Bacharach
In an area of western Germany renowned for its history,
wine-making, natural beauty and abundance of ancient castles, the
remarkably-preserved medieval town of Bacharach is unmissable.
Within its fourteenth-century town walls, Bacharach's streets are a
treasure trove of timber-framed houses and other historic buildings
including the beautiful Romanesque-style St Peter's Church and the
smaller Jozefskapelle (Chapel of Joseph) which features
exquisitely-detailed stained-glass windows. Perhaps the most
impressive, however, is Burg Stahleck. This magnificent and
fully-restored twelfth-century castle stands high on a crag
overlooking the town and river and today functions as a hostel for
visitors.
Bacharach sits on the banks of the Rhine and was historically
important to the region's wine trade as a port where barrels of
local wine would be transferred from smaller to larger boats for
their onward transportation north along the river. Bacharach itself
has an excellent reputation for producing quality wines; the town
takes its name Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. The slopes of the
Steeg Valley, which rise above the town, provide perfect growing
conditions for both Riesling and Pinot Noir grapes. The resulting
wines can be sampled, along with excellent local fare, at any of
Bacharach's atmospheric Weinstubes; traditional wine taverns.