Riverside Debussy, 5 Night Very German Christmas River Cruise ex Frankfurt to Cologne

Few countries embrace Christmas the way Germany does, and this fantastic journey introduces you to the very best of it all! Embark in Frankfurt, Europe’s bustling “Mainhattan” financial hub that still maintains its Old World charm. Visit Mannheim, home to one of the largest palace complexes in the world; 2000-year-old Speyer, where many German emperors and kings were laid to rest; the charming wine village of Rüdesheim for a special musical treat; Cologne, whose Old Town looks like something right off a postcard; and more. A quick jaunt into France reveals the magic of Strasbourg with a cruise along its romantic canals. And all along the way, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for merrymaking with the locals at the delightful Christmas Markets!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.