Six of the best: Rhine
Europe’s longest and most important river rises in Switzerland and passes through some of Europe’s most vibrant cities and scenic towns. Laura Gelder sets sail
Basel
At the crossroads of Germany and France, this rich Swiss city has head and heart, being home to two pharma giants as well as ART Basel, the world’s most famous contemporary art show. Top sights include the Marktplatz, dominated by the 500-year-old red town hall and surrounded by narrow streets filled with quirky shops, the botanical gardens and Kunstmusuem, the largest art collection in the country. The cultural mix means a diverse food scene and a must-taste is Basler Leckerli , a local spiced cookie made of kirsch, nuts and candied fruit.
Cologne
The city’s twin-towered cathedral, or ‘dom’ is one of Europe’s largest churches and presides over the picturesque streets of coloured houses. Indulgence is the order of the day in Cologne, with visitors usually spending their time in the city sampling the local beers sold in the kellers of the pretty Old Town and visiting the Chocolate Museum to taste another of the city’s specialities. The annual Carnival takes place in February/ March and is legendary, with over one million people joining the celebrations each year.
Koblenz
Sitting at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle, Koblenz was a Roman military post. Forests, vineyards and four converging mountain ranges form the backdrop and the best views of the Baroque Old Town are from the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, a huge Prussian construction which is the largest preserved fortress in Europe and fascinates historians. Also close by is the romantic Stolzenfels Castle. Every August the town holds Rhein in Flammen, three days of music and entertainment cumminating in fireworks.
Mainz
The enormous sixtowered Cathedral of St. Martin, founded in 975 AD, dominates Mainz, but just south of it lies a quaint medieval Old Town and many more Baroque and Gothic churches as well as the remains of a Roman aqueduct. Small shops, boutiques and cafés surround pretty Kirschgarten square, with its postcardperfect timber-framed houses and tinkling fountain. One of the main attractions is the local wine, which can be enjoyed in cosy bars and taverns with pious names like Collection Box and Confessional.
Strasbourg
Cobbled streets, crooked timbered medieval houses, cosy taverns, twisting alleyways and meandering canals characterise this fairytale capital of Alsace. The city houses the European Parliament and its myriad bureaucrats as well as a huge student population to balance out the grey suits. The city’s impressive Romanesque-Gothic Cathédrale de Notre-Dame has views of the Black Forest and Vosges mountains and the baroque Rohan Palace has a fascinating history and a former guest list including Marie Antoinette. Gateway to the Rhine Gorge, this charming wine-making town is perhaps the Rhine’s most picturesque. At its heart is Drosselgasse, a cobbled street filled with historic buildings, restaurants, bars and shops and a magical atmosphere – filled with fairy lights and steaming gluhwein in the winter and flowery hanging baskets and pavement cafes in the summer. Rüdesheim’s Cable Car transports visitors up to the Germania monument and offers a panorama over the vineyards. A chairlift takes visitors to Niederwald Castle.