MS CHARLEMAGNE

MOSELLE RIVER

KOBLENZ – METZ

Moselle River

Rising in northeastern France, the Mossel River flows north, forming part of the border between Germany and Luxembourg, then northeast into the Rhine River at Koblenz, Germany. In this part of the valley are the vineyards that produce the famous Moselle wines. The most notable wines are Riesling, Elbling, Muller-Thurgau and Kerner.   The Moselle Region is to Germany what the Burgundy region is to France.

Charlemagne will take you through this impressive wine area with it's castles and chateaux and picturesque villages.  Then we will pass into another coutry, the Duchy of Luxembourg.  From there it in on to France and the town of Metz with 3000 years of history.

The source of the Moselle is at the western slope of the Ballon d'Alsace in the Vosges mountains. The Moselle flows through the Lorraine region, west of the Vosges. Further downstream, in Germany, the Moselle valley forms the division between the Eifel and Hunsrück mountain regions. Its total length from source to mouth is approximately 545 km.  It is noted for its beautiful scenery making the Moselle River one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

SATURDAY                                                                                                                                                    KOBLENZ

We meet at the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof Hotel in Frankfurt at 14:00 (2pm) and transfer to MS Charlemagne moored in the city of Koblenz , a welcome aboard reception will await you and then you will be shown to your cabins, time to settle into your accommodations before dinner is served at 7.30pm

SUNDAY                                                                                                                           KOBLENZ-COCHEM-ZELL

A morning cruise on the Moselle brings us to Cochem, this famous riverside town is dominated by its medieval castle.  Later, during a wine tasting you will be able to familiarize yourself with the different wines of the region.  We return to Charlemagne and continue our cruise to the small wine village of Zell , known for its wine Zeller Katz.

MONDAY                                                                                                                    ZELL-BERNKASTEL-TREVES

The Moselle winds and turns and takes a route along the terrain which is entirely cultivated with vines which extend as far as the eye can see, occasionally broken by small villages.  We make a stop at Bernkastel-Kues for a visit to this small town and its half timbered houses.  We continue our cruise to Treves where we will overnight.

TUESDAY                                                                                                     TREVES-KONZ-MERZIG-METTLACH

After breakfast, a tour of the city of Treves .  This city was the capital of the Occidental Roman Empire in the 3^rd c and was named Rome of the North.  Treves can qualify, along with Worms as the oldest town in Germany .  Its remarkable collection of Roman ruins have been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  We return to Charlemagne in time for lunch and continue our cruise.  In Konz, we leave the Moselle valley for the Sarre valley, which cuts  a clear path through the solid mountains of Hunsruck, causing the river to wind and twist which only  embellishes the route and helps to conserve the authenticity.  The passage of the loop of the Sarre is one of the highlights of the cruise.  We arrive into Mettlach in the evening, the town is most famous as the headquarters of the ceramics company Villeroy & Boch.

WEDNESDAY                                                                                                                METTLACH-KONZ-REMICH

This morning, an excursion in our motor coach to Cloef for the impressive panoramic view of the loop of the river Sarre.  We continue to Saarburg, a picturesque town dominated by its imposing  ruined castle, classified as an historical monument.  The streets of the town are narrow and the half timbered houses date from the middle ages, also there is a waterfall, over sixty feet high in the very center of the town, this gives a very charming aspect and is one reason the town is sometimes called Little Venice.  We rejoin the Charlemagne in Konz and continue our cruise, we are back on the river Moselle and arrive into Remich.  This charming small town is part of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and we will take anv excursion there this afternoon.  The capital is a thousand years old, fascinating, built on rock and called the Gibralta of the North.  The guided visit will explain the historical and financial  aspects and its function as the headquarters of several European institutions.  We return to Charlemagne in Remich.

THURSDAY                                                                                                                                            REMICH-METZ

This morning we will visit the Roman mosaiques of Nenning.  They were discovered in 1852 as part of an immense villa with this sumptuous mosaique wall measuring 16 x 10 meters, this is the largest, most beautiful and best preserved north of the Alpes.  We return to the boat and cruise, we are now in France , as far as Metz .  The countryside changes radically and we leave the hills and vineyards behind us, replaced by the vast plaines of the Lorraine .  This afternoon, a visit to Metz , the city is Roman, medieval, classic, German and keeps its aspects from its three thousand years of history.  The cathedral of Saint-Etienne is world renown for its stained glass which covers a surface of 6496 square meters.  We have the pleasure of admiring the masterpieces from the 13^th c until recent times, including works by Marc Chagall.  There will be free time in the city before we return to Charlemagne for our farewell Gala Dinner.

FRIDAY                                                                                                                                                         METZ-FRANKFORT

After breakfast, the motor coach will drive you back to Frankfort , arriving there by lunch time.

Reverse Itinerary for Metz – Koblenz  itinerary.  This cruise does the Neckar River 2 weeks out of each 4 and the Moselle River the other two weeks.