Metz to Cochem

France, Luxembourg, Germany Bike + Boat Tour

Along the Moselle River

Your tour begins in the northeast of France at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers in the town of Metz, designated a 'town of art and history' because of its tremendous historical and cultural background.This is a designation bestowed by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication to specific towns and cities in an effort to preserve and promote France's heritage. In Metz, you will discover much art and history! The city is home to some world-class venues such as the Arsenal concert hall, the Centre Pompidou-Metz museum, and the National Opera of Lorraine (along with the Nancy Opera.) Metz boasts 20 miles of landscaped walks along the rivers, canals and ramparts making it  a lovely and lushly green city. 

The Moselle Valley is dominated by wine-making and  small picturesque wine-making towns.You will spend a night in Remich, one of the quaintest towns in Germany. 

Remich is surrounded by vineyards, which produce the majority of wines in Luxembourg. It is actually known as “la perle de la Moselle”, and is well known for not just its wines but it riverside esplanade as well. Then on to Trier, the oldest town, founded before the 16th century. Trier lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of ruddy sandstone near the German border with Luxembourg and within this important Mosel wine-growing region. You will enjoy a guided city walk and be able to have dinner at your own expense in one of the many renowned restaurants.

You last stop will be Cochem deep in the most romantic part of the Moselle River Valley. Wander the narrow streets and twisting alleys lined with lovingly restored half timbered houses with slate roofs. Gaze upon the medieval town gates, churches and walls and visit the old market place.    Be sure to sample the region's excellent variety of Riesling wines.

Tour Dates

• Metz to Cochem:
• August 11, 2012 aboard the Sailing Home
• October 20, 2012 aboard the Sailing Home
• September 29, 2012 aboard the Merlijn
• Cochem to Metz:
• August 18, 2012 aboard the Sailing Home
• 2013 Dates
• Cochem to Metz:
• September 14, 2013 aboard the Merlijn

Where You’ll Stay

Aboard the lovely Merlijn or the beautiful Sailing Home!, both Comfort Plus Class boats.

What’s Included

• 6 nights accommodations aboard the Merlijn
• 7 nights accommodations aboard the Sailing Home
• Breakfast, packed lunches and dinners
• Hybrid bike equipped with bike bag and water bottle
• Helmets available
• Guided city tour in Trier (aboard the Merlijn)
• Wine tasting in Trarbach (aboard the Merlijn)
• Wine tasting in Zell, aboard the Merlijn (2013 dates only)

What’s Not Included

• Insurances
• Other tours other than those mentioned
• Drinks other than those mentioned
• Entrance fees, excursions

Skill Level

This is an easy guided bike and boat tour on mostly flat terrain.

Tour Boats

• Merlijn
• Sailing Home

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Aboard the Merlijn:

1. Arrival in Metz
2. Metz - Thionville
3. Thionville - Remich, 22 mi. (35 km)
4. Remich - Trier, 26 mi. (42 km)
5. Trier - Traben Trarbach, 28 mi. (45 km)
6. Traben Trarbach - Cochem, 22 mi. (35 km)
7. Departure from Cochem.

*All distances are approximate. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

SATURDAY: Arrival in Metz
The Merlijn already awaits you in the port of Metz. Embarkation begins at 4 pm.  The crew will welcome you on board and you can enjoy a complimentary drink while you recieve information about the ship, the tours and the bicycles. After dinner, there is time for a stroll through the city of Metz. Strategically located between the Moselle river and the plateau of Lorraine, Metz is a lively university city. It also has a medieval center and a beautiful Gothic cathedral, Saint-Etienne Cathedral.  The poet Verlaine wrote that the cathedral was “the lantern of God”. In fact, the building contains the largest surface area of stained glass of all French cathedrals (almost 6,500 square meters). The 14th century stained-glass windows by Hermann de Münster rival the contemporary products of Marc Chagall and Jacques Villon. It is a living monument to the history of stained glass.

SUNDAY: Metz - Thionville, 25 mi. (40km)
After another opportunity of visiting Metz, the bike tour begins to Thionville where you will meet the Merlijn, enjoy dinner on board and overnight here. Today Thionville is the center for the steel industry of the Lorraine district but you will find old fortifications from the 17th century.

