For the one place that truly has everything, a trip to Boppard is it! A UNESCO world heritage site in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, you won’t know what to see or where to start first as the history of the 10 municipalities of Boppard date back some 13,000 years!
But it were the Romans who first made their mark here, including the harvesting of grapes for wine. In what is called viticulture, the culture of wine, has played a significant role in the local economy for 2000 years (even the monks got in on it!).
For only a few Euro you can enjoy wine tasting at some of the family owned wineries (Thursday nights 8pm from April thru October).
Perhaps the best way to start your first tour through Boppard is to take the mini train that circles all the city’s sights, then go back to visit at your leisure. The mini train circles past the 4th century Roman castellet (near the Market Place). The walls of this Roman fortification were used up until the days of the Middle Ages.
You’ll also go past the 13th century Parish Church Severus, which was built on foundations of a 6th century church, which was built on the foundations of a Roman military bath. Another church, Carmelite Church built in the 14th/15th centuries, was once the home of a 13th century monastery.
And they’ve got the church in Hirzenach, built in the 1100’s, that has the oldest Gothic choir in all of Germany.
Be sure to take your walking shoes because you’re just going to love walking around Boppard in the footsteps of the aristocracy. Many of the area’s Lords and Ladies used to call this town home from the 13th thru the 15th centuries — many of their homes still stand today!
After all that walking and picknicking, a trip on the chair lift up the mountainside will be welcome. You’ll be richly rewarded by what is called the “4 sea view” where the Rhine loops sharply looking like four lakes instead of one continuous river. You’ll also get a great view of the two other castles nearby, Burg Liebenstein (Castle Love Stone) and Burg Sterrenberg.
Boppard is quite accessible by train from Buchholz and considered to be one of the prettiest stretches of countryside in all of Germany traveling on the Hunsrück Mountain Railway. The train travels some 330 meters up the mountainside, over two viaducts, and through five tunnels.
For those more adventurous, there are quite a few hiking trails on the mountain. And to relax after all that, head over to the health resorts in Bad Salzig.
Boppard is just the right place for romantic countrysides, great wine, and a twist of history. The Romans loved it, the aristocracy loved it, and you too will quickly fall in love with it. :-)
