Merzig to Cochem

Merzig to Cochem

Day 1: Merzig
Day 2: Merzig – Saarburg, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Saarburg – Trier-Pfalzel, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 4: Trier – Schweich | Schweich – Neumagen – Bernkastel-Kues, 16 or 32 mi. (27 km or 53 km)
Day 5: Bernkastel-Kues by bus to Daun – Bernkastel-Kues (Daun excursion), 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 6: Bernkastel-Kues – Zell, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 7: Zell – Cochem, 24 mi. (40 km)
Day 8: Departure from Cochem

*All distances are approximate.

Day 1: Arrival in Merzig
After arriving on board, you can settle in and then enjoy a town walkthrough Merzig. Sights of interest are the Romanesque basilica of St. Peter from the 12th century and the former castle of Archbishop Sötern (1625), a jewel of baroque architecture which is currently being used as the town hall.

Day 2: Merzig – Saarburg, 28 mi. (45 km)
Your first bike tour brings you to Mettlach, where you will visit the famous earthenware factory of Villeroy et Boch. Later, continue through the Saarschleife at Orscholz. In a sharp turn, the Saar meanders through the densely forested valley. You have a beautiful view on top of the cliff.

After that, return to the barge in Saarburg, an interesting old town situated in the most beautiful part of the Saar valley, where the banks of the river are densely forested. The castle of Saarburg was built here in the middle of the 10th century. In the middle of town, is a waterfall that is 20 meters high. At the foot of this waterfall, there is an old mill, which is driven by a small river. In this part of town, most of the old houses date back to the 17th and 18th century, which give Saarburg such a picturesque look.

Day 3: Saarburg – Trier, 22 mi. (35 km)
After breakfast, your tour leader will take you to Trier for a short bicycle tour. You will arrive there around lunchtime. After a guided walk there is time to discover and enjoy Trier on your own. Trier is known as the oldest city in Germany. The city was founded around 15 before Christ by Caesar Augustus under the name of Augusta Trevorum. Trier flourished during the late imperial age as a trading town and administrative center. This Roman golden age has left us with a respectable number of monuments. Most authentic is the city gate Porta Nigra, which was built around 18 AD.

Day 4: Trier – Schweich | Schweich – Neumagen – Bernkastel-Kues, 16 or 32 mi. (27 km or 53 km)
After a breakfast cruise, you will start your bicycle tour in Schweich. You have now entered the “The Romantic Moselle”, the unofficial name for the mid-Moselle.  Lovely vineyards expand as far as the eye can see. You cruise past the heavy-hitters in the wine world: Trittenheim and Piesport. Trittenheim lies in a sharp hairpin turn on the river surrounded by mountains coated with grapes. Piesport is beloved by the Brits for the “little golden droplets.” Around lunchtime, you will arrive in Neumagen, an important center of wine production dating back to Roman times. You can decide to join the barge from here or continue by bicycle to Bernkastel-Kues. This frequently visited, old, and picturesque town produces the best wines of the Mid-Moselle. Pride of the town is the market square, with its picturesque timber-framed houses. A walk to the castle offers a beautiful view.

Day 5: Bernkastel-Kues – Daun (by bus) – Bernkastel-Kues (Daun excursion) 34 mi. (55 km.)
This morning you leave the river and vineyards behind. You will be shuttled by bus up into the Eifel region to the city of Daun. From there, we take an exhilarating bicycle ride along a former railway track that is now a cycling path. The ride includes stretches through tunnels, over bridges, and by small lakes formed from volcano craters, known as maars. After the last tunnel you can have a break in a local little town where you can enjoy a well-deserved ice cream on the terraces.

Day 6: Bernkastel-Kues – Zell, 28 mi. (45 km)
Follow the Mosel further downstream and cruise past Traben-Trarbach to Zell. Traben-Trarbach is surrounded by woods and extensive vineyards and is the major center of wine trade in the Mosel region. Zell is beautifully situated on the Mosel, where the river meanders through the hills in many loops. The Hoherott (452 m) and the Corrayer Berg (425 m) are the best-known wine regions.

Day 7: Zell – Cochem 24 mi. (40 km)
Today's destination is Cochem, one of the most frequently visited tourist places on the Mosel. Cochem is a cozy and characteristic Mosel town, with steep wine mountains, wooded hills, medieval fortresses, and a picturesque center with beautiful timber-framed houses. The fortress houses a museum which you can visit.

Day 8: Cochem
End of tour. Disembarkation after breakfast, by 9:30 AM.

