The Moselle is the Rhine's quieter, prettier, wine-soaked cousin. It winds through the world's steepest vineyards and storybook towns like Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues, and Trier — and the Christmas markets here are smaller, more intimate, and more vinicultural than the Rhine's.
The itinerary
Moselle Christmas sailings are usually combined with the Rhine — a Rhine & Moselle itinerary (10–11 days) gives you the grandeur of Cologne and the intimacy of Bernkastel in one trip. The Moselle itself runs from Koblenz (where it meets the Rhine) to Trier (Germany's oldest city).
The markets
- Cochem — Reichsburg Castle above a half-timbered wine town
- Bernkastel-Kues — medieval Marktplatz, Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling
- Trier — Germany's oldest city, Roman ruins, UNESCO cathedral
The wine
The Moselle is Riesling country — the steep slate vineyards produce some of the world's most elegant white wines. The glühwein here is made from local Riesling (lighter and less sweet than the Rhine versions), and the wine cellars in Bernkastel offer tastings of the legendary Bernkasteler Doctor.
Tip
Book a Rhine & Moselle combination itinerary rather than a Moselle-only sailing — you get both the big markets (Cologne, Strasbourg) and the intimate wine-town markets in one trip.
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