Have you ever wondered what it would be like to step into a fairy tale with castles and rolling hills and a feeling like you can’t believe you’re here? Well, have I got a place for you to visit. It’s Rudesheim, Germany.
I can’t count how many times I’ve been to Rudesheim. Even though you do have a lot of tourist visiting it daily, it’s still so enchanting and whimsical that I have to see it every time I go to Germany.
Rudesheim is located about 50 miles from Frankfurt which you can take a train from if you are staying in Frankfurt. It is one of Germany’s most Romantic cities to visit as it lies along the Rhine River decorated with an abundance of castles. There you can take a Rhine River cruise and be called to the rock of the Siren Lorelei, as the sailors were according to legend. But I’m sure your captain won’t be bewitched as they were and will guide your ship around it. This area on the Rhine is the narrowest and deepest part of the Rhine. You will slowly cruise down it and enjoy the sites of about 40 castles and fortresses going back to the 1600’s around the Thirty Years’ War period.
After your cruise, you can enjoy the quaint town of Rudesheim. Now, if you do drive, which is how we always sightsee, the parking situation is a little bit tricky. You will want to find the main sign with a big “P” and underneath it will say “mit Parkschein”. This means you must purchase a ticket to park on the street. You will find this in most of your cities in Germany. There is one meter that takes care of one block at a time on the main road. Put your coins in and it will give you your parking ticket. Go back and put it inside your windshield on the passenger side. Along the main street in Rudesheim you are allowed to park like this.
There are so many beautiful gift shops. Don’t buy right away because many sell the same items. If you shop a little first, you can find the stores that will sell the same item cheaper. The gift shops on the main road in Rudesheim normally are higher priced because that is where most of the traffic comes first. Rudesheim is a good area to buy wine because of its rich soil being on the Rhine. There are vineyards all around. If you search on the Internet you can create a nice map of nearby vineyards to enjoy wine tasting. However, make sure you call ahead of time. Some vineyards are only open at certain times and others you need an appointment. Many today now charge a small wine tasting fee unlike years ago, when it was free.
Good food and music is everywhere. The Drosselgasse is a great place to eat and listen to some ump pa pa music. You can actually hear the music throughout the streets because it carries so far. The paths along the streets are narrow, but it’s not a problem because everyone seems so happy to be there.
After you eat, do go on the Cable ride to the Niederwald Monument which sets on a forest edge above the Rhine. It’s a monument that represents the beginning of the German Empire and Germany’s Unity. You can always take the footpath up the mountain, but the cable ride will give you a beautiful panoramic view of all the beautiful vineyards in Rudesheim.
If you want to sleep in a Castle, I found a very authentic and friendly one called Schloss Auf Schoenberg. It sits high up on a hill overlooking Rudesheim and the Rhine nearby where the Lorelei Rock is located. There are towers in the castle that will make you feel like you should let your hair down; if you’re a woman, that is. We were amazed with the view and the authenticity of the castle. There are other castles you can stay at but they are too modern. Schloss Auf Schoenburg keeps its history and beauty. You will just want to open your window and stare down at the Rhine to listen and watch while the train comes around the mountain through a tunnel. You will be greeted with wine and chocolate in your room which is decorated with fairy-tale like drapery. You’d think the Brothers Grimm live there. It’s pricey, but if you are going to make a trip to Rudesheim, it’s so well worth it. Let’s face it. How many times can you say “I stayed in a castle”?
