Medieval Gems of the Main and Rhine

Travel to Amsterdam and embark Spirit of the Rhine.

Depart 1400.

Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, started life as a fishing village in the 13th century. Among the most interesting sights are the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the floating flower market, the Central Railway Station, which is built on thousands of wooden piles, and the grand 19th-century Rijksmuseum. Tree-shaded canals, historic bridges, colourful cafes, gabled buildings and plenty of bicycles combine to create an atmosphere that is unique to this city.

This afternoon, enjoy an included cruise along Amsterdam’s canals to the city centre with its historic bridges and gabled houses.

Rejoin Spirit of the Rhine as she pauses for you to embark before cruising on to Düsseldorf.

Arrive 1300. Depart 1800.

Düsseldorf is famed for its Old Town. The narrow backstreets are home to the Gothic St Lambertus church with its twisted tower and the Burgplatz (square) features a Schlossturm (palace tower). Nearby, the Rhine embankment promenade offers a sweeping view of Düsseldorf's skyline and the Oberkassel Rhine banks.

An included excursion takes in some of the city’s main sights.

Arrive Koblenz, 0800. Depart 1200.
Scenic Cruise, Middle Rhine Gorge.

The city of Koblenz, meaning 'merging of the rivers', is situated on the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. At the exact point where the two rivers meet, the Deutsches Eck, there is a monument with a huge equestrian statue of Emperor Wilhelm I. Above the town sits the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, a citadel built by the Prussians between 1816 and 1832.

Cruise through the scenery of the Middle Rhine Gorge this afternoon, passing the steep Lorelei Rock, which is a symbol of the Rhine and was the inspiration for a famous poem by Heinrich Heine, set to music by Frederich Silcher. The Lorelei was a siren who is said to have sat on the rock, combing her hair and singing, luring sailors to their watery deaths on the rocks below.

Arrive 1500. Depart 1900.

Miltenberg is set in the attractive Main valley, between the Odenwald and the Spessart Mountains. The oldest part of the city lies on the left bank of the Main below a steep wooded hill, crowned by a 13th-century castle. The old town, enclosed within ancient walls and gates, is home to picturesque streets of half-timbered houses and old wine taverns.

Arrive 1300. Depart 1800.

An important city in the Middle Ages, Würzburg features numerous baroque buildings erected by the prince-bishops of the Schönborn family in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Residence Palace, one of Europe’s most renowned baroque castles, was built here between 1720 and 1724 for the prince-bishop Johann Philipp Franz, who commissioned master builder Balthasar Neumann to create the 'palace of all palaces'.

Arrive 1400. Depart 2000.

Bamberg was, like Rome, built on seven hills and because of its mixture of imposing architectural styles and baroque town houses is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its Imperial Cathedral is set on Cathedral Hill and Altenburg Castle is located at the town's highest point. This afternoon you can explore during an included excursion.

Arrive 0800. Depart 1400.

The Imperial Castle, Kaiserburg, dominates the skyline of this medieval city, which has undergone a great deal of restoration since it was heavily bombed in World War Two. In 1935 the Nazis built a stadium here in which they held their rallies and, later, Nazi war criminals were tried in Nuremberg by the Allies. The artist Albrecht Durer lived here from 1509 to 1528 and his house is now a museum.

Arrive Kelheim, 0800.

Disembark Spirit of the Rhine and begin your return journey.