Mosel and Saar-Bike and Barge (and reverse) – 8 Days
Type of tour: Guided
Level: 2
Duration: 7 Nights
Distance: 25 Miles/day average
Dates:
From Merzig: Aug 23; Sep 6, 20; Oct 4, 18, 2015.
From Kattenes: Aug 30; Sep 13, 27; Oct 11, 25, 2015
Tour price: €1115
Start city: Kattenes or Merzig, Germany
End city: Merzig or Kattenes, Germany
Tour Description
This tour along the Mosel and Saar combines the best of the German ‘Bundesländer’ Rheinland Pfalz and Saarland. While cycling from Kattenes to Merzig you’ll discover the legacy of the Roman empire, go beyond your bounds and meet the ‘Queen of grapes’.
Go back in time and visit the Roman villa’s and public baths along the two rivers. In Trier you can visit the Porta Nigra. This ancient gateway is one of the most well-known monuments from the Roman era. On day three you go beyond your bounds on a short detour to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
While cycling through one of German’s greater wine-growing areas this is an excellent occasion to try a lot of different wines and see where they grow and how they are made. Get acquainted with the excellent but uncomplicated wines from the Saar and the so called ‘Spitzenweinen’ along the Mosel like the ‘Zeller Schwarze Katz’. The main ingredient for those wines is the Riesling, a white grape variety which dates back to the 15th century and is crowned as the ‘Queen of grapes’.
Highlights: Guided Daily Program: Guided Day 1: Kattenes Day 2: Kattenes – Cochem (25 miles/40 km) Day 3: Cochem – Zell (25 miles/40 km) Day 4: Zell – Bernkastel Keus (25 miles/40 km) Day 5: Bernkastel Keus – Trier (31 miles/50 km) Day 6: Trier – Saarburg (22 miles/35 km) One thing’s for sure, you’re not the first tourist in the area. Around the year 365 A.D., the Roman teacher and poet Magnus Ausonius wrote his hymn Mosella. ‘Greetings, river, framed by perfumed vineyard-covered hills, Framed by grass; river of greenest shores. Your strong waters carry ships, flowing in easy waves. Along the stream, and a glittering lake your depths emulate.’ From the Igeler Säule you cycle to Wasserbillig in Luxemburg and the Old Saarschleife. Tonight you’ll stay in Saarburg. Don’t forget to take a walk through the old town center with the famous waterfalls and visit the old city castle. Day 7: Saarburg – Merzig (22 miles/35 km) Day 8: Merzig Merzig – Kattenes Day 1: Arrival in Merzig Day 2: Merzig – Saarburg (22 miles/35 km) Day 3: Saarburg – Trier (22 miles/35 km) One thing’s for sure, you’re not the first tourist in the area: It was around the year 365 A.D. that the river inspired the Roman teacher Magnus Ausonius to write his hymn Mosella: ‘Greetings, river, framed by perfumed vineyard-covered hills, Framed by grass; river of greenest shores. Your strong waters carry ships, flowing in easy waves. Along the stream, and a glittering lake your depths emulate.’ Along the old Saarschleife you cycle to to the Igeler Säule and Wasserbillig in Luxemburg. In the afternoon you’ll turn eastwards to Trier where you’ll stay for the night. This city is known fort it’s Roman legacies like the Porta Nigra, the Basilica of Constantine the Great and an amphitheatre. Day 4: Trier – Bernkastel Keus (31 miles/50 km) Day 5: Bernkastel Keus – Zell (25 miles/40 km) The ship waits for you in the city of the black cat, Zell. The story goes that when some wine merchants from Aachen had to choose which wine barrel they wanted to buy a black cat jumped upon one of the barrels to defend it. Of course this made it clear for them which barrel they should buy. Day 6: Zell – Cochem (25 miles/40 km) Day 7: Cochem – Kattenes (25 miles/40 km) Day 8: Departure from Kattenes Included Services: Guided Bike Rentals: Guided All above bike rentals will be equipped with the following at no additional charge: Pedals: Seats: Helmets: Bike Insurance:
This tour operates in two directions: from Kattenes to Merzig or from Merzig to Kattenes. Both itineraries are detailed below.
Kattenes – Merzig
Embarkment 3:00 pm. The tour starts with a short cycling route and town walk after dinner.
Overnight in Kattenes.
This morning you’ll sail to Alken where your cycle tour starts. The first part of the Mosel is remarkably straight compared to the next days. The Cochem, the endpoint of today, will be visible thanks to the old Reichsburg and the straight course of the river.
Overnight in Cochem.
