This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report Hot temperatures and wet weather have taken a toll on grapes in the western Tokyo city of Ome one of the few wine grape-growing areas in the capital about 130 grape vines sent from its sister city of Boppard are grown at three orchards to produce grapes for white and red wines The orchard workers include disabled people whose employment is supported by a social welfare corporation commissioned by the Ome government employees of the facilities and local farmers They harvest an annual average of up to 3,000 kilograms of Riesling grapes for white wine and about 1,000 kg of Romeo grapes for red wine The grapes are processed at wineries in Yamanashi Prefecture and Tokyo and the wines are sold in local liquor shops The wines can also be used as rewards to those who make cash donations to the municipality under the “furusato nozei” hometown tax payment system Workers noticed something off after they harvested Riesling grapes in late August They discovered that the volume decreased to 1,369 kg They also harvested 918 kg of Romeo grapes down by about 150 kg from the previous year the poor harvest was likely caused by the blistering summer heat following above-average rainfalls in May and June and it is troublesome when the ground gets too dry because of the intense summer heat and dry weather,” an Ome official said “The Riesling variety is particularly prone to diseases and pest infestations brought by such weather conditions.” The increasing frequency of summer heatwaves has made it difficult to grow grapes in Ome and workers are making various attempts to deal with the situation It is also apparently becoming more difficult to grow the Riesling variety even in Boppard “We are doing our very best to maintain cultivation in the hot city of Ome but we have no idea how things will turn out in the future,” said an official who visited Boppard to see the situation there Two Yamanashi wines tag 2nd best at top world competition GOHAN LAB/ Beef stewed in red wine: Cooking with trusty ‘maitake’ mushrooms helps tenderize meat Prices rise for French import wine Beaujolais Nouveau Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels Professional Jeweller Founded in 1979 by the Stenzhorn brothers in Boppard, Germany, Stenzhorn House of Jewellery has established itself as a leader in innovative techniques, constantly pushing the boundaries of design. Its bold and unique creations are sure to intrigue and captivate. With its exquisite creations, Stenzhorn’s jewels travel the world, weaving a tale of the founders’ adventures and discoveries. Through the art of jewellery and watchmaking, Stenzhorn showcases the beauty of nature, drawing inspiration from life itself. The House’s masterpieces are adorned with precious rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and dazzling diamonds, a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence. One of the house’s most famous and popular collections is À Fleur de Paris, a dedication to the vernal beauty of Parisian gardens. Each piece of jewellery tells a story of delicate blossom buds unfurling into full bloom while maintaining exquisite grace and lightness. The new pieces and an all-diamond line added this year further enhance the collection’s timeless elegance. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * 140 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BJ, United Kingdom 2012Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links The captain of the S.S. Antoinette is 34-year-old Jord Zwaal, from the Netherlands. Here he is in the wheelhouse. Cruise manager Markus Schindelegger hails from Austria, and behind him is hotel director Julie Zwaal, who comes from South Africa. Julie is the captain’s wife; they met on a ship a few years ago. The pool room is a great spot for lounging with a book, even if you’re not going to swim. Castles on the Rhine, including medieval Marksburg Castle, tend to look prettiest from May through October. The blankets on the S.S. Antoinette’s “sun deck” were a nice touch. The chandelier in the lobby used to hang in New York City’s Tavern on the Green. My cabin had both a balcony and a floor-to-ceiling glass window, so the Rhine was the first thing I saw upon waking each morning. My cabin had plenty of desk and closet space and a total of three televisions (the one you see here, plus one above the bed and one on the balcony). You could push a button to lower the top half of the windows, so you could get a breeze and a clear view. Never before have I seen a bathroom stocked with three different types of soaps/shampoo—Bulgari, L’Occitane, and Molton Brown. I was overjoyed to find such an assortment of electrical outlets. It’s all too rare on cruise ships. Alas, there was no Wi-Fi in my room. When I needed Internet access I had to go into the hallway. See that sofa? My laptop and I spent many hours together there. As if an indoor pool weren’t enough, the 164-passenger ship also has a 3-D movie theater! Here’s the S.S. Antoinette docked in Boppard, Germany. It was a bit of a walk into town. Here we are in Cologne. Germany’s