MONDAY: Thionville - Remich, 22 mi. (35 km)
Cycling out of Thionville and the French Lorraine district, the tour leads you to Remich, Luxembourg. A highlight today is the old citadel in Sierck-les-Bains. The fortified castle of Sierck-les-Bains is one of the only forts dating from the 11th century in the east of France which still has its outerwalls almost intact, its blockhouses, its massive towers with loopholes, its underground passages and its protective side bastions. The castle, which once was a ducal residence was destroyed in 1643. Today only one massive section of the wall is left.

TUESDAY: Remich - Trier, 26 mi. (42 km)
Along the German-Luxembourg border, from Wasserbillig, you will follow the beautiful meandering Moselle River. The Moselle River Valley has been called the most romantic in all of Europe.  It is  elegant, serene and lush, dotted with castles, either royal or ruined, but all enchanting. The river twists and turns, offering along the way, its quaint wineries and villages. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Trier with enough time to stroll and explore. There is a guided city walk offered by Henk and Jantien, your host and hostess for the tour and owners of the Merlijn. Trier is well known for its Porta Nigra, Black Gate, once a part of a system of four city gates, one of which stood at each side of the roughly rectangular Roman city.  The Porta Nigra guarded the northern entry to the Roman city. It is today the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps and has been designated a World Heritage Site. This evening you are free to enjoy the city and dine on your own.

WEDNESDAY: Trier - Traben Trarbach, 28 mi. (45 km)
A breakfast cruise will take you from Trier to the holiday resort of Mehring. The Roman poet Ausonius already sang of the beautiful landscape that the Romans fell in love with more than 2000 years ago and built their splendid villas here. Mehring is set in glorious Moselle scenery and close to  Luxembourg. The village is renowned for its wines from the Goldkupp, Zellerberg and Blattenberg vineyards. Later you bike to Bernkastel-Kues where magnificent framework houses line the marketplace. After you visit to this "pearl on the Moselle", you will motor to Traven Trarbach where you will enjoy a wine tasting of the famous Moselle Reisling.

THURSDAY: Traben Trarbach - Cochem, 22 mi. (35 km)
Another relaxing breakfast cruise awaits this morning, motoring up to Zell, famous for its vineyard Zeiler. Your cycle intinerary begins  here, following the meanderings of the Moselle through some its most charming villages such as Alf, Sankt Aldegund (you can visit a cellar with a large assortment of liquors, wines and Mosel mustards) and onward through Bremm and finally,  Beilstein. Beilstein has never been touched by the ravages of war and mankind, though its ancient castle stands crumbling, ravaged by time itself. Beilstein is for the most part very well preserved and tranquil, partly because it was totally inaccessible by roads until 1900. The day ends in Cochem, where the Merlijn will await.

FRIDAY: Departure from Cochem
Disembarkation at 9 a.m. after breakfast.

Aboard the Sailing Home:

1. Metz
2. Metz - Remich, 19/31 mi. (30/50 km)
3. Remich - Saarburg, 28 mi. (45 km)
4. Saarburg - Trier, 22 mi. (35 km)
5. Trier - Bernkastel - Kues, 31 mi. (50 km)
6. Bernkastel - Kues - Zell, 28 mi. (45 km)
7. Zell - Cochem, 28 mi. (45 km)
8. Cochem 

SATURDAY: Arrival in Metz

SUNDAY: Metz - Remich, 19/31 mi. (30/50 km)
You will enjoy breakfast while you sail. The first opportunity to cycle today is from the lock of Talange. This route goes through the French countryside but it is also possible to stay on board a bit longer and start from Thionville. Via the beautiful valley of the Mosel, you bike across the French border into Luxembourg,  passing the castle of Sierck-les-Bains, beautifully situated on the banks of the Mosel river. On top of the hill there is a castle from the 11th century, which was at stake in the battle between the duke of Lorraine and the archbishop of Trier in the 12th century. Overnight is  in Remich. Here the Mosel forms the border between Germany and Luxembourg with Remich on  Luxembourg ground. Close to Remich you may visit the small village of Nenning and can visit an old roman mansion. The nearly undamaged mosaic floor in the party hall is extremely beautiful. After dinner you can join a little ‘cremant’ tasting. Cremant is the sparling white wine Remich is famous for.

