The treasure trove of Rhineland‑Palatinate: Natural and cultural treasures in the Romantic Cities
Koblenz – According to the dictionary definition, a treasure trove is a “space in which the national treasure is stored”.
And Rhineland‑Palatinate can justifiably claim to be just that. “Welcome to the biggest treasure trove in the world!” Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres, it is dotted with sparkling gemstones, red sandstone, rough slate and impressive rock formations. These are all milestones in and witnesses to the history of our Earth.
These stories are set in stone in a remarkable way in six important cities between the Rhine and the Moselle. The Romantic Cities are Idar-Oberstein, Koblenz, Mainz, Speyer, Trier and Worms. Together with the General Directorate for Cultural Heritage in Rhineland‑Palatinate, they combine the charm of an imperial history with world-famous wines and heartfelt hospitality. Nevertheless, each city has a unique character and features all of its own.
A journey through the Romantic Cities begins in Idar-Oberstein. Some 270 million years ago, agate, rock crystal and amethysts grew in bubbles of cooled molten lava near what is now a charming city on the Nahe, thus laying the foundations for a gemstone industry that is unique anywhere in the world. Of the 56 polishing works said to have once lined the Idarbach in the industry’s heyday, only two are still standing to this day: the Asbacherhütte and the Weiherschleife. The Historic ‘Weiherschleife’ Cutting Mill demonstrates the back-breaking work of the gemstone polishers using state-of-the-art methods.
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On to Koblenz. The only city on both the Rhine and the Moselle has long been associated with wine-making. And this despite the fact that the slopes on the Moselle are so steep that the grapes only grow on narrow terraces held up by dry-stone walls. Even the Romans managed to defy the extremely steep slopes. Today, Koblenz boasts a total of six wine-growing areas. The WeinSpaziert interactive tour transforms this unique man-made landscape into a feast for all the senses. Find out more!
A walk through the old town of Mainz is a stroll through the varied history of the city. The Kirschgarten stands at its centre. Set near St Martin’s Cathedral, the Gutenberg Museum and the banks of the Rhine, Kirschgarten, with its cobbled streets and pristine half-timbered houses, is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque spots in the old town of Mainz. Find out more!
Speyer is the only city in the world with both Christian and Jewish UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The mighty Romanesque cathedral with its crypt and the tombs of eight emperors and kings is just a stone’s throw from the ShUM sites, including the mikveh (ritual baths), which date back to the heyday of Ashkenazi Judaism in the Middle Ages. The expert builders working on the cathedral were also partly responsible for the design of the synagogue and the mikveh. The synagogue was consecrated in the same year that the second phase of construction of the cathedral was completed. Visitors can enjoy unique insights into these two advanced cultures of the Middle Ages. Find out more!
On the other hand, the place to find ancient civilisations is Trier. It is the oldest city in Germany, one of the largest cities of its time, and takes visitors on a fascinating adventure through the era of the mighty Romans. Built from sandstone, the Roman city gate of Porta Nigra, is the most striking landmark in Trier. The major state exhibition on ‘The fall of the Roman Empire’ runs from 25 June to 27 November 2022 and tells the story of how the once so powerful Roman Empire was brought to its knees. Where else in Germany can you find such authentic remains of the Roman era? Find out more!
There is only one direction for culture vultures to go in Worms: along the city walls. It is a journey through 2,000 years of history. The oldest section at the Heylshofpark dates back to Roman times and is just a stone’s throw from the imperial cathedral, itself the town’s most famous landmark and the venue for the legendary Nibelung Festival. The city walls lead on towards the north and the former Jewish quarter. Together with the ShUM cities of Speyer and Mainz, the synagogue district and the old ‘Heilige Sand’ Jewish cemetery have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021. Find out more!
The southern section of the Palatinate is dominated by rocky cliffs and medieval castle ruins. A visit to the ruined castles in the Dahner Felsenland is a real test of courage for those who are not great with heights. But it is worth it. The evening sun reflected on the red cliffs and the walls of the Dahn clifftop castles is a desperately romantic sight. The General Directorate for Cultural Heritage in Rhineland‑Palatinate (GDKE) is responsible for the castle ruins and cultural heritage in Rhineland‑Palatinate. It preserves the remains of our past and makes them accessible to all. Find out more!
You can find even more inspiration and stories from the Romantic Cities at en.romantic-cities.com.
Romantic Cities
c/o TourComm Germany
Olbrichtstraße 21
69469 Weinheim
Tel.: +49 (0)6201 60208-21
E-Mail: marc.werner@tourcomm-germany.com
