When I learnt that I was going to be staying in the heart of the Rhine valley a few years ago, I imagined watching fairytale castles and medieval forts go by as I passed tiny villages and towns meticulously preserved for centuries. I envisaged sampling wines from the very vineyards lining the gentle slopes of the Rhine and Moselle.

It almost seemed too good to be true. But when I did visit this region, it was everything I described and much more. Staying in a tiny village with houses that dated to the 12th century lining cobblestone streets that exuded a German charm, I spent hours tramping up and down the nearby hills, and discovered many a hidden gem. I learnt how to distinguish between trocken, halbtrocken, and süss wien from the numerous visits to the many wine cellars, sample delicious sherry, and savor dozens of varieties of German bread.

Someday, I hope to retire in such a village, enjoying a simple life surrounded by the beautiful Rhine Valley

Mittelrhein
Germany