Three Countries, One River | Premium

Your Bike & Barge adventure begins in Cochem, one of the most charming towns along the Moselle River. Embarkation and check-in start at 2:00 p.m., followed by a welcome meeting with the crew and your tour leader.

After settling in, join your tour leader for a leisurely walk through Cochem’s picturesque old town. Wander along narrow cobbled streets, admire the colorful half-timbered houses, and discover inviting squares filled with cafés and wine taverns. 

High above the town stands the magnificent Reichsburg Castle, a fairytale-like fortress offering spectacular views over the river and surrounding vineyards. We’ll stop at the castle, where you’ll have the opportunity to explore it on your own.

After breakfast, we follow the beautiful Moselle River, cycling past steep vineyards and charming wine villages. Our first stop is Beilstein, often called the “Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle.” Here, we can wander through narrow streets and admire the ruins of Metternich Castle, overlooking the river.

We continue toward Bremm, passing the spectacular Calmont vineyard, one of Europe’s steepest, with slopes of up to 60 degrees. The views of the winding Moselle and surrounding vineyards are simply beautiful.

Our day ends in Zell, a charming wine town famous for its Zeller Schwarze Katz (Black Cat) wines. What better way to finish our ride than with a glass of local Riesling at one of the town’s cozy wine taverns?

Today, we follow the Moselle River to Traben-Trarbach, a historic wine town known for its Art Nouveau architecture and long tradition of wine trading.

We continue through Kröv, another well-known wine village, before reaching Bernkastel-Kues. The historic center is well worth exploring, with its narrow streets, medieval half-timbered houses, and lively marketplace. There is plenty of time to look around or stop for a coffee at one of the local cafés.

After our visit, we cross the river to Kues, where our barge is waiting for us.

Leaving Bernkastel-Kues behind, we cycle through one of the most famous wine-growing regions of the Moselle Valley, passing the villages of Brauneberg, Piesport, and Trittenheim. Vineyards cover the hillsides, and the river winds its way through this beautiful landscape.

Around lunchtime, we reach Neumagen, one of Germany’s oldest wine-growing villages, where wine was already produced in Roman times. Here, we can choose to return to the barge or continue cycling to Schweich, where the barge will meet us.

From Schweich, we cruise to Trier, Germany’s oldest city, founded by the Romans around 15 BC. Trier has a fascinating history, with impressive Roman monuments still standing today. The most famous is the Porta Nigra, a remarkably well-preserved Roman city gate dating back to around AD 180. There is plenty to discover in this historic city.

In the morning, you have the choice to join our tour leader for a walk through Trier, discovering its fascinating Roman history, or explore this historic city at your own pace. 

After lunch you will hop on your bicycles and follow the Mosel and Saar river to our next destination, Saarburg. Saarburg is an interesting old town situated in the most beautiful part of the Saar valley. Here the banks of the river are densely forested. The castle of Saarburg was built here in the middle of the 10th century. In the middle of town you come across a waterfall of 20 meters high. At the foot of this waterfall there is an old mill, which is driven by the small river. In this part of town most of the old houses from the 17th and 18th century are still intact.

Tonight, dinner is on your own, giving you the opportunity to explore one of Saarburg’s local restaurants. We are happy to share our recommendations for a lovely evening out.

Today, we have two cycling options. The longer route is easy and follows the rivers, while the shorter route takes us through the hills and offers a bit more of a challenge. Whichever you choose, we cycle into the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where the Moselle River forms the border with Germany.

Along the way, we visit a local wine cooperative on the Luxembourg side of the river, known for producing Crémant, the region’s delicious sparkling wine.

Near Remich, we can also admire a remarkable Roman mosaic floor, discovered in the remains of a Roman villa. Made up of around three million tiny tiles, it depicts scenes of gladiator games.

We finish our ride in the lovely wine town of Remich, situated along the banks of the Moselle.

We have two cycling options to choose from. You can start your ride in Remich, or enjoy a little more time on board and begin the shorter route in Schengen.

In Schengen, we have the opportunity to visit the Schengen Museum, where we learn about the historic agreement that made border-free travel possible across much of Europe.

From here, we cross into France, cycling through peaceful countryside and charming villages toward Thionville. Once an important center of the steel industry, Thionville also has a rich history dating back many centuries. Its historic center is well worth exploring, with old streets, remnants of medieval fortifications, lovely gardens, and the impressive Church of Saint-Maximin.

Our barge will be waiting for us in Thionville.

We say goodbye to our barge and crew and travel by bus to Metz, accompanied by our tour leader. After arriving at our hotel, a local guide takes us on a walking tour through this beautiful historic city.

Metz has a fascinating history dating back to Roman times. One of its highlights is the magnificent Saint-Étienne Cathedral, famous for its impressive Gothic architecture and beautiful stained-glass windows, including works by Marc Chagall. The city also offers elegant squares, charming streets, lovely gardens, and plenty of inviting cafés.

After our guided walk, the afternoon is yours to explore Metz at your own pace. In the evening, you can enjoy dinner at one of the many French restaurants, perhaps together with your fellow travelers.

We spend our final night in a comfortable hotel in the heart of Metz.

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye. Depending on your travel plans, you may have some free time to enjoy Metz before heading home. Hotel check-out is before 11:00 a.m.

We hope you leave with wonderful memories of cycling along the Moselle River, charming wine villages, historic towns, and beautiful vineyards stretching across three countries.