The Rhine Valley from Colmar through Strasbourg offers another opportunity to see a blend of German and French culture of the lower Rhine before heading on to the great Cathedral cities of Speyer (site of one of the finest romance Cathedrals in Europe, begun in 1030, whose crypt holds the remains of eight German Kings and Holy Roman Emperors) and Mainz (religious seat of the Holy Roman Empire), the Spa town of Wiesbaden, and on to the majestic Rhine Gorge (from Ruedesheim / Bingen to Bonn) with its countless castles and cliff hugging vineyards.

For a wonderful meal in one of the oldest vineyards with a hill top view across the Rhine I recommend stopping off at Schloss Johannisberg, one of the most notable wine locations along the Rhine.

Image credit: Luidger