The Mosel River in Germany is the Rhine’s peaceful little sister — with romantic villages slipped between steep vineyards and the river, lots of friendly B&Bs, and a sprinkling of castles. Burg Eltz, which has been amazingly intact for 800 years, is Rick Steves’ favorite castle in Europe. More info about travel to the Mosel Valley: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/germany/mosel-valley

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Rick Steves, America’s most respected authority on European travel, writes European travel guidebooks, and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio.

24 Comments

  1. You're absolutely right Rick. Burg Eltz is the most beautiful castle in Europe. Undamaged and intact. The Count Eltz still lives in parts of the castle.

  2. Thank you Steve! Without your report we would have missed Burg Eltz. Off the beaten path, It is a fascinating place and well worth the effort to get there. My wife and I were there last week. At the present time the castle is undergoing some much needed structural repairs but the tours are still fully open.

  3. The Burg Eltz intro classical song sounds great, I wonder what it's called? It almost sounds like Moby's "God Moving Over The Face Of The Waters"

  4. Well I can see why it's your favorite! Just absolutely incomprehensible in its beauty and originality! So glad it wasn't damaged or demolished in World War II like that other fortification on the hill in Italy, Monte Cassino, where it had remained unharmed since I think the 1300's!

  5. The story has been passed down in my family that we had ties to one of the three families. I have documents from the 18th century indicating this, but cant seem to authenticate it beyond that. Surname was Ulrich at that time which obviously is not one of the originals…..would be cool though to trace it that far back, After my family immigrated to America around 1900, the earlier records were scarce.

  6. The Moselle river is on my itinerary but I am trying to find a river cruise company that just does the Moselle and that allows you to visit as many places as possible along the Moselle. I have been along the Rhine so I don't want to repeat that part. 

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