largest Gothic church, Cologne Cathedral, sits near Germany’s busiest railway bridge. (I snapped this as we floated past.) Eau de Cologne was invented here by Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709. Inside the world’s oldest perfume factory. After only three hours in Cologne, we had to be back onboard, where high tea was served in L’Orangerie. I loved this shipboard Easter treat: a colored egg baked into bread. Speaking of bread, these pretzel bunnies were on sale in Cologne the day before Easter. Back in the wheelhouse, here’s Captain Jord Zwaal steering us through Dusseldorf (where we did not bother stopping). A captain and a hotel director out of central casting. Our cruise ended at this pier in Amsterdam. River ships park alongside each other especially at crowded piers like Amsterdam’s, which means you walk over other ships in order to reach the dock. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Thanks to its long history, rich culture, and well-established traditions, Germany is home to some of the most interesting places to visit in Europe Dotted across the country are countless small towns that each boast their very own charm and character and each of which offers curious travelers no end of fun things to do and see From picturesque small towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Lindau with their well-preserved medieval architecture and fairy-tale ambiance to the scenic setting of Cochem on the Moselle River together paint a compelling picture of a Germany that thrives on its uniqueness The charming island town of Lindau on Lake Constance (Bodensee) in Bavaria is easy to get to from Munich and its international airport it is connected to the mainland by a bridge and a causeway used by vehicle traffic Lindau’s recorded history goes back as far as the 9th century and it’s known to have been fortified by the Romans at one point The town’s picturesque Harbor Entrance is unique for its lighthouse (Neuer Leuchtturm) and the Bavarian Lion statue (Bayerischer Löwe), which stand as guardians over the town and boat traffic that come and go. In addition to the spectacular views over Lake Constance and the Alps in Austria and Switzerland it is a great place to hop aboard a tour boat or simply sit at a café and watch the world go by this elegant spa offers visitors a ritualized bathing experience that promotes wellness and relaxation A more contemporary take on thermal bathing can be enjoyed at Caracalla Spa and steam baths set amidst beautiful gardens Other quirky things to do in Baden Baden include visiting the Kurhaus an architectural marvel housing the old-school Casino Baden-Baden; and the Festspielhaus Europe's second-largest opera and concert house Quedlinburg’s location, mid-way between Hanover and Leipzig, makes it a great destination for a day trip or overnight getaway. This UNESCO World Heritage Site (one of an impressive 52 in Germany all told) is worth visiting for its large collection of over 2,000 well-preserved half-timbered houses and landmark buildings spanning six centuries The Fachwerkmuseum im Ständerbau museum is a must-visit and delves into the history and construction of these half-timbered houses The centerpiece of this amazing architectural collection is Quedlinburg Abbey this Romanesque masterpiece sits atop Schlossberg Hill It houses the tombs of the first German King which contains medieval art and religious artifacts Other must-visits include Quedlinburg's Market Square (Marktplatz) and its Renaissance Town Hall (Rathaus) Usually referred to simply as “Rothenburg,” Rothenburg ob der Tauber is every inch the traditional German fairy-tale town. Located on the spectacular Romantic Road scenic driving route in the heart of beautiful Bavaria it is a delightful town to explore on foot a yellow half-timbered house at a fork in the road along with the fountain in front and the Siebers Tower and Kobolzeller Tower framing the scene is one of the most photographed spots in Germany The Market Square (Marktplatz) serves as the heart of Rothenburg Photographic highlights include the Town Hall (Rathaus) with its impressive Renaissance façade and tower (be sure to climb the tower for its views); St home to the Holy Blood altarpiece by Tilman Riemenschneider a masterpiece of wood carving; and walking the old town walls Two quirky museums to visit include the Medieval Crime and Justice Museum (Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum) and the Christmas Museum (Weihnachtsmuseum) which celebrates the town's year-round Christmas spirit Known as the "City of Towers and Gates," Ravensburg is an often-overlooked gem that should be included on any Southern Germany travel itinerary The townscape is blessed with 10 historic towers and many able to be visited as you explore the Old Town (Altstadt) area were part of the town's original fortifications and today offer panoramic views of the town and the surrounding countryside Ravensburg’s role as an important trading and market center is evident in the Marienplatz, the main square, which is surrounded by historic buildings, including the Waaghaus and