From Weser to Saar

Bremen

The city of Bremen, together with its northern offshoot Bremerhaven, forms the smallest German state. The focal point and landmark of the eleventh largest German city is the Bremen Roland, a statue of Roland on the central market square, which was erected in 1404. Roland stands directly in front of Bremen's Gothic-style town hall, with which it was jointly declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. At the town hall, guests will also find the Bremen Town Musicians, who are known far beyond the city limits and are not only a great photo motif. Touching the donkey's front legs is said to make a wish come true. The beautiful St. Peter's Cathedral, which dominates the image of the city with its two towers, is only a stone's throw away - as is the historic Schnoorviertel with its cozy narrow streets and impressive houses from the 15th century. At Schlachte, the historic riverside promenade on the Weser, guests can round off their visit with a leisurely stroll or in one of many bars, cafes and restaurants..

Hoya

The town of Hoya in Lower Saxony was first mentioned in documents in 1150. Today it has about 4,000 inhabitants and is the seat of the joint municipality of Grafschaft Hoya. The origin of the family of the Counts of Hoya has only been handed down in the form of legends. In general, the town is rich in fairy tales, sagas and legends, and it is also part of the German Fairy Tale Route. Of course, Hoya Castle is also the setting for these stories. It shows only little medieval features, the central building dates back to the 19th century. The approximately 900-year-old church of St. Martinus was once the burial place of the counts and today serves primarily as a cultural center, and marriages are still performed here. The town also offers a historic town hall and, directly adjacent, the Rittergut von Behr with a Brazilian picture wallpaper in the knight's hall that is well worth seeing. Hoya in Lower Saxony is located near the official center of the state of Lower Saxony. About the visit of the stone erected there, interested parties can have a certificate issued in Hoya.

Minden

Minden is a picturesque city in the northeast of North Rhine-Westphalia with 81,000 inhabitants. The town with a long history nestles directly on the Weser River and has many buildings worth seeing in a small area. These date back to its past as a bishop's seat, a fortress town and a Hanseatic city with stacking rights. The cityscape is mainly characterized by the large cathedral with Gothic and Romanesque components, which was founded in the eighth century. Also worth seeing are the many half-timbered houses in the old town, especially in Hohe Strasse and Museum Row. Among the special features is also a coffee museum and a ship mill, which is located directly on the shore.

Münster

The beautiful city of Münster impresses with many historic buildings, which can be found primarily in the lovingly restored old town of the place. Very worth seeing, for example, is the Prinzipalmarkt with its well-preserved gabled houses with archways. But also a walk on the so-called promenade, which is only available to pedestrians and cyclists and leads around the entire old town, is a beautiful experience. Also worth a detour is the idyllic Aasee, which is not far from the city center and is surrounded by beautiful nature. Very interesting is also the Allwetterzoo Münster, where many exotic animals can be marveled at.

Düsseldorf

RRhenish lifestyle between tradition and modernity - Düsseldorf inspires with diversity! Here art and Kultour lovers get just as enthusiastic as shopping enthusiasts, here the Media Harbor impresses with contemporary architecture as well as the historic Old Town. The old town makes Düsseldorf with more than 250 cozy pubs to the "longest bar in the world". There tastes not only the traditional Altbier! Not may miss a stroll along Königsallee, the world-famous strolling mile - or rather a visit to one of the numberrich sympathetic flea markets? And in the middle of it all: lots of Green and the Rhine with its riverside promenade to breathe easy . No wonder the VIVA Cruises family feels so right at home here!

Coblenz

Koblenz already impresses with its unique location at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. The first port of call when visiting the city should therefore also be the so-called "German Corner" with its imposing Kaiser Wilhelm monument. Since 2002, it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Upper Middle Rhine Valley". A beautiful view of Koblenz and its two rivers opens up during a visit to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. Perched 120 meters above the Rhine, the 16th-century fortification is the second largest fortress still standing in Europe. Spectacular is already the ascent in a gondola of the cable car..

