Europe River Cruises: Explore the Great Rivers of Europe
Gently rambling, eagerly flowing, wildly rushing…each of Europe's legendary waterways have a distinct personality and a long, fascinating history. Whether you choose the blue Danube, the romantic Rhine, or one of the many other rivers, your perspective on this magnificent continent will be forever changed.
As it winds through castle-dotted hillsides, dramatic rocky gorges and picturesque Old World villages, the Rhine River is the essence of romance. Born as an untamed river in the Swiss Alps, the Rhine takes the scenic route to the North Sea, illuminating some of Europe's most fascinating sights and customs. Historically and culturally, the Rhine has been a crucial source of sustenance, pride and inspiration.
Fortresses and castles along the Rhine's embankments highlight the value ancient empires placed on these waters. While ancient times saw the Rhine as a dividing force, today the cities along its shores are an intriguing blend of cultures. Vineyards along the Rhine produce world-renowned vintages and riverside cafés and restaurants celebrate the region by pairing local wines with delectably fresh fare. With scenic splendor and enriching surprises around every bend, the waters of the Rhine set the stage for the very finest moments to be had in Europe.
Countries: Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, France, Netherlands
The Rhine originates at the confluence of the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein rivers in the Swiss Alps near Reichenau, Switzerland. From Reichenau, it flows north to form the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein and then Switzerland and Austria. Turning west, the Rhine empties into picturesque Lake Constance. From there, it creates the boundary between Germany and Switzerland. At Basel, the river, now navigable, turns due north at the so-called "Rhine knee" to line the border between Germany and France.
In Germany, between Bingen and Bonn, the Middle Rhine flows through the Rhine Gorge. This dramatic formation was created as erosion and geological uplift happened concurrently. This stretch of the river is known as "the Romantic Rhine," a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 40 castles and fortresses dating back to the Middle Ages.
Leaving Germany, the Rhine turns west and enters The Netherlands, where, together with the rivers Meuse and Scheldt, it forms one of the largest river deltas in western Europe. The Rhine is at its widest as it enters The Netherlands, but then splits into three main distributaries and countless minor ones. These smaller waterways then flow through the Dutch Lowlands and into the North Sea.
A cruise on the Rhine River suits romantics, epicures, nature enthusiasts and wine lovers. While couples affectionately return to these waters time and again, there are plenty of multigenerational attractions that make a Rhineland excursion fun for the whole family. Its appeal to food and wine connoisseurs is clear, but anyone who appreciates scenic beauty combined with oom-pah bands and distinctive local fare will enjoy soaking in the sights along the Rhine.
The Rhine River is a name which stems from a Celtic word meaning "raging flow."
Between 1932 and 2010, official text books and publications listed the length of the Rhine as 1,320 kilometers (820 mi) rather than the correct number, 1,230 kilometers.
In 2010, a University of Cologne researcher discovered that a typographical error had occurred in a 1932 encyclopedia and worked to have the figure updated.
The Rhine is one of the settings for the first opera of Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. The action of the epic opens and ends underneath the Rhine, where three Rheinmaidens swim and protect a hoard of gold.
Roman remains can be found in Cologne even today, especially along the Rhine, where a discovery of a 1900-year-old Roman boat was made on the Rhine banks in late 2007.
Strasbourg's historic city center, the Grande Île ("Grand Island"), was classified a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988, the first time such an honor was placed on an entire city center.
The first bridge to cross the Rhine River was built by Julius Caesar during the Gallic War in 55 B.C.
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