MONDAY: Remich - Saaarburg, 28 mi. (45 km)
Today's route follows the valley of the Mosel and Saar to the north to visit charming Saarburg. On the way  there is opportunity to  visit a winecellar to taste the fresh Mosel white wine. Saarburg is an interesting old town situated in the most beautiful part of the Saar valley. The banks of the river are densely forested. The castle of Saarburg was built here in the 10th century. In the middle of town there is a waterfall of 20 meters high. At the foot of this waterfall there is an old mill, which is driven by the small river. In this part of town most of the old houses from the 17th and 18th century are still intact.

TUESDAY: Saarburg - Trier, 22 mi. (35 km)
Today's desitination is Trier, an interesting and lively city, the oldest city in Germany. According to the Romans, Trier was founded around 15 B.C.  by Caesar Augustus under the name of Augusta Trevorum. As a trading town and administrative center, Trier flourished during the late imperial age. This Roman golden age has left us with a respectable number of monuments. Most authentici is the Porta Nigra, Black Gate, once a part of a system of four city gates, one of which stood at each side of the roughly rectangular Roman city.  The Porta Nigra guarded the northern entry to the Roman city. It is today the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps and has been designated a World Heritage Site. This evening you are free to enjoy the city and dine on your own.

WEDNESDAY: Trier - Bernkastel - Kues, 31 mi. (50 km)
From Trier, downstream, you will encounter lovely vineyards. The white Mosel wine is known far and wide. Continuing on  past Trittenheim and Piesport, both quite interesting.  Piesport produces a number of beautiful white wines, especially the ‘Piesporter Goldtröpfchen. Trittenheim lies in a sharp hairpin turn in the Mosel. It is surrounded by mountains covered with extensive vineyards. The Laurantiuskapelle with its gothic choir is sitting right in the middle of the vines.Today's destination is Bernkastel-Kues. Bernkastel is a frequently visited, old and picturesque town, with the best wine regions of the Mid-Mosel. Visits to wine cellars is on the agenda and the opportunity to experience and  relish the wine. Pride of the town is the market square, with its picturesque timber-framed houses.

THURSDAY: Bernkastel - Kues - Zell, 28 mi. (45 km)
We follow the Mosel downstream past Traben-Trarbach and  Zell. Traben-Trarbach is surrounded by woods and extensive vineyards and is the major center of wine trade in the Mosel region. Destination is Zell, a beautiful little town along the river.

FRIDAY: Zell - Cochem, 28 mi. (45 km)
Biking from Zell,  beautifully situated on the Mosel,  the river meanders through the hills in many loops. The Hoherott (452 m) and the Corrayer Berg (425 m) are the best-known wine regions. Final destination is Cochem,  a cozy and characteristic Mosel town, with steep wine mountains, wooded hills, medieval fortresses and a picturesque center with beautiful timber-framed houses. The fortress houses a museum that is worth a visit.

SATURDAY: Individual departure.

COCHEM TO METZ:

1.  Arrival in Cochem
2. Cochem - Zell, 25 mi. (40 km)
3. Zell - Bernkastel - Kues, 31 mi. (50 km)
4. Bernkastel - Kues - Trier, 31 mi. (50 km)
5. Trier - Saarburg, 22 mi. (35 km)
6. Saarburg - Remich, 31 mi. (50 km)
7. Remich - Metz, 25 mi. (40 km)
8. Departure.

COCHEM TO METZ (2013): 

1. Arrival in Cochem
2. Cochem-Zell-Trarbach, 21 mi. (35 km)
3. Traben-Trarbach-Bernkastel Kues-Trier, 27 mi. (45 km)
4. Trier-Remich, 25 mi. (42 km)
5. Remich-Thionville, 21 mi. (35 km)
6. Thionville-Metz, 15 mi. (25 km)
7. Departure from Metz

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