Traben-Trarbach

The small wine town of Traben-Trarbach is located directly on the Moselle River in a beautiful valley. Surrounded by numerous vineyards, it is one of the most beautiful places in the area, romantic, quaint and modern. In addition to wine tasting and a boat trip on the Moselle, you can take a hike to Grevenburg Castle, a ruin high up on the mountain, but the Buddha Museum should also be on your itinerary. A medieval marketplace adorns the center of the small town and the bridge gate is also one of the ancient relics.

Bernkastel

Numerous half-timbered houses adorn the town of Bernkastel, directly on the Moselle River. Above is a castle with a restaurant and in the old town you can find numerous small boutiques and stores. The Moselle invites to an unforgettable boat trip, but also to kayak or canoe. Bernkastel is known for its ideal location on the Moselle and for its quaint old town. Together with Kues it forms a double town, on the left and on the right of the banks of the Moselle, with numerous restaurants and bars.

Trier

Trier impresses with its buildings from the Roman era - first and foremost the well-preserved Porta Nigra. But also the churches of the city are worthwhile destinations during a visit. The oldest city in Germany was founded by the Romans around the year 16 BC under Emperor Augustus. Charlemagne made the city an archbishopric. In hardly any other German city are the legacies of the Romans as numerous as in Trier. You can even drink them in the form of wine. The wine terraces along the valleys of the Moselle and Saar rivers look back on 2000 years of history.

Saarburg

The lovely small town of Saarburg is located in the middle of the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park on the banks of the Saar River. A walk to the castle of the same name above the town is worthwhile, because from here you can enjoy a wonderful view. It is one of the oldest hilltop castles in Germany's southwest and was first mentioned in 964 AD. In the medieval fortifications of Saarburg there were several defense towers. The still preserved Kautenturm on the banks of the Saar was not only the entrance to the town, but also a customs tower. The town hall at the Buttermarkt was completely rebuilt after its destruction in 1906. The center of the town, called "Staden", is particularly romantic because many small streams run through it, spanned by centuries-old bridges. At the Leuckbach, the historic houses still stand on massive oak piles. The view from the bridge "Auf dem Graben" is unique - no wonder that the place has the nickname Little Venice. You should also visit the former bell foundry, which is now a museum. Bells were still cast here until 2002.

Mettlach

Merzig

The Saar flows leisurely through the middle of the old core town of Merzig. Between Trier and Saarbrücken, the popular shopping town stretches through densely wooded river valleys. "Capital of the green district" is what this town calls itself because of the extensive green landscapes right on its doorstep. And in the Wolf Park, the former inhabitants of the surrounding forests show themselves up close: white wolves await visitors here. In the historic town center, enjoy a break at the foot of the mighty Romanesque basilica of St. Peter. Or would you prefer a walk in the city park, under shady old trees? Shopping enthusiasts are drawn to the town from neighboring countries and the surrounding area - and Merzig meets this demand with numerous stores and boutiques.

Saarlouis

In the very southwest of Germany, where green forests cover the gently rolling countryside, lies Saarlouis near the French border. The former fortress town can still be recognized at the parade ground, where the mighty commandant's building tells of times past. Today, people meet at the Grosser Markt to stroll through the old town. In the afternoon, cozy cafés beckon, in the evening a good wine in the numerous pubs between the old facades from the fortress era or from the Wilhelminian period. On the other hand, it is green at the old arm of the Saar, where the Vauban Island and the city garden are located: There, where once Louis XIV assumed one of the most beautiful places in the kingdom, even today guests and residents like to relax.

Saarbrücken

Saarbrücken is the capital of Saarland. The city offers its approximately 180,000 inhabitants several universities. Not only the numerous tourists are pleased with the castle, whose origins lie around the year 1,000. The castle ensemble also includes the listed Old Town Hall. Furthermore, there are several churches of different epochs to visit. The oldest is the Deutschherrenkapelle from the 13th century. The modern churches include, for example, the parish church Maria Königin, which was built in the fifties of the last century. Among the other sights, the German-French Garden stands out, where there is a park railroad, a cable car and a cemetery of honor. The city also has a zoo and a game park. Last but not least, Saarbrücken attracts many events that take place throughout the year. They range from film events and folk festivals to the Christmas market at the castle.