Riverside Debussy, 7 Night The Romantic Rhine Southbound River Cruise ex Amsterdam to Basel

Seven days, three countries, one river: On this special trip, you will be amazed at how different and impressive nature is between Amsterdam and Basel. A magnificent interplay of flat meadows and fields, of industrial culture and the romantic green "Middle Rhine" with its castles and enchanting wine terraces. And then there are the cities with stories and history that you will rave about for many years to come. Cologne and Koblenz, Speyer and Strasbourg and Breisach and Basel. Truly unforgettable.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Alleys, canals and van Gogh around every corner. Amsterdam is one of the most exciting cities in Europe. The historic centre was built on five million spruce trunks. The experiences this city has to offer are limitless. Paintings by famous artists can be admired in the newly designed Museum Square. Rembrandt and Vermeer in the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh has his own museum dedicated to him – the audio tour is a real experience: a touching journey into the life of the artist, who cut off his ear in Arles in southern France after an argument with Gauguin. The Anne Frank House tells a different, but equally touching story. And if you stroll through Amsterdam’s old town, you will experience real contrasts – Chinatown, with the first Buddhist temple built in Europe and with the famous red-light district.

UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS
Utrecht is a historic city located in the central part of the Netherlands. It is known for its stunning architecture, rich cultural heritage, and lively student scene. Visitors can explore the city's many historic landmarks, such as the Dom Tower, the Rietveld Schroder House, and the Museum Catharijneconvent. The city is also home to several museums and galleries, such as the Centraal Museum, which features works by Dutch masters such as Rietveld and Van Baurscheit, and the Railway Museum, which showcases the history of Dutch railways. And for those who love shopping, Utrecht is famous for its many small boutiques and vintage stores.

COLOGNE, GERMANY
Cologne, that’s the city’s “Tunnes and Schal”, that’s gabled houses on the Rhine front, that’s the Old Market with cafés and streets through which the carnival passes in spring and the gay community moves in summer at Christopher Street Day. These are residents of the city who are known for their casual, humorous and friendly yet direct manner. These are temples of art like the MAKK or the Museum Ludwig with the most extensive Pop Art collection in Europe. And, of course, there’s the cathedral, the Gothic masterpiece, 157 metres high, with the world-famous altar of the Three Kings and the treasury and viewing platform, which you can reach via 509 steps. And Cologne, that’s “Kölsch”, a wonderfully drinkable beer that you drink out of small glasses, and which you can enjoy two, three or four at a time. Well then, cheers!

BONN, GERMANY
A walk through Bonn is a short journey through time in the old Federal Republic of Germany. There is the “Haus der Geschichte” or “House of History”, which reminds us of Ludwig Erhard, of “raisen bombers” and of the Germans’ incipient longing for Italy. There is the old town with the historic fortress belt, the Old Town Hall and the university, where Konrad Adenauer, Ludwig von Beethoven and Karl Marx studied. And there is Bad Godesberg, the once notorious diplomatic quarter. It is nothing short of a stroll between yesterday and today.

REMAGEN, GERMANY
Remagen is historically significant for its role during World War II. The Ludendorff Bridge in Remagen served as a crucial transportation and supply route for Allied forces as they crossed the Rhine River into Germany. This bridge became famous as one of the few intact spans across the Rhine in 1945, allowing Allied troops to advance. The town of Remagen, with its picturesque riverside location along the Rhine, is now a peaceful and charming destination that still commemorates its role in this pivotal moment of the war.

RUDESHEIM, GERMANY
In the past, Rudesheim was regarded by young people as stuffy German and highly provincial. In the meantime, even the hipster scene from Berlin can be seen here from time to time. The town is best known for its 144-metre-long “Drosselgasse”, the venue for wine events in small half-timbered houses and garden pubs. If you want to get an insight into the history of the Rudesheim nobility, visit the beautiful courtyards on Oberstrasse. The Frankensteiner Hof, for example.