the Rathaus (Town Hall). The town’s quirkier side can be explored at Museum Ravensburger, a fun attraction dedicated to the history of the iconic board game and puzzle maker Its stunning Moselle Valley setting makes Cochem a must-visit in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. This picture-perfect small town, a regular stop for passing river cruises, is home to the spectacular 12th-century Reichsburg Castle Perched on a commanding hilltop overlooking the river and the town guided castle tours paint a fascinating look into the times of knights and nobility Exploring Cochem's old town center is a must for its half-timbered homes and market square (Marktplatz) Martin's Church and the Baroque town hall (Rathaus) Cochem is a gateway to the Moselle wine region with numerous vineyards and wineries offering tastings and tours Another quirky attraction is the Cochem Chairlift (Cochemer Sesselbahn Talstation) which transports visitors up to the Pinnerkreuz lookout point for panoramic views of the area While much of Friedrichshafen’s town center was destroyed during WWII due to its industrial importance there is a very good reason for tourists to want to include this interesting Baden-Württemberg destination on their list of top places to visit in Germany that the very first Zeppelin took flight… and it’s here that tourists can experience the thrill of flying in a Zeppelin airship for themselves  Zeppelin flights are available from the town’s airport and boast breathtaking aerial views of Lake Constance and the surrounding region Whether before or after a flight, a visit to the Zeppelin Museum is a must. Housed in the former Harbor Railway Station (Hafenbahnhof), this fascinating attraction features the world's largest collection related to airship travel and the history of Zeppelin aviation, including details of the ill-fated Hindenburg disaster of 1937 famous for its Sun Organ (Sonnenorgel); constructed in 1703 this elegantly decorated instrument is still in use for recitals that are open to the public and provide a somewhat quirky musical journey back in time Exploring the town’s picturesque Lower Market Square (Untermarkt) is time well spent the oldest Renaissance building in Germany and home to the interesting Silesian Museum with its displays relating to local history and culture Boppard sits along the picturesque Rhine River in the Rhineland-Palatinate region and is the closest community to the spectacular Rhine Loop Best seen from the vantage point of the Vierseenblick (Four-Lakes View,) just a 30-minute walk from the town center this panoramic bend in the Rhine gives the impression you are looking at a series of interconnected lakes rather than a river The town is also famous for the Boppard Chairlift (Sesselbahn Boppard) which carries visitors up to the Gedeonseck viewpoint for even more views of the Rhine Loop as it has been designated part of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley Exploring the quirkiest towns in Germany offers a superb opportunity to experience a journey through some of Europe’s most impressive countryside and historic landmarks From the well-preserved half-timbered houses of Quedlinburg to the fairy-tale streets of Rothenburg ob der Tauber these charming communities embody the spirit of a bygone era and invite adventurous travelers to venture off the beaten track and explore photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com MUNICH — At most construction equipment trade shows manufacturers feature simulators in their booths.  It seems impossible to attend a show and miss them They always have a line of people waiting to sit in the chair and simulate operating heavy machine equipment Bauma attendees who visit the BOMAG booth in the outdoor lot of the Neue Messe München exhibition center might think they are approaching another simulator is allowing attendees to drive a single drum roller It’s 280 miles away at BOMAG’s headquarters in Boppard One shows the course in Boppard in a wide view Another shows an aerial view and a figure-eight obstacle course The final screen has the rear video and front video of the ROBOMAG.  Full disclosure: your humble reporter sat in the chair and operated the roller It was wild to operate a piece of heavy machinery from that far away It should also be noted that BOMAG’s roller features a horn of the person monitoring the obstacle course in Boppard.  “What we are showcasing here today is the first significant shift into a practical use of automation,” said Julian Bertram product manager assistance systems and automation at BOMAG.  This is a partially autonomous machine that is able to perform any given task by itself there are still times where the machine doesn’t know how to react.  “The machine operator is now longer an operator,” Bertram said And he’s managing a fleet of partially autonomous machines no matter the distance or where the machine is located.”  BOMAG first unveiled its ROBOMAG in 2019 And though the single drum roller featured at Bauma is a proof of concept and not on the market it’s a sign of what the future holds for the industry “It’s a first step,” he said And we think this is an answer to both of these two big tremendous changes in the industry.”  