Burg Cochem above the Moselle River.
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Introduction
Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz in German) is is reputed for its rugged landscapes, as well as its wines from the valleys of the Moselle and Rhine. Indeed, this state produces 2/3 of all German wines, and is the only state to have a wine minister.
Rhineland-Palatinate has a land area of 19,847 km², slightly smaller than Slovenia or Israel. It has a population of 4,053,000 inhabitants, and is divided into 3 administrative regions (Regierungsbezirke), divided into 24 districts (Kreise) and 12 urban districts (kreisfreie Städte). The 24 districts are further divided in 163 Verbandsgemeinden (administrative units unique to the Rhineland-Palatinate), themselves subdivided in nearly 2200 Ortsgemeinden.
In 2002, the Rhine Gorge (the 65km section of the river between Koblenz and Bingen) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site for for its unique combination of geological, historical and cultural elements.
History
Settled by Celtic and Germanic tribes in ancient times, the region was conquered by the Romans and remained part of the empire for four centuries.
In 413, the city of Worms became the capital of a short-lived Burgundian kingdom, immortalised in the Medieval epic poem Niebelungenlied ("Song of the Nibelungs"), on which Richard Wagner based his longest and most famous opera, Der Ring des Nibelungen.
By the end of the 5th century, the Rhineland-Palatinate was annexed to the Frankish kingdom by Clovis (466-511). The name "Palatinate" comes from "palace" and is a reference to the Aachen residence of the other great Frankish monarch, Charlemagne (742-814).
From the late Middles Ages until the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, what is now Rhineland-Palatinate belonged to the a multitude of small states, including the County of Sayn (many historical subdivisions), the County of Sponheim, the County of Salm (numerous subdivisions), the Electoral Palatinate (many subdivisions), the Duchy of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, the Duchy of Nassau, the Duchy of Luxembourg, the Bishopric of Worms, the Bishopric of Speyer, the Bishopric of Mainz and the Prince-Archbishopric of Trier.
Three of the seven Prince-Electors (Kurfürsten in German, i.e. the members of the electoral college electing the Holy Roman Emperors), came from what is now Rhineland-Palatinate : the Archbishop of Mainz, the Archbishop of Trier and the Count Palatine of the Rhine. Adding the nearby Archbishopric of Cologne, the relatively small Rhineland region had a disproportionate power compared to its size within the Empire. This is probably explained by the facts that Rhineland was the core of the Frankish kingdom and of Charlemagne's Empire.
Attractions
Main cities
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Trier |
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 Once the capital of the Western Roman Empire and the largest city north of the Alps, Trier is now a provincial city at the boundary of Luxembourg. With a Roman city gate, an ancient basilica, timber-framed houses and a superb Baroque palace, few German cities have so much to offer per square metre. |
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Koblenz |
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Built strategically at the confluence of the Rhine with the Moselle, Koblenz is an old city with a rich history and a convenient base to explore the romantic castles in the region. |
| Mainz |
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The capital of Rhineland-Palatinate is immediately recognisable by the pink-reddish sandstones of its buildings. The old seat of a Archbishopric and Electorate, Mainz is a city of churches, and paramount among them is the 1000-year-old cathedral, one of the largest Romanesque edifice in northern Europe. |
Other attractions
 Landau in der Pfalz
Neustadt an der Weinstrasse
Speyer
Worms
Castles in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhine Valley
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Marksburg Castle |
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Marksburg is the only medieval castle of the Middle Rhine that has never been destroyed. The fortress was built around 1117 above the town of Braubach and had purely defensive purposes. It is listed by the UNESCO as part of the Rhine Gorge World Heritage Sites. |
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Stolzenfels Castle |
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Stolzenfels Castle was originally built between 1242 and 1259 by the Prince-Bishop of Trier. Destroyed by the French in 1689 during the Nine Years' War, the ruins were given by the city of Koblenz to King Frederick William IV of Prussia. Following the romantic traditions, he completely rebuild the castle in the Neo-Gothic style after 1826 and used it as a summer residence.
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From North to South :
 Burg Nürburg (ruins)
Schloss Stolzenfels
Burg Lahneck
 Marksburg
Burg Liebenstein (ruins)
Burg Sterrenberg
Burg Pfalzgrafenstein, Kaub
Burg Sooneck, Niederheimbach
Burg Reichenstein
Hambacher Schloss
Villa Ludwigshöhe, Edenkoben
Reichsburg Trifels
Madenburg (ruins)
Burg Landeck (ruins)
Schloss Bergzabern
Burg Berwartstein
Lahn Valley
Schloss Schaumburg
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Moselle Valley
Towns are listed consecutively downstream from Trier to Koblenz.
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Bernkastel-Kues |
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 A charming, colourful town of timber-framed houses along the Moselle River. |
Traben-Trarbach
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Traben-Trarbach is a peaceful twin town renowned for its Art Nouveau villas and its healing spa, the Moseltherme. |
Zell an der Mosel
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Zell is the second largest winegrowing centre in the Mosel wine region. It hols several wine festivals from June to September. |
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Cochem |
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A scenic town on the Moselle River, surrounded by vineyards and dominated by the medieval Burg Cochem, perched high on a rocky outcrop. |
Beilstein
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An idyllic romantic hamlet squeezed between the steep vineyards and the Moselle. The view from the ruined Metternich Castle is particularly stunning. |
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Eltz Castle |
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Burg Eltz is a well preserved medieval castle still inhabited by the family that built it in the 12th century. It used to feature on the German 500 Deutsche Mark banknotes. |
Other attractions
Bad Bertrich
Marienburg an der Mosel
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Cities (over 50,000 inhabitants) are indicated in bold.
Eupedia's Rating System
Cities, towns, villages & historic buildings
: moderately interesting - nice for a quick stop
: recommended - to visit if you have time
: outstanding place - really deserves to be seen
 : best of the country - shouldn't be missed
 : one of the world's great cities (beyond rating)
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Natural attractions
 : interesting
 : recommended
 : highly recommended
 : world-class
※ : UNESCO World Heritage site 
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