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Today we bring you Boppard, one of the cute towns on the Rhine Gorge in Germany.
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About the Rhine Gorge
The Rhine River is one of the major rivers in Europe and an important route in central Europe’s trade, especially during the olden times. It traverses not only through Germany but also through France and Switzerland, among others.
The upper middle part of the Rhine Valley is called the Rhine Gorge. It’s a 65-kilometer portion that comprises the towns between Koblenz and Bingen. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.
The Rhine Gorge is very picturesque with all these quaint villages lining both sides of the river. These small towns are peppered with half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, magnificent church towers, and even a dreamy castle on a hill for some. One of these villages on the right side of the Rhine Gorge is Boppard.
How to Get to Boppard
Boppard is an hour and 40 minutes by train and a little less than that by car from both the cities of Cologne and Frankfurt and around 30 minutes from the city of Koblenz. It makes a great day trip destination from these places because of its proximity.
Boat Cruise
If you’re already nearby, you can also opt for the scenic route by taking the river cruises around the Rhine that are being offered by boat companies. These cruises are an excellent way to see not only Boppard but also the other towns in the Rhine Gorge. They stop at many different towns, so you get to explore each of them for an allotted time.
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It’s a great way to see the Rhine towns because you don’t have to worry about planning your route—all you have to do is sit back, relax, and leave the day’s plans to the boat operators. That way, you can enjoy the scenery and the river breeze as the boat glides along the Rhine and past these towns, which is especially awesome if the weather is fine that day.
Boppard
Boppard is small, but it’s got a nice town center going for it. It also has a lovely promenade along the river that is one of the nicest among the villages in the Rhine since it has a nice walkway with benches and other seats where you can sit the day away if you want. There are also many restaurants in the area, so you can eat while you enjoy the river view and the breeze coming from it.
Boppard is not as pretty as its other Rhine village counterparts like Rüdesheim am Rhein, but it has its charm too, and is just as worth a visit, especially if you’re already in the area.
What is Boppard known for?
Boppard is known for its picturesque setting amid vineyards and hills. It has a charming Rhine River promenade lined with cafés and shops, where visitors can stroll along and enjoy views of the river. The town has a well-preserved historic center with narrow cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. Known for its wine production, visitors can explore the local wineries and sample regional wines.
Day Trip to Boppard
We made Boppard a day trip destination when we were in Rüdesheim Rhein for a weeklong stay. At that time, we were in the Rhine Gorge because we wanted to explore as many of the pretty Rhine villages as we could, and we made Rüdesheim am Rhein our base for that.
Related Reading: Rüdesheim Germany: Guide to an Enchanting Village
So one beautiful day in spring, we found ourselves bound for Boppard. We took the regional train plying the route. I think a car would be a much faster and more comfortable option, but since we didn’t feel like driving during that trip, we opted for the train instead.
Exploring Boppard
We arrived in Boppard around lunchtime. There was a week-long holiday in Germany at that time, so even if we came on a weekday there were many people out and about around town. You can see them in the square, on the streets, and in restaurants.
There were also a few cruise ships stopping by and dropping off visitors and tourists.
Our first stop was the Tourist Information Office (always the first when in a new place, heh), where we grabbed some maps (free) and asked for help regarding the boat schedule as we wanted to go back to Rüdesheim am Rhein via boat.
Then we grabbed a bite at one of the restaurants facing the square.
Afterward, we started exploring Boppard. We went to the promenade along the river first. The weather was lovely that day, so we had a great time.
Then we went around the town center. We passed through cute little backstreets like this.
Lovely half-timbered buildings can be found around town, too.
We were delighted to see a good number of restaurants around the area, so if you’re thinking of visiting, you’ll be happy to know that you’d have no problem eating out.
There were a lot of shops and boutiques as well.
These and similar scenes are pretty much what you’ll see in the town center. There are some churches and, as I heard, a castle that is said to be worth visiting in Boppard but, unfortunately, we never got to see them because a storm arrived in the afternoon of that day. We ended up cutting short our visit and just going back to our hotel instead. Such a shame since we wanted to see and experience as much of Boppard as we could. But there’s always the next time, right?
Sights to See in Boppard
At any rate, here are the noteworthy sights to see in Boppard:
- Museum der Stadt Boppard is located in the Alter Burg, a building along the riverfront that dates back to the fourteenth century that used to be a stronghold and a toll-house for the Elector Balduin of Trier back in the day. In this Boppard museum, you will find works by Michael Thonet, inventor of the popular bentwood furniture and a local of Boppard.
- Severuskirche (Basilica of St. Severus), a Catholic parish church with Romanesque architecture. Worth seeing are the medieval frescoes that exalt its patron saint.
- Römer-Kastell, the preserved remains of the fourth-century Roman walls built by the Romans. Located south of Marktplatz, they are considered the best-preserved Roman walls in Germany.
- Karmelitenkirche (Carmelite Church), a church of the Carmelite monastery located west of the town center.
- Vierseenblick, a lovely viewpoint above the town and is accessible by the Sesselbahn Boppard, a chairlift. It is also accessible by vehicles and bikes as there are bike trails in the area.
- Gedeonseck, also a viewpoint above the town and is similarly accessible by the Sesselbahn Boppard.
- The riverfront promenade.
Boppard Hotels
If you need lodgings in Boppard, here are some highly-rated hotels in town.
Boppard Activities
For a more fun and memorable Boppard or Rhine Gorge experience, these guided activities will do the trick.
Wrap Up
So that’s Boppard. It’s a quintessential German town that’s worth a visit if you’re in the Rhine Gorge. If you ever find yourself in town, let us know how you like it!
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