Discover the Rhine and Moselle on an APT River Cruise

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Stretching from Amsterdam to Basel, the remarkable Rhine is not only one of the longest and most important waterways in Europe, but also a top “bucket list” river cruise for many travellers. It is famous for many things; the dramatic Rhine Gorge, hillside vineyards, an impressive line-up of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the cities of Cologne and Strasbourg, and intriguing townships such as the Netherlands’ historic Nijmegen, and romantic Remich in Luxembourg.

 

And on a 15-day Rhine and Moselle Discoveries cruise with APT from Amsterdam to Basel you get to see it all, with the bonus of a scenic detour into the Moselle River. APT’s Aria river ships operate this route between March and December, boutique-sized luxury vessels which are among the highest-rated river ships in Europe, carrying a maximum of 148 guests. Features include spacious balcony accommodations, up to five dining experiences inspired by the prestigious La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs culinary organisation, and a heated whirlpool on the sun deck.

 

While the river ships are alluring in their own right, the itinerary provides the ultimate drawcard with no better place to start than in Amsterdam, a cosmopolitan capital built around a network of canals spanned by more than 1000 bridges. Further upstream is Antwerp, Belgium’s second city, its biggest port, and the de facto capital of Flanders. It’s also a medieval city appealing to artists, writers, intellectuals, actors and fashion designers, and thanks to serious scarring in WWII, enjoys architectural styles from many different historical periods dating back to the 16th century.

 

In Maastricht, guests enjoy the unique experience of Michelin-starred lunch at the 17th-century castle Château Neercanne, overlooking its World Heritage-listed Baroque gardens. While deep in the German heartland is Cologne, a 2000-year-old city with a famous skyline dominated by the soaring twin steeples of its Gothic cathedral, and the World Heritage-listed structure fondly called “The Dom”.

 

In the Moselle Valley, Cochem is arguably one of the prettiest towns in the region, while Bernkastel sits in heart of this spectacular region overlooked by the ruins of Landshut Castle, possessing over 500 years of wine producing history. For sheer dramatic beauty, however, the Middle Rhine shines in the Rhine Gorge; at each curve in the river, another medieval castle or fortress is revealed atop a towering cliff, with terraced vineyards ascending from the waterline below.

 

Strasbourg is the capital city of the Alsace region in northeastern France at the German border, offering the opportunity to venture to the historic spa town of Baden-Baden, while deep in Germany’s spectacular Black Forest, touring options from Breisach include a visit to the scenic village of Triberg, once the home of Josef Keller, creator of the decadent Black Forest cherry cake. Finally, located on the border of Switzerland, Germany and France, Basel wraps up your cruise, a multicultural city where in typical Swiss fashion ancient buildings blend comfortably with the modern, creating an aesthetically pleasing cityscape.

 

The Rhine and Moselle is a quintessential European river cruise which everyone should enjoy at least once in their lifetime. The diversity of the region, coupled with a fascinating history and dramatic landscapes, creates an experience like no other; and thanks to a fleet of luxurious APT river ships, you can see it all in comfort and style.

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