Some stand proudly with their keep, watchtowers, and battlements topped with machicolations, those sneaky openings through which boiling water or oil, or even quicklime were poured down no enemies. Others are nothing more than ruins that barely hint at the outline of a moat or the foundations of a rampart. With some reaching over 200 meters high, around 20 castles dominate the course of the Moselle between Trier and Koblenz. A trip to one of them is a must if you want to fully embrace the majesty of this valley, renowned primarily for its wines, and particularly its Rieslings, which are considered to be the most prestigious in Germany.

There's no shortage of options. Some 80 kilometers from Trier, the imperial Cochem castle is undoubtedly the most spectacular, with its neo-Gothic architecture worthy of a cloak-and-dagger film set. Further south, Landshut's medieval fortress has a more austere appearance. Never rebuilt since it was ravaged by a fire at the end of the 17^th century, it owes its fame above all to its exceptional location. Perched on a rocky outcrop half an hour's walk from Bernkastel-Kues, it provides a stunning view of one of the numerous meanders winding through the German stretch of the Moselle, just before it meets the Rhine near Koblenz.

Speaking of Koblenz, a question arises: Although the Moselle ends its course there, is it a good idea to end your journey there? That will be up to you to decide. It's not that there is any shortage of attractions in this university town of 115,000 inhabitants. With its colorful houses and small cobbled squares, the old center is charming. As for the "Deutsches Eck" ("German Corner"), a promontory marking the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers, it is both a pleasant place to stroll and a place of remembrance dedicated to the country's unity. As for the "Deutsches Eck" ("German Corner"), a promontory marking the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers, it is both a pleasant place to stroll and a place of remembrance dedicated to the country's unity. The monumental equestrian statue of William I, the founder of the German Empire in 1871, is situated there, and behind it, you can find three pieces of the Berlin Wall.

Located approximately 130 kilometers further south, near the borders of Luxembourg and France, Trier has about the same number of inhabitants. However, you only have to stroll a few streets to realize that this city doesn't belong to the same category as Koblenz. Considered to be Germany's oldest city, a marketing claim it proudly makes, this Roman colony, founded in 16 BC, reached its apogee three centuries later, and even held the status of imperial capital for a time.

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