schweich. From here you are immersed in a vineyard covered landscape. Reach your destination for the day, Trittenheim. Here a wine nature trail provides you with general information about wine - we would recommend a wine tasting and cellar tour at one of the local vineyards.

Wine-lovers are in for a treat today! This morning cycle through Neumagen-Drohn, the oldest and most famous wine producing area in Germany. The Roman wine press in Piesport is another compulsory stop, as is the village of Bernkastel, well-known for its medieval timber framed houses. The market square imakes for a perfect lunch spot. Zeltingen, filled with baroque style buildings, is your destination for the day.

Continue through the famous Kröver Nacktarsch wine producing area to Traben-Trarbach, which has many fine examples of Jugendstil buildings. Enkirch, with its characteristic half-timbered buildings is just a little further on before a minor climb over Zeller Hamm to be greeted by the vineyard-blanketed landscape surrounding Zell.

The route today winds through a procession of picture postcard villages. Beilstein and Cochem are both enchanting, as is the 11th century Reichsburg castle. Finally your route brings you to Treis-Karden, another charming town filled with castles, churches and half timbered houses.

Begin your day with a visit to the medieval castle Eltz before following excellent cycle paths to Koblenz. En route don’t miss the oldest timber-framed house in Germany, the Abteihof in Kobern-Gondorf, which dates from 1320. The ‘Deutsche Eck’ (German Corner), with its monumental statue of Emperor William I at the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine today celebrates German reunification and is a suitable highlight to bring your trip to an end.

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast, but you may wish to extend your stay in Koblenz or perhaps jounrey along the Rhine by bike, boat or on foot.