Moselle and Middle Rhine
The Moselle runs 544 km before it joins the Rhine at Koblenz. Together with the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO site, it forms a route of vineyards, castles and river towns.
- Length
- Moselle: 544 km
- UNESCO
- Upper Middle Rhine Valley (2002)
- Region
- Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
- Best season
- Spring to autumn
Before you go
- The Moselle flows through France, Luxembourg and Germany. In Germany it runs past Trier, Bernkastel-Kues and Cochem before reaching Koblenz.
- The Upper Middle Rhine Valley is 65 km long, between Koblenz and Rüdesheim. Around 40 hilltop castles line the valley, and its steep walls reach about 200 m, with the Loreley as the best-known rock.
- Rhine in Flames fireworks, for example in Koblenz in August and at Sankt Goar in September, bring big crowds. Check event dates and book pitches early.
The drive
The Moselle is about 544 km long and rises in the Vosges in France. Its German stretch is navigable and has locks. Its terraced slopes carry the Mosel wine area, known for Riesling. At Koblenz the route turns to the Rhine. The Upper Middle Rhine Valley follows for 65 km to Rüdesheim, with steep slate walls, castles and small old towns.
Planning
Wine festivals on the river banks and the Rhine in Flames fireworks, held at several places between May and September, draw many visitors. These are busy periods for campsites and motorhome areas, so book ahead or choose another date. Ask the local tourist offices and towns about motorhome pitches.
FAQs
How long is the Moselle and where does it end?
The Moselle is about 544 km long. It rises in the Vosges in France, forms the border between Luxembourg and Germany for part of its course and joins the Rhine at Koblenz.
What is the Upper Middle Rhine Valley?
It is a 65 km stretch of the Rhine between Koblenz and Rüdesheim in Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. UNESCO inscribed it in 2002. It is known for slate cliffs, about 40 castles and vineyards.
When does Rhine in Flames take place?
There are five events a year: Bonn in May, the Rüdesheim–Bingen area in July, Koblenz in August, Oberwesel in early September and Sankt Goar–Sankt Goarshausen in mid-September. Confirm dates with the organisers.
Places to see
Burg Eltz
A castle owned by the same family for more than 850 years, hidden in a forest valley near the Moselle.
Metz Cathedral
Nicknamed the Lantern of God for its huge area of stained glass, from medieval work to windows by Chagall.…
Place Stanislas
An 18th-century square framed by gilded wrought-iron gates and fountains, part of a UNESCO ensemble. On…
Douaumont Ossuary
A long vault and tower holding the bones of some 130,000 unidentified soldiers of the Battle of Verdun,…
Loreley
A slate rock above the narrowest bend of the Rhine, with a viewpoint over the castle-lined valley.
Reichsburg Cochem
A castle on a vineyard hill above a bend in the Moselle. The riverside town has motorhome parking.
Saarschleife viewpoint
A tree-top walkway above a hairpin bend of the river Saar.
Vianden Castle
A restored hilltop castle above a river town in the Luxembourg Ardennes.