Mosel and Saar

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Mettlach to Cochem

Day 1: Embarkation in Mettlach between 2 and 3 pm, 9 mi. (15 km)
Day 2: Saarschleife - Saarbrug, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 3: Saarburg - near Trier, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 4: Nearby Trier, sailing to Schweig - Bernkastel Kues, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 5: Bernkastel Kues, Moselle - Maare cycling trail, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 6: Bernkastel-Kues - Zell, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 7: Zell - Cochem, 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 8: Cochem disembarkation before 10 am

Day 1: Embarkation in Mettlach between 2 and 3 pm, 9 mi. (15 km)
Your tour starts in the beautiful Saarland town of Mettlach, home of Villeroy & Boch and with a lot of shops and terraces. Do note that you can drop your luggage off at noon but cabins will not be ready for check in. At 4 PM, the Zwaan will undergo a short navigation along the Saar River  to a beautiful mooring-place near the Saarschleife (Saar loop).

Day 2: Saarschleife - Saarbrug, 22 mi. (35 km)
From Mettlach, the route leads north along the Saar. Around the little village of Saarhölzbach  the Saarland is left behind and the Rheinland Pfalz is entered. The history of this little village goes back to the year 802 and the government of Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, King of Franks, King of Italy and the first Holy Roman Emperor. Destination today is Saarburg from where it is about 15 km. to the Mosel. Don’t forget to go for a walk through the old town center with the famous waterfalls and visit the old city castle. 

Day 3: Saarburg - nearby Trier, 22 or 28 mi. (35 or 45 km)
Today you switch rivers in the historical city of Konz,  leaving the Saar behind and then following the Mosel towards Luxembourg. It was around the year 365 A.D. that the river inspired the Roman teacher Magnus Ausonius to write his hymn Mosella:

‘Greetings, river, framed by perfumed vineyard-covered hills, Framed by grass; river of greenest shores. Your strong waters carry ships, flowing in easy waves. Along the stream, and a glittering lake your depths emulate.’

Along the old Saarschleife, to to the Igeler Säule, you cycle and then to  and Wasserbillig in Luxembourg.  In the afternoon you’ll turn eastwards to Trier where you’ll stay for around 3 hours. This city is known for its Roman legacies like the Porta Nigra, the Basilica of Constantine the Great and an amphitheatre. After visiting there is one hour cycling to the mooring-place of the barge.

Day 4: Mooring location outside Trier - Bernkastel Kues, 31 mi. (50 km)
Today's route showcases Roman influence that is still present today in ancient villas, public baths, and other relics of ancient civilizations. The ancient remnants dot the slopes along the winding river. Destination today is the medieval town of Bernkastel Keus with its romantic narrow streets, remarkable half timbered houses, and picturesque nooks and crannies.

Day 5: Bernkastel Kues, Moselle - Maare cycling trail, 34 mi. (55 km)
In the morning you are transferred by bus to Daun, to the start of the Moselle-Maare cycling trail, possibly the most famous cycling trail of the central Moselle. The track is built on an old railway line. There is no simpler way to cycle to the Moselle valley than on the former railway line through the Volcanic Eifel! The road runs through the landscape of volcanoes and crater lakes, along magnificent viaducts and past old railway stations and  continues to roll on the Moselle bike path to Bernkastel-Kastel Kues.

Day 6: Bernkastel-Kues - Zell, 25 mi. (40 km)
The Mosel continues through a green and fascinating landscape with vineyards and forests and beautiful towns and villages like the so called ‘Winzerdorf’ Wolf.  Further on, around the next curve,  you’ll be surprised by the beautiful double city in Jugendstil, Traben Trarbach. The ship waits for you in the city of the black cat, Zell. The story goes that when some wine merchants from Aachen had to choose which wine barrel they wanted to buy,  a black cat jumped upon one of the barrels to defend it. Of course this made it clear for them which barrel they should buy. 

Day 7: Zell - Cochem, 28 mi. (45 km)
The day starts with sailing to the beautiful village of Beilstein. Today you will visit the most beautiful castle along the Mosel River: Burg Eltz. You will cycle to a bicycle parking lot on the foothill and from there continue hiking (1 hour, not too steep) to Burg Eltz. Here there is an opportunity to visit the original medieval interior of the castle and climb the tower. After the visit, the cycling continues along the Mosel to Cochem, the final destination of this cycling week. Cochem is famous for its wines and dominated by the old Reichsburg.