Other manufacturers are displaying partially autonomous has an operator doing his job at Germany's Lukas Gläser quarry from the showroom floor.  on the opposite end of the Neue Messe München exhibition center Bauma attendees witnessed another aspect of automation in the Innovation Hall said that robots improve safety on jobsites and are good at some repetitive tasks that occur on roadway projects it's also very hard to find people,” Kharanen said Robots could be useful “especially when your construction site is somewhere in the middle of nowhere it's also saving the travel costs sometimes Each company defines their own targets for the autonomy for the automation and for the robots.” The X30 can carry 880 pounds and work for three hours in the rain “It’s very mobile,” he said Bauma boasts that it offers a “future-oriented platform” for the construction industry and for attendees of this year’s show the glimpse of the years to come for the industry can probably be summed up by the words robotics and autonomous Beginning with Thonet’s innovations two centuries ago the development of the café chair typology reflects upheavals in cities and design There’s a certain category of chair that lacks a proper name It is often referred to as a “café chair,” but that name belies a far more complex reality: Its very existence is a testament to upheavals in production and society that have shaped the past two centuries Nestled within this history is also a parable about the challenges of designing for the many versus designing for the few Thonet pioneered the café chair; the company’s savvy business strategies and simple constructions would set the model for others to follow. The beginning was modest: Two hundred years ago, in the small Prussian town of Boppard, cabinetmaker Michael Thonet set up a small workshop where he used traditional carving and joinery He soon became singularly obsessed with simplifying the means of production—making furniture cheaper devising ways of bending solid wood by boiling it in glue and using metal braces to prevent splitting and tearing That allowed him to shape wood into complex curves and reduce his chairs to the smallest number of components They were the first chairs designed truly for the masses But Thonet’s success wasn’t just about harnessing the power of mass production The emergence of the café chair was a response to the changing nature and uses of the public sphere the coffeehouse had become an important new type of public space a novel form of engagement where strangers were meant to interact in debate Typical coffeehouses were furnished accordingly with long communal tables and benches; chairs were relatively rare such interactions were anathema; cities had become a relentless flurry of sensory overload and cafés were now a way to be alone in public—to stare at crowds with cool detachment and lose oneself in thought or in the company of close friends Thonet paradoxically ceased its original attention to the masses: Prices rose and designed chairs became exclusive to well-funded domestic interiors each company would eventually hire designers to reinterpret its product to be sold at significantly higher price points produced through a single injection of hot plastic into a mold Factories in furniture-making capitals like Foshan are also developing new interpretations of design classics to provide cheap knockoffs Thanks to the power of e-commerce giants like Alibaba these chairs have reemerged as truly public chairs available for rock-bottom prices at the click of a button Purveyors of the originals will claim that these copies aren’t built to last—Emeco famously threw its chair off an eight-story building to prove its durability If the quintessence of these chairs is their cheap who is the standard-bearer of Thonet today: the legacy companies that still produce rarefied classics or the copycats making them cheap and accessible You may also enjoy “Far from Being a Temple to Rationality, the Bauhaus Was a ‘Cauldron of Perversions’.” Would you like to comment on this article? Send your thoughts to: [email protected] Subscribe to our mailing list to receive the latest updates subscription deals delivered straight to your inbox Visiting the Rhine River Valley never gets old One of Europe’s great thrills is zipping along the Rhine River on a fast train or gliding slowly on a relaxing old steamer boat The Rhine flows north from Switzerland to Holland but the 70-mile scenic stretch from Mainz to Koblenz hoards all the touristic charm Studded with the crenellated cream of Germany’s castles A Rhine boat cruise is the most relaxing way of all I’d do just the hour-or-two span from Bacharach to either St Goar (nine miles) or Boppard (17 miles) by boat Bacharach draws lots of tourists for its time-capsule quaintness you can visit the intriguing ruins of a church on the hill It’s also the perfect place to spend the night — Bacharach is home to one of Europe’s great youth hostels in a 12th-century castle (and where I spent my first-ever night