Geoparks, volcanos, suspension bridges, wineries and some of the biggest Roman settlements, Germany is packed full of history and places to explore!
Ever heard of Trier? Boppard? These absolutely beautiful cities are steeped in history, with Trier being the oldest city in Germany, and one of the largest Roman settlements. Boppard is one of the most important settlements for trade as it’s located right next to the Rhine.
What was left behind? Absolutely tonnes to explore and discover.
EXPLORING TRIER
Step into Trier and you’re walking through nearly 2,000 years of history. Once the glittering capital of the Western Roman Empire, this ancient city still stands beneath the shadow of the mighty Porta Nigra where emperors, bishops and merchants once passed. There’s Roman Baths, monumental basilicas and vineyards along the Moselle, Trier is a city you travel back in time to discover.
First up where to stay?
The Park Plaza Hotel sits right in the middle of Trier with beautiful airy rooms and a gorgeous breakfast buffet/ bar. You can explore everywhere from here on foot including the old town square which is less than 10 minutes away, a quaint spot with wine bars and restaurants surrounding it.
Where to eat?
We visited a few places but I’d recommend ‘Weinwirtschaft’, just a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Here you can enjoy both beer and Resiling local to the area.
There’s traditional dishes such as Schnitzel and my favourite ‘Spatzle’, tiny soft egg and flour dumplings which they usually serve with a ‘Rindergulash’, a beef goulash. Very hearty and filling, perfect with a pint of beer.
What to do?
City tours – Arrange a city tour. This city is the oldest in Germany, there’s Roman architecture everywhere and UNESCO sites such as the Konstantin-Basilika, Church of Our Lady (which has the most beautiful stained glass windows in), and of course Trier Cathedral.
Wine Culture Trail to Deutschherrenhof Winery – A mere 15 minute drive away from Trier’s centre, you can enjoy a vinery tour along some of the steepest vineyards I’ve ever seen (don’t worry you don’t walk them, but they’re impressive to look at), and head down to Deutschherrenhof’s restaurant for the most incredible wine tasting and flame fired steaks.
I absolutely adored the wine on offer here, dry, demi-sec and sweet Riesling. The food was outstanding, you absolutely must try their steak while you’re here but it gets super busy so book well ahead for both the tasting and the food.
Moselle River Cruise – about a 15 minute walk from the hotel you’ll be able to hop on a boat along the Moselle. A relaxing hours boat ride along a route the ancient Romans enjoyed.
Roman Bath Tour – Kaiserthermen is one of the largest Roman bath complexes ever built and I’d recommend getting a tour guide here as we did. They highlight so many interesting facts about how the baths would run, who was allowed in them, and then you can go underneath them to understand the inner workings, places that only the servants would have roamed.
PLACES NOT TO MISS BETWEEN TRIER & BOPPARD
Travel from Trier to Boppard and do NOT miss exploring these two spots, they were some of the major highlights of my trip.
Geierlay Suspension Bridge – An hour and 20 minutes by car from Trier, towards Boppard, this was my absolute highlight of the trip. A 360 metre suspension bridge with the most incredible views of the forest. I’d grab a strap for your phone on this one, you will want to take pictures but you absolutely could lose your phone forever.
You can park at the Tourist Information der Geierlay in Morsdorf and then follow very clear signs for about 30 minutes to get to the bridge. It is amazing!
Natur-und Geopark Vulkaneifel – This Geopark has 77 Maars volcanos, as seen in the picture here, they look like hill mounds or water filled craters.
These are all ancient lava rock formations and there’s tonnes of walks around here with spectacular views. Grab a picnic and backpack and head for out hiking for the day to soak in the unique space.
You can walk down to ‘Hotel Schneider Aw Maar’ for some food and I suggest you try their local dish ‘Bratkartoffeln’. A delicious mix of crispy potatoes, bacon, onions and cheese cooked in a skillet dish so it has crisp edges, basically a thick hash brown slice.
EXPLORING BOPPARD
Love hiking? Exploring in nature? This area of Germany is absolutely for you!
Where to stay?
We stayed in the brand new ‘Jakobsberg Nature Resort’ which has a rooftop infinity pool overlooking the Rhine, I’m not sure I’ve quite experienced such luxury with views like that before. The rooms are warm, natural and inviting, I instantly felt so relaxed the moment I walked in, it’s a real retreat.
Their main restaurant and terrace overlooks those beautiful views and the menus focus on stunning seasonal produce. I do have to say the breakfasts here are outstanding, a full hot plate area with fresh pancakes, bacon, and sausages. Plus lots of homemade pastries, cereals and breads, absolutely everything you could ever want, you can spend an hour or so eating your way through the breakfast selection.
What to do?
Walks/ Hikes – Surrounding this hotel are so many forest trails with absolutely incredible views of the Rhine, some of which lead to the cable car which takes you down to the beautiful city of Boppard. This is only operational with low winds so we didn’t get to experience it unfortunately, but if you get a good day the views are absolutely incredible.
City and Wine Tour – Boppard is beautifully picturesque and if you want a real taste of it, choose the city tour alongside their wine tasting. This costs around €300 for eight guests, with four wines and nibbles including cheese from a local farmer. We tried Reisecco for the first time, an effervescent Riesling and I absolutely took a few bottles of that home. (Tourist Information Boppard)
Alpaca Hike – Yes, you heard that right, Boppard has alpacas! Book as a group and choose your alpaca, feed them and spend an hour walking around a big park with them. It’s cute, they’re funny and it’s definitely a dopamine inducing experience I’d pay for again and again, purely down to the cuteness! (Mittelrhein Alpakas)
For a unique adventure full of history, wine, great food, lots of walking and breathtaking views, choose Germany for your next trip!
Review and images by Victoria James @exploredineyorkshire
