Germany’s Storied Rivers

From the mighty Rhine and picturesque Mosel, to the bustling Main and the romantic blue Danube, Germany is fortunate to be traced with some of the world’s greatest waterways—natural resources the country has used to its advantage to become one of the wealthiest economies on Earth.

Over the centuries, Germany grew and flourished along the riverbanks, due in large part to the rivers themselves. Even today, Germany has the world’s most well-developed inland navigation system—the rivers not only link the country's major commercial hubs and charming hideaways, but also connect Germany to other European nations. This enhanced its commerce and trade reach—the rivers carrying the country's wares near and far. Thanks to German innovation, the rivers have also been used as a primary source of hydroelectric generation. And last but not least, travelers flock here to discover the country's beauty while plying the rivers’ scenic waters.

Explore Germany's rivers with Grand Circle Cruise Line on:

• Christmas Markets Along the Rhine
• The Great Rivers of Europe
• Grand European Cruise
• Christmas Markets Along the Danube
• Romance of the Rhine & Mosel

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne awaits like a history book come to life, the filigreed spires of its famous cathedral rising above the cityscape like twin sentinels. A stroll through its streets reveals museums full of fine art, shops brimming with excellent chocolate, and even an ancient Roman gate. But it is the city’s namesake cathedral that beckons all travelers, like a Gothic siren.

Construction of the cathedral—known as the Dom—began in 1248 and, after seven centuries, was declared completed in 1880. United by their faith and the vision of the cathedral’s original plans, generations of builders contributed to this architectural masterpiece.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site miraculously escaped the majority of World War II damage that devastated the rest of the city (and Germany)—in fact, there's evidence that Allied forces were specifically ordered to preserve the beauty of this structure. The largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, the Dom boasts incredible stained-glass windows, an ornate gold altar shrine, and the intricate detail traditional for 14th-century Gothic churches.

Explore Cologne with Grand Circle Cruise Line on:

• Christmas Markets Along the Rhine
• The Great Rivers of Europe
• Grand European Cruise

Nuremberg

Along the banks of the Danube lies Bavaria’s second-largest city—richly-diverse Nuremberg. Franconia’s unofficial capital offers visitors a wide array of delights, from its energetic night scene and lively beer houses, to its yearly transformation into a magical winter wonderland during Christmas market season.

The vibrant modern city is also known for its darker past and the role it played in promoting Nazi propaganda. The ostentatious display at each of the Nazi party rallies once held in Nuremberg’s Zeppelin Field were meant to showcase Adolf Hitler’s burgeoning power. Nuremberg was chosen because of its culture-rich past and the fact that it was, and remains, the country’s major train hub. The Zeppelin Field was selected as the rally site because of its size (larger than twelve American football fields combined).

Architect Albert Speer designed a complex mimicking the classical aesthetic of the Romans—complete with imposing columns and crackling fire cauldrons. The final—and largest—rally was held in September of 1938. A crimson sea of Nazi flags rippled amidst a crowd of nearly 200,000. Then in the spring of 1945, U.S. soldiers tore down the gaudy swastika that once crowned the grandstand. After the war, Nuremberg was famously chosen as the site for the war crimes trials.

Today, Nuremberg acknowledges the crimes of its past, while keeping its eyes on its bright present … and future. Every summer, rock music now fills the expanse of Zeppelin Field while in the winter stalls brimming with handmade crafts and sweetly spiced treats line the city’s welcoming streets.

Explore Nuremberg with Grand Circle Cruise Line on:

• Christmas Markets Along the Rhine
• The Great Rivers of Europe
• Grand European Cruise

Berlin

Scarred by not one but two World Wars, tarnished by the whims of a murderous tyrant, and riven for 28 years by a cruel wall—Berlin has endured more than its share of turmoil through the years. Berlin makes no attempt to gloss over its history. On the contrary, many of its most notable sites—including the Holocaust Memorial, the Stasi Prison, and the Topography of Terror (built on the site of the former SS headquarters)—can be explored free of charge, as part of Germany’s attempt to convey its hard lessons to the wider world. But the city that hosted the Third Reich and the Soviets refuses to be wholly defined by the darker shades of its past.

In the early 20th century, Berlin was a haven for architects, painters, and filmmakers—and the city today hews very closely to that 100-year-old version of itself. Since the 1990s, cheap rents and open-mindedness have attracted artists of all types to Berlin’s borders. Alternative lifestyles, rock-and-roll attitudes, an international food scene, and vibrant street art are now hallmarks of this free-wheeling metropolis. Even the somber remnants of the Berlin Wall have gotten a makeover—muralists were commissioned in 1990 to decorate a mile-long section (known as the East Side Gallery) to commemorate the joy of reunification.

Fans of the finer things also find plenty to love in multi-faceted Berlin: Museum Island is home to works of art that span the centuries (as well as the continents), and is crowned by Berlin Palace—an eye-catching example of Baroque style. Nearby, the rambling Tiergarten (Berlin’s Central Park) entices outdoor enthusiasts with miles of tree-covered trails and surprises history buffs with notable Prussian sculptures.

Explore Berlin with Grand Circle Cruise Line on:

• Holland & Belgium in Springtime
• Romantic Blue Danube: Budapest to Prague

Trier's Porta Nigra

Trier—Germany’s oldest city—has been capturing people’s imaginations for millennia. There have been settlements here since the third millennium before Christ; Roman Emperor Augustus founded a thriving city here in 15 BC. Ancient Trier was both a scenic and strategic location—being situated on the Mosel River helped the city to control all commerce coming to and from the Mosel and the Rhine rivers. It eventually grew into a proper Roman city of great wealth and importance. In fact, the post ultimately became known as Roma Segunda, or Second Rome, for its opulence.

Eventually, surrounding Germanic tribes posed a large enough threat for the Romans to build a city wall around AD 200. It was four miles long and originally had five iron gates, in an attempt to protect Trier from the invasion that inevitably took place in AD 275.

Today, evidence of ancient Trier remains in its imposing Porta Nigra (“Black Gate”), the largest surviving city gate from that ancient Roman wall. In Trier’s pedestrian-only Market Square you can admire the central fountain built in 1595, a massive basilica built by Constantine in AD 310, and St. Peter’s Cathedral—built in the fifth century. Other Roman sites include the remains of baths and a 25,000-seat amphitheater. History enthusiasts can find even more to discover in the archaeological museum, whose vast collection tells the story of Trier from ancient times to the present day.

Explore Trier with Grand Circle Cruise Line on:

• Romance of the Rhine & Mosel

Reichsburg Cochem Castle

Pastel buildings reflect in the waters of the Mosel River, welcoming you to one of Germany’s most-visited towns—Cochem. Twisting medieval streets offer explorers the charming sight of half-timbered houses, medieval gates, and welcoming restaurants serving up local Riesling alongside hearty Germany fare. And overlooking this storybook scene is an even more enchanting vision to behold—the fairytale Reichsburg Cochem castle.

Believed to have been originally constructed sometime in the eleventh century, the castle is perched impossibly on a cliff overlooking the Mosel River. Burned to the ground by King Louis XIV of France in 1689 during the War of the Palatine Succession, the castle remained derelict until 1868, when it was purchased by Louis Ravene, a Berlin entrepreneur who converted it into a summer home for himself and his family. In 1978, ownership of the castle fell into the hands of the city of Cochem, which has since opened it to the public.

Explore Cochem with Grand Circle Cruise Line on:

• Romance of the Rhine & Mosel