in the Rhineland years ago) As I hiked up here from the village below with a local friend on a recent visit he and his friends literally scaled the castle walls to hang out with girls staying in the hostel The hostel still rents rooms to travelers of all ages for under $30 complete with breakfast and a royal Rhine view whose name likely derives from “altar to Bacchus,” is also where some of the Rhine’s best wine comes from Local vintners brag that the medieval Pope Pius II ordered Bacharach wine by the cartload Rhineland wine festivals make a fall visit especially memorable with fireworks displays and illuminated ships you’ll notice its ship’s masts rising from terra firma — a memorial to the generations of riverboat captains and sailors for whom this town is famous Oberwesel is capped by a castle (Schönburg The other town landmark is its 130-foot-tall Ochsenturm tower standing high and solitary overlooking the river The town itself is worth a quick visit to see its charming main square and explore its museum with the best collection of historic Rhine artifacts I’ve found within the Rhine gorge I found a path leading through a peaceful little meadow and forest with views of the town and its largely intact city wall the Cowherd’s Tower is now a private home with a fanciful drawbridge the current family’s teenage son threw a rowdy graduation party in the tower the kids just hoisted up the drawbridge and partied on Rhineland’s many castles and fortifications The Rhine has been a major transportation route since Roman times when the river marked the northern end of the empire the stretch from Bingen to Koblenz was home to no fewer than 16 greedy dukes and lords — robber barons running two-bit dukedoms living in hilltop castles and collecting tolls from merchant vessels passing by in the river below so you need to be selective about which to tour this castle offers your single most convenient and evocative hands-on castle experience on the river Once the biggest and mightiest castle on the Rhine today Rheinfels rumbles with ghosts from its hard-fought past While it withstood a siege of 28,000 French troops in 1692 the French finally destroyed it a century later Rheinfels looms a 15-minute hike above a peaceful tourist town Goar is the perfect place to buy a souvenir stein and its leafy riverside park is perfect for strolling Visitors have been captivated by the Rhine Valley’s past glory and rich legend for centuries From mighty castles to its romantic rivers from fine Rhine wine to fanciful cobbled lanes it’s easy to rekindle the Europe of old in Germany’s Rhineland Like his predecessors before him, wine-maker Jonas Schoeneberger has got used to the fact that some of his guests and his customers do not know his surname, as his wines are bottled under the name of ‘Weinhaus Heilig Grab’ He has had to tell the story of this unusual name so often that he has had it printed on the wine list The ‘Heilig Grab’ is the oldest wine bar in Boppard and has been owned by the same family for more than 200 years. Much longer than 100 years ago, it appeared that the menfolk from Boppard am Rhein were stretching out their visit to church on Good Friday for an unusually long time. They went to the Carmelite church as normal and the priest placed the monstrance on a side altar on the floor so that everyone could stop there for a short moment of prayer The men’s prayers became noticeably longer after a bar serving excellent wines opened near the church When asked by their wives what had taken them so long they all came up with the answer they had previously agreed on: “We’ve been to the Holy Grave It does no harm to pray a little longer sometimes.” Their wives did not believe them they joked: “You’ve been back to the Holy Grave again?!” So the name for the wine bar stuck even when Jonas Schoeneberger’s great-grandfather moved it to near the railway station cultivates nearly nine acres of vines split into 19 parcels all on the famous steep slopes making up the ‘Bopparder Hamm’ growing area “Very steep and lots of manual labour,” explains Jonas Schoeneberger who starts every wine tasting with his red wine Fifteen per cent of the vineyards are planted with Pinot noir for which the residual slate soil is perfect ‘Heilig Grab’ produces 30,000 bottles of wine a year The wine tastings in the tasting room or under the chestnuts in the spacious garden are not only popular because of the wines No cars are required as the wine bar has its own rail platform The Bopparder Hamm vineyards are on a wide bend in the Rhine with a perfect south-facing position and an excellent angle to the sunshine Covering 165 acres, Bopparder Hamm is the largest single wine-growing area in the small but exquisite Middle Rhine wine-growing region It extends around 100 kilometres along both sides of the Rhine from the Nahe in Bingen through Koblenz to just outside Bonn in one of the loveliest river landscapes in Germany the sheltered location and soil made up largely of slate and greywacke provide the perfect conditions for traditional grape varieties allowing them to ripen and produce top-quality wines View of the