 Day 8: Cochem, disembarkation before 10 am​

Cochem to Mettlach

Day 1: Embarkation in Cochem between 2 and 3 pm. 
Day 2: Cochem - Zell, 27.5 mi. (44 km)
Day 3: Zell - Bernkastel - Kues, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Bernkastel-Kues, Moselle - Maare cycling trail, 34 mi. (55 km)
Day 5: Bernkastel-Kues - nearby Trier, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 6: Trier -Saarschleife - Saarburg, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 7: Saarburg - Mettlach, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 8: Mettlach, disembarkation before 10 am

Day 1: Embarkation in Cochem between 2 and 3 pm.
Your tour starts in the beautiful city Cochem with a lot of shops and terraces. Cochem is famous for its wines and dominated by the old Reichsburg. Do note that you can drop your luggage off at noon but cabins will not be ready for check in.

Day 2: Cochem - Zell, 27.5 mi. (44 km)
Through five remarkable bends you’ll meander along the river to the famous vineyards of Calmont. The steepest slopes have a gradient of 65%, which makes it quite difficult for the farmers to tend their vineyards. The lunch stop will be at the beautiful village of Beilstein. End point today is the city of the black cat, Zell. The story goes that when a few wine merchants from Aachen had to choose which wine barrel they should buy a black cat jumped upon one of the barrels to defend it. Of course this made it clear for them which barrel they should buy.

Day 3: Zell - Bernkastel - Kues, 25 mi. (40 km)
The Mosel makes its way through a green and fascinating landscape with vineyards and forests. Just after leaving Zell you will bike to the “Marienburg” where you will be awarded by a splendid view over the Mosel Meander. Along the way you’ll find some beautiful towns and villages like the beautiful double city in Jugendstil, Traben Trarbach and the so called ‘Winzerdorf’ Wolf. The final destination is Bernkastel-Kues, a medieval town with romantic narrow streets, remarkable half-timbered houses and picturesque nooks and crannies

Day 4: Bernkastel Kues, Moselle - Maare cycling trail, 34 mi. (55 km)
In the morning the transfer bus takes you to Daun, to the start of the Moselle-Maare cycling trail, possibly the most famous cycling trail of the central Moselle. The track is built on an old railway line. There is no simpler way to cycle to the Moselle valley than on the former railway line through the Volcanic Eifel! The road runs through the landscape of volcanoes and crater lakes, along magnificent viaducts and past old railway stations and continues to roll on the Moselle bike path to Bernkastel-Kues.

Day 5: Bernkastel Kues - nearby Trier, 31 mi. (50 km)
During today’s tour you switch rivers in the historical city of Konz, where you leave the Saar behind and follow the Mosel. Along the old Saarschleife, you cycle to the Igeler Säule and Wasserbillig in Luxemburg. In the afternoon you’ll turn eastwards to Trier where you’ll stay for around 3 hours. This city is known for its Roman legacies like the Porta Nigra, the Basilica of Constantine the Great and an amphitheatre. After visiting there is one hour cycling to the mooring-place of the barge.

Day 6: Trier -Saarschleife - Saarburg, 22 or 28 mi. (35 or 45 km)
After breakfast you bike to the Saar-Canyon. Here there will be opportunity to hike to an outlook on top of the canyon for a magnificent panorama over the faraway surroundings. The hike is not steep and takes 1 hour uphill and half an hour downhill. At lunchtime you will arrive in the town of Mettlach for lunch and can visit the town with its outlet-shops. Of course, the biggest attraction of the town, the Villeroy & Boch porcelain museum, will not be overlooked, including a cup of coffee in the beautiful Museum-Café. You will end in the very scenic town of Saarburg with its huge waterfall in the middle of town.

Day 7: Saarburg - Mettlach, 22 mi. (35 km)
From Saarburg you cycle south along the Saar. Around the little village of Saarhölzbach you leave Rheinland Pfalz behind and enter the Saarland. The history of this little village goes back to the year 802 and the government of Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, king of Franks, king of Italy and the first Holy Roman Emperor. Today we will have lunch in Mettlach, a little town along the Saar River where we will  visit the famous Villeroy & Boch porcelain museum. Today’s highlight is the beautiful Saarschleife (Saar loop). You will have the opportunity to hike to a panorama-point where you can have a great view over the whole region. The highlight of today is the beautiful Saarschleife. Endpoint of today is Mettlach. 

Day 8: End of tour
Disembarkation at 10 am

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• Mosel and Saar