Lush green wonderland

The Upper Middle Rhine Valley is located north-east of Rhineland-Palatinate. The UNESCO World Heritage site covers an area along the Rhine from Bingen all the way to Koblenz. The valley is home to numerous castles and forts, gracing the landscape alongside the Rhine as well as to Rhineland’s most famous rock called “Loreley”. This legendary slate rock is considered the home of the eponymous Loreley - a beautiful virgin with golden blond hair. Legend has it that the virgin was cause for numerous shipwrecks. The passing voyagers were so distracted by her beauty that they did not pay attention to the dangerous reefs lurking in the depths. And who knows? The narrow passage is still considered risky today.

Even beyond the Rhine area the stunning beauty of Rhineland-Palatinate’s diverse nature can be admired. The landscape of Rhineland-Palatinate is distinguished by low mountain ranges, rivers, meadows and rolling hills. About 40 percent of the state is covered by forests. One of them being the Palatinate Forest Nature Park - Germany’s largest continuous woodland area. The volcanic Eifel must come close to being the promised land for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts. With its broad maars and volcanic lakes permeating the region and their deep blue colour characterises the unique landscape. The rivers in Rhineland-Palatinate are seamed with extensive vineyards. Those can be admired on foot, by bicycle, from a train or a boat, or even a restaurant with great view, a nice glass of wine and bright sunshine.