Through five remarkable bends, you’ll meander along with the river to the famous vineyards of Calmont. The steepest slopes have a gradient of 65% which makes it quite difficult for the farmers to tend their vineyards. The endpoint of today is the city of the black cat, Zell. The story goes that when some wine merchants from Aachen had to choose which wine barrel they wanted to buy, a black cat jumped upon one of the barrels to defend it. Of course this made it clear for them which barrel they should buy.
Overnight in Zell.
The Mosel makes its way through green and fascinating landscapes with vineyards and forests. Along the way you’ll find some beautiful towns and villages like the beautiful double city in Jugendstil, Traben Trarbach and the so called ‘Winzerdorf’ Wolf. The final destination is Bernkastel-Kues, a medieval town with romantic narrow streets and remarkable half-timbered houses and picturesque nooks and crannies.
Overnight in Bernkastel Keus.
Along today’s route you’ll find a lot of Roman villas and public baths but also relics of other ancient civilizations such as the Celts. All those historical buildings are placed on the slopes along the ever winding river. ‘Special of the day’ is the ‘Piesporter Goldtröpfchen’. Tonight you’ll stay in Trier where you can visit some more Roman legacies like the Porta Nigra, the Basilica of Constantine the Great and an amphitheatre.
Overnight in Trier.
During today’s tour you switch rivers in the historical city of Konz. From here you leave the Mosel behind and go south along the Saar. Before you take ‘exit Saar’ you’ll go further west to jump over the border into the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Overnight in Saarburg.
From Saarburg you cycle south along the Saar. Around the little village of Saarhölzbach you leave the Rheinland Pfalz behind and enter the Saarland. The history of this little village goes back to the year 802 and the government of Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, king of Franks, king of Italy and the first Holy Roman Emperor. The endpoint of today is Merzig, a small city in Saarland about 10 km from the border of France.
Overnight in Merzig.
After breakfast the tour ends. It is well worth the effort to take some time to look around in Merzig to visit the Garden of Senses or the wolf park of Werner Freund.
Board the ship starting at 3 pm. Your tour starts in the beautiful Saarland town of Merzig. In this small town is a lot to discover, from the Garden of Senses to the wolf park of Werner Freund. The tour starts with a short cycling route and town walk after dinner.
Overnight in Merzig.
From Merzig you cycle north along the Saar. Around the little village of Saarhölzbach you leave the Saarland behind and enter the Rheinland Pfalz. The history of this little village goes back to the year 802 and the government of Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, king of Franks, king of Italy and the first Holy Roman Emperor. Endpoint of today is Saarburg from where it is about 15 km to the Mosel. Don’t forget to go for a walk through the old town centre with the famous waterfalls and visit the old city
castle.
Overnight in Saarburg.
During today’s tour you switch rivers in the historical city of Konz, from here you leave the Saar behind and follow the Mosel towards Luxembourg.
Overnight in Trier.
As well as yesterday the Romans are still present today. Along the route you’ll find a lot of old Roman villas, public baths and other relics of ancient civilizations. All those historical buildings are placed on the slopes along the winding river. End point of today is the medieval town of Bernkastel Keus with its romantic narrow streets, remarkable half timbered houses and picturesque nooks and crannies.
As if it enjoyed a drink and more the Mosel makes its way through a green and fascinating landscape with vineyards and forests. Along the way you’ll find some beautiful towns and villages like the so called ‘Winzerdorf’ Wolf and even further around the next curve you’ll be surprised by the beautiful double city in Jugendstil, Traben Trarbach.
Overnight in Zell.
Today it seems like the river makes its last twists before it continues along an almost nonchalant way through the area. In the fourth bend you’ll find the incredible steep vineyards of Calmont. The steepest slopes have a gradient of 65% which makes it quite difficult for the farmers to tend their vineyards. From here the river makes another 5 bends before it reaches the old Celtic city of Cochem.
Overnight in Cochem.
From his high position the old Reichsburg keeps a watchful eye on you when you leave Cochem. After passing the two bridges in Cochem the river follows a remarkably straight course.
Overnight in Kattenes.
After breakfast, the tour ends. Disembarkation at 10 am.
Bikes available to be rented (in advance at the time of booking) include:
The bikes will have FLAT pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
If you plan to bring your own seat, please ensure that it is a universal seat post.
Helmets can be rented through the tour company for 10 Euros per week. They must be ordered with booking, and may NOT be rented on board. A helmet is required for children in the Netherlands (helmets are included with renting of children’s equipment, but not for adults). Alternatively, we recommend bringing your own helmet for safety and hygiene reasons.
You can purchase bike insurance with your booking, if you would like. It costs € 15 for a hybrid touring bike, and € 40 for a electrically assisted bike.
