The 340-mile Mosel River, also spelled as Moselle, runs through Germany, Luxembourg and France. Mosel sailings usually are combined with cruises of the Rhine River, which it joins in Koblenz, a German city that traces its history to the Roman military fortification established here in the year 8 B.C.
Another port call in Germany is Cochem, where a favorite attraction is Cochem Castle, or Reichsburg. The centuries-old edifice fell to ruin but was rebuilt on its Gothic foundations in 1868 by Berlin businessman Louis Ravené and used as his family’s summer home.
Winding south along the Mosel, you’ll arrive at the old winegrowing town of Bernkastel, where walking tours show off the elaborately timber-framed, gabled homes and picturesque squares. Continue on to Trier, Germany’s oldest city with the remnants of Roman baths and an amphitheater that once held 20,000 spectators.
Remich in the tiny nation of Luxembourg serves as a starting or ending point for many Mosel voyages. It’s a hub for the region’s wine industry, nestled amid vineyards and forests.