MANNHEIM, GERMANY
Ok, it is a former Electoral Palatinate residential town. It is the second largest city in Baden-Württemberg and its port facilities are among the largest inland in Europe. Since the city was all but destroyed during the Second World War, it is not exactly considered the pearl of the country today. And yet it is worth a visit. Mannheim is young, also due to the students at the university and the State University of Music and Performing Arts. Incidentally, the city’s National Theatre hosted the premiere of Friedrich Schiller’s drama “Die Rauber” in 1782. Visitors are best advised to stroll along the main shopping street, called “Planken”, because wooden planks were once laid out there to get across the square on dry feet. The old town hall is a gem, and the largest synagogue in Germany is also worth seeing. The Jewish community was an integral part of Mannheim’s population from 1660 onwards. Today, a glass cube in the city commemorates the terrible deportation of the Jews during the Second World War. The 2,400 names of the Jews deported from the city are engraved on it.

SPEYER, GERMANY
It developed from a Roman military camp and is one of the oldest cities in Germany. It has been a bishop’s seat since the 7th century. And it is not without reason that the cathedral dominates the city of Speyer and is considered the largest Romanesque church building par excellence. 134 metres long, 37 metres wide, protected by UNESCO. Right next door is the Episcopal Palace. In the Middle Ages, Speyer also had one of the most important Jewish communities of the time. The former Judenhof is now a museum. The fact that people in Speyer also enjoy life is evident in wine taverns, cosy pubs and, of course, at the “Brezelfest”, the largest festival on the Upper Rhine, which takes place every year in July. Anyone who sins here as a citizen of faith in the city can absolve himself of his guilt immediately afterwards at confession. After all, there are plenty of churches in Speyer.

STRASBOURG, FRANCE
It’s quite possible that you will find yourself saying “WOW” every now and then as you stroll and wander through Strasbourg. What you get to see here is impressive and touching, and quite simply beautiful. For example, the cathedral surrounded by half-timbered buildings with colourful decorative glass from the 12th century and one of the highest church towers in the world (142 metres). Or the lock bridge (17th century) can be described without exaggeration as a grandiose work of art by the engineer, Barrage Vauban. And that is by no means all: Be sure to stroll through the “Quartier des Tanneurs”. Half-timbering at its finest. Lanes with cobblestones. Covered bridges. In the Middle Ages, fishermen, tanners and millers lived and worked here. The architecture from this period is almost perfectly preserved. If you need a little break afterwards to really take in the beauty: There are cosy bistros in the former Gerber quarter.

BREISACH, GERMANY
Not too many towns have such a lofty landmark as Breisach: the enormous cathedral with Romanesque and Gothic elements is enthroned on the 70-metre-high Munsterberg. A magical work of art can truly be marvelled at there: The high altar from 1525, hand-carved and positioned right at the centre, depicts the coronation of Mary. Just around the corner from the cathedral is a large black marble bull – the work of the artist Helmut Lotz. From the cathedral, the view all around is also worth taking in: to the west into Alsace, to the north-east to the Kaiserstuhl, to the south to the Eckartsberg with the remains of a fortress, to the east to the southern Black Forest. It is only a stone’s throw from Breisach to Furtwangen. There, the German Watch Museum boasts 8,000 exhibits from all over the world. 1,000 are on show. Super exciting stuff.

BASEL, SWITZERLAND
No other city between Constance and Rotterdam has integrated the Rhine into its city life as grandly as Basel. Pretty art nouveau baths have been installed in the river, there are small restaurants and pubs and bars on its banks, pop concerts are held here, and the residents are all too happy to plunge into the waters for a swim. Another detail not to be missed in Basel is probably the most beautiful museum in Switzerland, perhaps even in the whole of Europe: The Fondation Beyeler, whose transparent building was designed by Renzo Piano. The best thing to do in the old town is just to drift along, and then at some point you will automatically come across the red cantonal town hall or the stately guild houses on Barfusserplatz, which got its name from the “Barfussler” monks.

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.