World Heritage Trail
Experience the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley with its many vistas and views of the Rhine between the Nahe estuary in Bingen and the Deutsches Eck (German Corner) in Koblenz. In June 2002, the unique cultural landscape of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It stretches from kilometer 526 to 593, a distance of 67 km, along the Rhine's breakthrough valley through the Rhenish Slate Mountains between Bingen/Rüdesheim and Koblenz.
What could be more appropriate than to focus on this prime piece of the Rhine Valley with a World Heritage Trail on the occasion of its 20th anniversary – not least, of course, with a view to the BUGA 2029 – and thus provide a similarly attractive counterpart to the Rheinsteig Trail on the left bank of the Rhine?
From a sporting point of view, there are 116 km of walking and more than 7500 meters of elevation gain between the start in Bingen at the mouth of the Nahe and the Laubach in Koblenz, directly below the Rittersturz, the historic place that many associate with the conference of the same name in 1948, which was important for the founding of a West German state
Impressive and varied
There are 40 castles and ruins to explore, those on the left bank of the Rhine up close, so to speak, while those on the right bank are distinguished by their repeatedly spectacular views and panoramas, especially from the legendary Loreley rock or the Niederwald Monument right at the beginning. Ancient and impressive deciduous forests near Bingen, Boppard, and Koblenz are also worth mentioning, as are the numerous wine-growing regions through which the hike passes, including the Bopparder Hamm on the largest bend of the Rhine.
Individually plannable
Some see it more from a sporting perspective, others want to get to know the gastronomy and sights better – thanks to the convenient rail connections to the numerous Rhine towns, the stages can be planned individually, both as a one-way tour and as a hike with a fixed location.
Lace up your hiking boots – let's go!
