Koblenz to Metz

Day 1: Koblenz
Day 2: Koblenz - Burg Eltz -  Cochem
Day 3: Cochem - Zell - Bernkastel, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 4: Bernkastel Railway Maare Mosel, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 5: Bernkastel - Trier, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Trier - Saarburg, 22 mi. (35 km) 
Day 7: Saarburg - Remich (Luxembourg), 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 8: Remich - Metz (France), 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 9: Departure 

*All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change, even on very short notice,  due to variables in wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, docking location changes, lock repairs,  etc. The captain and crew reserve the right to make adjustments at any time with safety as the top priority.

Day 1: Koblenz
Arriving in Koblenz you will find the Iris moored close to the Deutsche Eck, the triangular region at the confluence of the Moselle with the Rhine. You are welcome on board at 2 pm. Luggage drop off is possible after 9:30 am If you want a pre or post boarding excursion, climb to the mighty Ehrenbreitenstein fortress for an incredible view of the surroundings.  The noble Riesling grape is the Queen of Cups in this region so be sure to have a taste. Don't expect sweet as many Rieslings are actually dry!  If you prefer beer,  visit  the Koblenz’ Biergarten just steps away from the barge. Koblenz is a lively place and a wonderful start for your bike and boat tour.

Day 2: Koblenz - Burg Eltz -  Cochem
On a morning sail, you cross the first lock and enter the Moselle and are dropped off at the foot of the hills where the Burg Eltz is hidden. Untouched by wars or fires, you will find this beautiful castle worth the effort of walking to it. The included guided tour here takes you back through the ages. After your visit, you continue cycling to Cochem, the most visited village on the Moselle River. It is bustling and characteristic Mosel town with steep wine-clad mountains, wooded hills, an impressive castle, and a picturesque square with beautiful timber-framed houses and cafes. Time for a Moselle wine!

Day 3: Cochem - Zell - Bernkastel, 31 mi. (50 km)
In the early morning, while you are having breakfast, the Iris sails to the medieval village known as the Sleeping Beauty on the Mosel. Lovely Beilstein has been the backdrop for many German films. You will have the chance to see the venerated and rare relic, the Black Madonna, in the chapel of the Carmelite Monastery overlooking the valley.  After the visit, your bike route follows the river upstream passing the steepest vineyards in the world to arrive in Zell, a beautiful hamlet where the river slices through slate mountains in dramatic oxbows and S turns. This is home to Zeller Schwarze Katz (Black Cat) , a legendary Mosel Wine. The route then leads to Traben-Trarbach, featuring world-class Art Nouveau architecture. This village was important in the international wine trade during the 19th century. From here, you cruise to Bernkastel-Kues, a good size village with something for everyone. Wine aficionados will be in paradise. You will also find great shopping and most importantly, ice cream! Showing off one of the prettiest town squares in Germany, its timber-frame buildings date back to the 1400s! The castle ruins on the hill are lit at night and provide a lovely ambiance for an evening stroll along the river. 

Day 4: Bernkastel & Rails to Trails Maare Mosel, 28 mi. (45 km)
Leaving the river and vineyards behind,  a bus transfer will take you up to an agricultural region called the Eifel (and yes, there is a connection to the famed Parisian tower). From here, it’s an exhilarating ride mostly downhill along a rails-to-trails path. It will be the ride of a lifetime for many, through German forests and former train tunnels, over bridges, and around small lakes formed from volcano craters eons ago. After the last tunnel, you can relax in the small village, enjoying ice cream on the terraces. This day will surely be remembered as a highlight of your bike and boat tour.

Day 5: Bernkastel - Trier, 31 mi. (50 km)
From Bernkastel, the valley opens up and vineyards expand as far as the eye can see. Today you cruise past the heavy-hitters in the wine world: Brauneberg, Piesport, Trittenheim. Piesport is beloved by the Brits for the “little golden droplets.” Trittenheim lies in a sharp hairpin turn on the river surrounded by mountains coated with grapes. The chapel in the vineyard is one of the most photographed on the river. Later,  you bike on to Trier, a lively university town, powerful Arch-diocese, and Imperial Residence of Constantine the Great. All roads lead to Rome as they say, but in this case your road leads to Trier, the 2nd Rome in the 3rd century. The history is fascinating. 

Day 6: Trier - Saarburg, 22 mi. (35 km)
After vibrant Trier, your path leads to a place that’s a throw-back in time. The name Saarburg means “fortress on the river Saar” to give you a hint of what to expect there. The ruins date back to the 10th century, a summer palace for the Archbishops of Trier—powerful men and power brokers in the Holy Roman Empire. You will love Saarburg. There’s a natural, steep drop between the “upper and lower” towns, but they connect by a high waterfall. Town fathers back in the 1300s diverted a local river to run through the center so they’d have access to water to fight fires quickly and have continual energy to run their mills. All of this is well-preserved in the 17th-18th century homes that cling to the hillside. It’s medieval German engineering at its best.

Day 7: Saarburg - Remich (Luxembourg), 31 mi. (50 km)
From Saarburg, you pedal toward Luxembourg, the tiny nation about the size of Rhode Island. Don’t let the size fool you, Luxembourg is an important finance center and EU administrative city. On the way to the Grand Duchy, you visit a wine cellar to taste the whites from the upper Mosel. The wines here are different than the middle Mosel styles. When the terroir (geology) changes, so do the wines. We will also have the opportunity to visit a hidden gem. It’s a great story of historic preservation…imagine you’re a farmer in 1852 and you’re tilling your field. Suddenly, these colorful square pieces start appearing in the plowed sod. What that farmer discovered were pieces that belonged in a tiled mosaic floor—dating back 1,600 years! The tile floor which lies in its original place was once the centerpiece in a palatial Roman villa. The total piece(in 3 million individual tile pieces) reveals scenes from gladiator games in the amphitheater. 

Day 8: Remich - Metz (France), 25 mi. (40 km)
Leaving, Germany and Luxembourg behind , it is off to France.  You pass the fortress high up on the rocky outcrop, one of the palaces inhabited by the powerful Dukes of Lorraine. The route is lovely French countryside, riparian landscapes, and tiny villages. You ride past wheat fields and pastures of white cows (charolais) praised for their strength as draft animals and excellent meat. Thionville was the center of the steel industry until the 1980s. That might sound modern and industrial, but the city is ancient. The historic center reveals medieval ramparts, lovely gardens, old streets, and St.Maximin basilica which houses one of the finest organs in the world. Thionville is also part of the infamous Maginot line, an enormous defense network of forts and bunkers built between World Wars against the Germans. It failed miserably—one of the worst military strategies ever conceived. After spending millions on it, the Germans simply marched around in their Blitzkrieg warfare style. You experience the last leg of the itinerary on board the Iris, cruising on to Metz, another ancient city strategically situated on a Roman trading route. St.Etienne Cathedral is the 3rd largest gothic church in France with flying buttresses and Marc Chagall stained glass windows. Metz is full of stunning architecture, flowers, and great cafes.

Day 9: Departure 
Your guided tour ends after breakfast. You can leave your luggage on board until lunchtime and go and enjoy more of Metz and perhaps spend some time visiting the Cathedral! 

Be sure to check out all of our featured bike and boat tours, or our full list of bicycle tours.

• Iris

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  The Iris is a refitted freight barge that accommodates 24 overnight passengers. The interior of the Iris is fresh, tasteful, and comfortable. This vessel can navigate on most rivers and canals in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. On the top deck, you will find the lounge, a roomy sitting area, a cozy bar, and a sun deck. The whole barge has central heating and air-conditioning.