Riverside Debussy, 10 Night Historic cities of Germany River Cruise ex Nuremberg to Dusseldorf

Three rivers and one canal! Starting on the incredible Main-Danube canal, your cruise embarks in Nuremburg before entering the Main River in Bamberg. Enjoy your progress along the Main, a small and meandering river that takes you past the small city of Wurzburg, perhaps visiting the beautiful Residenz palace, the small town of Wertheim with its castle ruins to the bustling city of Frankfurt. Visit Mainz on the mighty Rhine River before entering the famous Rhine Valley, passing the Loreley and delighting at castles and their stories on this spectacular sail. Exploring also the Moselle River with its Roman and medieval heritage sites, you return to the Rhine where your cruise finishes in Dusseldorf.

NUREMBERG, GERMANY
Fine wooden toys, jumping frogs and tin music boxes, colourful tableware and stationery – all handmade in local manufactories. The Handwerkerhof in Nuremberg is perfect for small and original souvenirs from the trip. Because your loved ones back home will definitely ask of such a special river cruise: Did you bring me something? Those who have been to Nuremberg also bring back stories. For example, from a visit to the Albrecht Durer House, from a stroll through the Old Town with the Kaiserburg and the churches and the medieval fortress walls, from the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, where the National Socialists held their party congresses and where the Nuremberg Trials were later held. From the “Marriage Carousel”, a fountain with larger-than-life bronze figures thematising the “bittersweet way of conjugal life”. And from the hangman’s house. There is a lot to tell.

BAMBERG, GERMANY
Bamberg is the dream of a city that has become northern Bavaria. With charm from the Middle Ages and with listed buildings, yes, with baroque splendour architecture, to be more precise. In addition to numerous museums and historical sights, beer connoisseurs and aficionados will get their money’s worth in Bamberg in much the same way as wine lovers do with a top vintner. Beer is something like the lifeblood in the city. There are numerous breweries and plenty of pubs. But you’d better visit them after a tour of the city. This is because here you should not miss the following first: the Alte Hofhaltung (once the bishops’ residence), the cathedral (dating from 1002) and the Neue Residenz (what splendid halls!) with the rose garden designed by Balthasar Neumann (what a view over the old town). And as a little extra, after all you are on a river cruise: in Bamberg there is lock 100. It is the last lock of the Ludwig Main Danube Canal built under King Ludwig I. It is still operated by hand. The lock-keeper’s cottage is simply magical.

WURZBURG, GERMANY
Bavaria and Baroque. In Würzburg, it’s like nowhere else. One of the main works is the city’s Residenz, one of the most important castles in Europe, designed by Balthasar Neumann, built between 1720 and 1740 and protected by UNESCO. In the stairwell, every visitor is left feeling amazed: What a fresco! The largest continuous fresco in the world. Any questions? Then it’s on to the city, a baroque dream come true. And finally, we cross the oldest bridge over the Main (don’t worry, it has been lavishly restored time and again) to Marienburg Fortress, which was the residence of the Würzburg prince-bishops for over 400 years. From up here you look down on the old university with its domes and towers. What a view! Perhaps a visit to the art ship ARTE NOAH? It is one of the few floating galleries in Germany.

WERTHEIM, GERMANY
Have you ever heard of the “Buddescheißer”? If you come to Wertheim, you definitely will. It is a mixture of marc and peach liqueur and a speciality from the wine town of Wertheim, one of the most beautiful towns in the north of Baden-Württemberg. Wertheim Castle towers high above the old town, majestically displaying its towers and battlements. It was built from 1180 onwards. Anyone standing up here and enjoying the magnificent view of the charming landscape of the Main and Tauber rivers (by the way, the two rivers flow together in Wertheim) should not be startled if he or she suddenly hears a loud, bleeting sound. Between spring and autumn, the castle’s guests include numerous goats that keep the steep green meadows on the huge castle grounds short. After this brief animal interlude, how about a dig in the old town? You have to have seen it!

