Explore the area around Bad Bertrich

Bad Bertrich makes a wonderful base from which to explore the surrounding area. The Moselle valley is home to beautiful towns and villages that make spectacular and memorable excursions – for wine-connoisseurs, romantics and historians alike.

We recommend the following towns and sights of interest:

Alf

Arras castle, which stands high above the village, was founded in the early 12th century and is well worth a visit. Marienburg castle, which belongs to Zell, is also near by. The village landmark is the bell-tower of the parish church, which was built in 1734 in a late, neo-gothic style. You can also admire the well-known statue Christus in der Rast (pensive Christ) dating from the 15th century.

The municipality’s small local heritage museum provides information on the industrial history of the village. A few hundred metres from the village centre and on a slight elevation stands the former administrative building of the Electorate of Trier, which was constructed in the 16th century as a three-storied stone building. The roof was rebuilt around 1620.
Distance: approx. 9 km

Beilstein

This little settlement boasts one of the best-preserved historical centres in the Moselle valley – which is why it is also referred to as “Rothenburg in miniature” or “the Sleeping Beauty of the Moselle”. Although the village is only small, the architecture has an urban character. Towering over the village are the ruins of Burg Metternich castle, which once belonged to the royal house of Metternich.

The village is a pilgrimage site, owing to the statue of a black Madonna which can be found in the baroque abbey of St. Joseph. The statue originated in Spain in the 12th-13th century and was left behind by the Spanish at the end of their brief reign over Beilstein following the Thirty Years War. It was then briefly taken to France before being returned in 1950 after a concerted effort by the local inhabitants. The organ in the abbey church was made by the organ builder Balthasar König from Münstereifel/Cologne in 1738.  After being restored in 2002, the instrument regained its original sound and character.
Distance: approx. 28 km

Bernkastel-Kues

Bernkastel’s mediaeval market square is of great interest with its gabled, half-timbered houses dating from the 17th century. One particular gem among them is the narrow, steep-roofed Spitzhäuschen, which was built in 1416. Around the St. Michaelsbrunnen fountain, which was built in 1606, you will find a number of well-preserved buildings and the Renaissance town hall dating from 1608. Above the area of Bernkastel stands the ruined castle of Landshut, once a summer residence for the archbishops of Trier, which was destroyed by a fire in 1692. It is now a popular viewpoint overlooking the Moselle valley.

Another sight of interest is the only remaining town gateway: Graacher Tor. The town also boasts several squares, such as the mediaeval market square, Platz am Bärenbrunnen (bear fountain) and Karlsbader Platz, which was named after the twin town and opened in July 2005. St. Nikolaus Hospital, a nursing home founded by Nikolaus von Kues in the 15th century, is another well-known sight. The institution’s library is of outstanding scientific note. Near the area of Wehlen stands the former monastery of Machern. The premises are now home to a winery, a brewery and a restaurant.
Distance: approx. 28 km

Bremm

The church of Sankt Laurentius has a baroque altar. The former convent of Stuben is now only ruins. Bremm has a number of half-timbered houses, including the Storchenhaus with its carvings.
Distance: approx. 13 km

Cochem

Cochem is a wine-growing town with only 5,000 inhabitants. It has a well-preserved mediaeval market square. The main sights of interest are Reichsburg castle, which towers high above the town, a large game park, Cochem chairlift which offers fabulous views, and a historic mustard mill.
Distance: approx. 28 km

Ediger-Eller

The Walter J. Oster winery in Edig-Eller is open to visitors and for wine tastings. Sights of interest include the Catholic parish church of St. Martin – a late-gothic church with a double nave, Romanesque font and baroque altar – the mediaeval town wall and the Kreuzkapelle chapel (above the vineyards) with a relief depicting Christ in a wine press. Other attractions include the church in Eller with its late-Romanesque tower, the chapel of St. Arnulf, which has a mural portraying the mocking of Christ, and the chapel of Rochus opposite the church.
Distance: approx. 17 km

Koblenz

Koblenz (Coblence in French) is a town in northern Rhineland-Palatinate. After Mainz and Ludwigshafen, it is the third largest town in the federal state and is one of its five regional centres. At the Deutsches Eck (German corner) in Koblenz, the Moselle flows into the Rhine. The fortress of Ehrenbreitstein and the Landesmuseum (state museum) are well worth a visit.
Distance: approx. 87 km

St. Aldegund

The Amata Vitis wine boutique and historical vaulted cellar are just one of the many sights of interest. First mentioned in writing in 1144, the Romanesque Alte Kirche (old church) stands above the village and has been a pilgrimage site for the local farmers for centuries. The patron saint of the church is St. Bartholomew, protector of livestock.

Valuable objects include a Renaissance altar made by Hans Ruprecht Hoffmann, a pensive Christ dating from 1522 – a gift from Abbot Nikolaus of Sankt Aldegund, who lived and worked in an abbey in Lorraine –, an ironwork pulpit (from around 1650) and a late-gothic Madonna. The apse and church interior are decorated with late-gothic paintings. The neo-gothic Neue Pfarrkirche (new parish church) was completed in 1872 and features an interesting mural from 1912, which was restored in 2005. St. Aldegund’s large number of half-timbered houses and townhouses, which were built from the 15th century onwards, are also of great interest.
Distance: approx. 11 km

Traben-Trarbach

The town is situated on both banks of the Moselle, with a townscape characterised by a wealth of art nouveau buildings. Sights of interest include the mediaeval Brückentor (bridge gateway), the ruins of Grevenburg castle, the impressive ruined fortress of Mont Royal, museums and a garden of sculptures. The climbing park in Traben-Trarbach, the Römerhof winery and the Buddha Haus are also worth a visit.
Distance: approx. 26 km

Trier

Still preserved today, Trier’s Roman buildings were designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1986. These include Roman monuments, the Cathedral of St. Peter and the Church of Our Lady. Trier is Germany’s oldest town and boasts a wealth of antique sights of interest (such as the Porta Nigra, imperial baths and amphitheatre). The town is also home to the Rheinisches Landesmuseum and a large university.
Distance: approx. 60 km

Zell

The area around Zell boasts the largest wine-growing community on the Moselle. Attractions include the late-gothic Residenzschloss (palace), the Runder Turm (round tower), the synagogue, the Schwarze Katz Brunnen  (black cat fountain) and the Wein- und Heimatmuseum (Wine and Local Heritage Museum).
Distance: approx. 14 km

Area map Moselle region