Loreley – the mythical region of the Middle Rhine
What could be more beautiful than a wonderfully warm late summer day? On such a sunny Sunday, we were drawn through the Rheingau, past Rüdesheim, along the picturesque Rheinstrasse, to St. Goarshausen, into the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and to the Loreley. Here, the Rhine winds narrowly through steep slate gorges peppered with medieval castles. Simply picturesque. It is no wonder that at the beginning of the 19th century various poets captured these images in words and that Rhine Romanticism found its origin here. Heinrich Heine contributed significantly to the success of this era with his “Song of the Loreley”. After all, here we are, in the 21st century, and we want to learn more about the Loreley, which is still famous today.
Loreley
We started our discovery tour at the Hafenmole parking lot. From here, the first destination was the bronze statue of the lady. This was placed only in the 1980s on the tip of the mole of the harbor, directly on the Rhine. From here we continued to the 125m high Loreley Plateau. In general, you have two options: Either take your car to the parking lot at the top of the plateau, or ascend by foot up the steep stairs. We opted for the latter option. At a moderate pace, the climb takes about 30 minutes. At several places you can pause and enjoy the view over the valley.
Loreley
From the water to the distance
Once at the top of the Loreley Culture and Landscape Park, various viewing and photo points can be approached. Such as the seat of the Loreley – a must when visiting the Loreley Rock. According to Heinrich Heine, the beautiful Loreley turned the heads of the shipmen from up here. On a myth trail you can dive deeper into the legends of the landscape. The hiking enthusiasts among you can also continue hiking the Rheinsteig from here. There is also an open-air stage up here, where concerts are held regularly in the summer.
Loreley
After the plateau has been explored extensively, it is a good idea to recap the day in the beer garden with a magnificent view of the Rhine and the upper Middle Rhine Valley before descending. Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough to get a place here. Therefore we went directly back to the pier. All in all, a great day trip, with vacation feeling guarantee.
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