Cochem to Merzig

Day 1: Cochem
Day 2: Cochem – Beilstein – Zell, 22 or 27 mi. (36 km or 44 km)
Day 3: Zell – Traben Trarbach – Bernkastel Kues, 27 mi. (44 km)
Day 4: Bernkastel-Kues, “Maare-Moselradweg MMR” excursion, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 5: Bernkastel-Kues – Neumagen – Schweich –Trier/Pfalzel, 18 or 34 mi. (28 km or 54 km)
Day 6: Trier/Pfalzel – Trier – Saarburg, 20 mi. (33 km)
Day 7: Saarburg – Merzig, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 8: Departure from Merzig

Day 1: Cochem
Embarkation and check-in is at 3 p.m. in Cochem. After a welcome meeting with the crew, you can go for a walk through this cozy and characteristic Moselle town, with steep wine-clad mountains, wooded hills, an impressive castle, and a picturesque square with beautiful timber-framed houses and cafes. Visit the castle or have a glass of local wine.

Day 2: Cochem – Beilstein – Zell, 22 or 27 mi. (36 km or 44 km)
After breakfast and bike fitting, you begin biking and the first stop to day is a beautiful little place called Beilstein. There you will have the chance to see the Black Madonna in the chapel of the Carmelite Monastery high on the hill. Today's tour ends in the wine village of Zell, beautifully situated on the Moselle, where the river meanders through the hills in many loops. Zeller Schwarze Katz (black cat) is a legendary Moselle Wine.

Day 3: Zell – Traben Trarbach – Bernkastel-Kues, 27 mi. (44 km)
The bike tour from Zell brings you to romantic Traben-Trarbach, city of Art Nouveau (Jugendstil), and then on to Bernkastel Kues. This frequently visited, old, and picturesque town produces the best wines of the Mid-Moselle. Pride of the town is the market square, with its picturesque timber-framed houses. A walk to the castle offers a beautiful view. (optional visiting Birthplace of Nicholas of Cusa in Kues)

Day 4: Bernkastel-Kues, “Maare-Moselradweg MMR” excursion, 34 mi. (55 km)
This morning you leave the river and vineyards behind. You and your bike will be shuttled by bus up into the Eifel region to the city of Schalkenmehren. From there, take an exhilarating bicycle ride along a former railway track that is now a cycling path. The ride includes stretches through tunnels, over bridges, and by small lakes formed from volcano craters, known as maars. After the last tunnel, enjoy a break in a local little town where you can enjoy a well-deserved ice cream on the terraces. Today there is no dinner on board. Tonight for dinner, you can select one of the local restaurants of Bernkastel-Kues (at your own expense).

Day 5: Bernkastel-Kues – Neumagen – Schweich | Schweich –Trier/ Pfalzel, 18 or 34 mi. (28 km or 54 km)
From Bernkastel, the valley opens up and vineyards expand as far as the eye can see. Cruise past the heavy-hitters in the wine world: Brauneberg, Piesport, and 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. Around lunchtime, you will arrive in Neumagen, an important center of wine production dating back to Roman times. You can decide to join the barge from here or continue by bicycle to Schweich, where again the barge will be waiting for you. Once on board, you will cruise to Trier/Pfalzel.

Day 6: Trier/Pfalzel – Trier – Saarburg, 20 mi. (33 km)
In the morning your tour leader will take you to Trier, the oldest city in Germany. Trier was founded around 15 before Christ by Caesar Augustus under the name of Augusta Trevorum. Trier flourished during the late imperial age as a trading town and administrative center. This Roman golden age has left us with a respectable number of monuments. Most authentic is the city gate Porta Nigra, which was built around 18 after Christ. There is also time to discover and enjoy Trier on your own. After lunch, you will hop on your bicycles and follow the Mosel and Saar river to our next destination, Saarburg. Saarburg is an interesting old town situated in the most beautiful part of the Saar valley. Here the banks of the river are densely forested. The castle of Saarburg was built here in the middle of the 10th century. In the middle of town you come across a waterfall of 20 meters high. At the foot of this waterfall, there is an old mill, which is driven by the small river. In this part of town most of the old houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, which give Saarburg such a picturesque look, are still intact.

Day 7: Saarburg - Merzig, 25 mi. (40 km)
Cycling from Saarburg to Mettlach, after a visit at "Villeroy & Boch" and walking to viewpoint Cloef in the "Saarschleife", you bike to Merzig.

Day 8: Disembarkation, around 9.30 am.
Check out and disembarkation after breakfast. 

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