FRANKFURT, GERMANY
Frankfurt, the first things that come to mind are the sausages, the banks and finance. A feature even more famous than the sausages is, of course, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was born in the house on Großer Hirschgraben. Here, he also wrote two of his important works, the original version of “Faust” and “Die Leiden des jungen Werther”. His birthplace can be visited today. It is one of a total of 39 museums on the city’s waterfront. An absolute must! And the old town with the Paulskirche, which became the seat of the first German National Assembly in 1848 and where the Peace Prize of the Frankfurt Book Trade is awarded every year, is also a must-see place. Frankfurt, anything else spring to mind? Right. The “Palm Garden” with the “Palm House” from 1869, as well as the “Butterfly House”. A green moment, whether summer or winter.

COCHEM, GERMANY
OK. Another pearl of the Moselle. Cochem. Only 5,000 inhabitants and yet pleasantly lively. The best thing to do here is to stroll along the riverbank, take a walk up into the vineyards, sit on a bench, look down on Germany and think: It’s so beautiful here! Of course, there is also plenty to see in Cochem itself. Medieval streets and houses – and, above all, the castle. It dates from the year 1000 and, after French destruction, was bought as a ruin by the wealthy Berliner Louis Ravene and rebuilt as a private residence. Hidden doors lead to secret passages, deer antlers hang on the walls. In 1942, Ravene’s descendants were forced to sell it by the Nazis. Today, the castle belongs to the town of Cochem and can be visited on a guided tour (about 40 minutes).

TRIER, GERMANY
UNESCO has long held this historical gem under its protection. Trier is the oldest city in Germany. It was already a recognised city in Roman times. Proud town houses are grouped around the market square, and the market court once met under the arcades. Trier’s landmark is the city gate Porta Nigra from the 2nd century. By the way, the amphitheatre and the remains of the Roman bathhouses are just as old. And just like Speyer, Trier once had a Jewish community, 300 Jews already lived in the city in the Middle Ages – many of them in the “Judengasse” right behind the cathedral. Today, a memorial with a bronze suitcase commemorates their deportation during the Second World War. Incidentally, the Christian presence in the city is not only evident in the cathedral: The Episcopal Seminary owns 34 hectares of land for vineyards, and the wine – mainly Riesling – is pressed and distributed by the Bischofliche Weinguter Trier. I wonder if that’s one of the reasons the city is so popular among students?

BERNKASTEL, GERMANY
Bernkastel is a charming town located in the heart of the Moselle wine region in Germany. It is famous for its picturesque half-timbered houses and its role in the production of some of the world's finest Riesling wines. Visitors can explore the town's historic center, where they will find the beautiful Market Square, the St. Michael's Fountain, and the ruins of the Landshut Castle. And for those who enjoy wine, there are many wineries in and around Bernkastel offering tastings and tours.

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY
Can office buildings dance? In Dusseldorf, the answer to this question is a resounding “yes”. The architect Frank O. Gehry designed it – its model must have been the Leaning Tower of Pisa. They are located in the city’s famous “Medienhafen” quarter, where other international architects have also immortalised themselves in style between quay walls and railway tracks. Definitely worth a visit. Just like the house where Heinrich Heine was born in the old town, the Hofgarten and right next to it the K20 art collection: Klee, Picasso, Matisse and Andy Warhol, all there! And if you want to let the art reverberate a little longer, take a stroll through one of Dusseldorf’s many green parks.

Charming and poetic, the compositions of Debussy created a beautiful bridge between romanticism and the developing modern world. So too will your ship, the Riverside Debussy, deliver the rich history of Europe along with all the modern comforts that bring you joy. The best of both worlds await you on the romantic Rhine river, where we are creating unique journeys that will allow you to see the old world in an entirely new, and oh so luxurious way.

A river cruise touches the senses. It combines space and time to create a contemplative experience. Sitting on the upper deck in an intimate atmosphere, watching unspoiled, beautiful scenery pass by – these are moments you will never forget.

Marvel at the engineering prowess of the locks. Immerse yourself in the culture of Europe's most beautiful cities. Enjoy the culinary specialties of the regions the ship passes through. And you only have to pack your suitcase once. Yes, a river cruise in Europe with Riverside Luxury Cruises also means setting out to find yourself.