Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Luxembourg | Kompass cycle tour map 3709

Extinct volcanic cones, maars and bizarre rock formations are the scenic highlights of the low mountain range north of the Moselle. In countless meanders, the Moselle winds its way through the Rhenish Slate Mountains, deep into the plateaus it has buried itself and created impressive, sometimes very steep slopes on which the grapes of Moselle wine grow today. The most famous meander is the Cochemer Krampen between Bremm and Cochem. Unesco has declared the unique cultural landscape between Bingen and Koblenz a World Heritage Site: along the 67 km long breakthrough valley of the Upper Middle Rhine there are terraced wine slopes, picturesque half-timbered wine villages and numerous high-altitude castles and of course the Loreley. South of the Moselle lies the Hunsrück, a rugged low mountain range with many opportunities for cycling. The Nordpfälzer Bergland with its imposing castles and palaces begins south of the Nahe. Along the eastern slopes of the Palatinate Forest, good grapes grow along the Wine Route. From the heights, the view stretches across the Rhine plain to the Odenwald forest. The north of Luxembourg lies in the Ardennes. Among the countless castles in the country, Vianden Castle deserves special mention. The old town quarter and the fortresses of the city of Luxembourg have been declared World Heritage Sites. - One of the landmarks of the Saarland is the Saar loop near Mettlach.