Imbued with the spirit of German Romanticism, the Rhine River has inspired fairy tales, fables, poetry, and paintings. Its mythical underwater maidens and their magic gold provided the muse for Wagner’s “Ring” opera cycle. The evocative voyage from Mainz to Koblenz has been a favorite with travellers since the 19th century. The stretch from Bingen, west of Mainz, runs through a steep and narrow gorge, and has more castles than any other river in the world. Below these cliff-top fortresses sit villages of half-timbered houses, like the settlement of Bacharach, which owe their existence to the Riesling grape grown along the hillsides.

00:00 Intro / Upper Middle Rhine Valley 00:38 Klopp Castle, Bingen 01:04 Mouse Tower, Bingen 01:46 Niederwald Monument, Rüdesheim 02:15 Rheinstein Castle, Trechtingshausen 02:52 Stahleck Castle, Bacharach 03:23 Pfalzgrafenstein Castle, Falkenau island near Kaub 03:51 Loreley Rock, St. Goarshausen 04:27 Katz Castle, St. Goarshausen 04:54 Maus Castle, St. Goarshausen 05:08 Rheinfels Castle, St. Goar 05:34 Marksburg Castle, Braubach 06:01 Stolzenfels Castle, Koblenz