famous vineyard "Bopparder Hamm" The vine terraces often have gradients of more than 35 degrees and are sometimes topped with fortresses and castles while the banks of the river are dotted with friendly wine-making villages The southern part of this fascinating cultural landscape was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002 The whole region here is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a charming combination of stunning nature and important cultural heritage The only city on both the Rhine and the Moselle: From Deutsches Eck it is just a short walk to the narrow streets of the old town in Koblenz If you combine a walk through the vineyards of Rhineland‑Palatinate with a visit to one of the lively events linked to the refined wine juice you get the perfect blend of foodie and outdoorsy holiday Every step up the slope from the winemaking villages in the valley takes you past the vines where you can feel the climate that lends the grapes their flavour and are overcome by the panoramic views of the spectacular scenery you can enjoy events literally by the wayside as you head out into the countryside a weekend of 70 events in Rhineland‑Palatinate alone organised by the German Institute for Wine There is bound to be something to suit all tastes Trullo in Flammen near Flonheim in Rhine-Hesse Illuminated vineyard cottage for "Trullo in Flammen" on the Adelberg in Flonheim One week before the WeinWanderWochenende is Trullo in Flammen in Rhine-Hesse It is one of the first events of the year and effortlessly combines wine and walking From the starting point at the hikers’ car park in Geistermühle the route criss-crosses the vineyards of this hilly landscape leading you a total of seven kilometres past wine-fuelled stations to the trullo The vineyard hut in the style of an Italian roundhouse has been protecting the winemakers from wind and weather since the 18th century you are rewarded for the climb by a stand shared by the local winemakers where you can enjoy a range of regional wines It is a lovely way to while away the hours until evening when the lights come on in the pretty village down below and the trullo glows Mittelrheinischer Weinfrühling near Boppard along the Romantic Rhine At the same time as the WeinWanderWochenende, on the last Sunday in April every year, the little town of Boppard on the Romantic Rhine invites you to a hiking event with a difference: the Mittelrheinischen Weinfrühling or Middle Rhine Spring Wine Fair they have organised hikes along the famous Bopparder Hamm vineyards with the opportunity to enjoy not only a drop of the estate’s prize-winning wines but also fantastic views over the loop in the Rhine and the UNESCO Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage Site Top tip: If the five-kilometre route through the vineyards is not enough it also combines brilliantly with a circuit of the Rheingoldbogen Dream Trail The route leads over forest and meadow trails up to the Rhine plateau past the former Jakobsberg Jesuit Priory and into the Bopparder Hamm you can enjoy a stunning view of the mighty Marksburg Castle high above the Rhine View of the Rhine from the Gedeonseck at the Bopparder Hamm vineyard Weinfrühling Mittelahr in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler in the Ahr valley Hike through the vineyards of the Ahr on the Rotweinwanderweg The Weinfrühling Mittelahr in the pretty Ahr valley between Marienthal and Altenahr even extends beyond the WeinWanderWochenende This nearly 15-kilometre section of the Red Wine Trail primarily follows narrow paths or the agricultural tracks used by the winemakers above the river From the last weekend in April until the third weekend in May it is not only wonderful sweeping views that you can enjoy there is also a range of stands offering delicacies relating to the region’s local But it is still worth climbing down to the winemaking villages of the Ahr valley where further wine bars and restaurants await you The revenue will also help towards the rehabilitation of the Ahr valley where the aftermath of the floods is still very much in evidence but the plucky valley folk will not let themselves be beaten Steillagenfest in Winningen in the Moselle valley where you are given an insight into their daily work On the roughly four-kilometre trail through the vineyards you can join the locals in tasting exquisite wines and enjoying sunny panoramic views Stage 24 of the Moselsteig trail from Winningen to Koblenz also leads straight through the Steillagenfest so you can make sure you have really earned the excellent wines Visitors on the Brückstück Weinpfad to the Steillagenfest Winningen Martiner WeinWeg festival on the Wein- und Steinlehrpfad In early June, you can head to the Palatinate for the St. Martiner WeinWeg and a chance to enjoy a generous selection along the wine and stone trail the winemakers of the region showcase more than 60 wines from 25 different grape varieties the parish of St Martin marks the perfect intersection between the Palatinate Forest and the German Wine Route It is the end of the fifth stage of the Pfälzer Weinsteig trail from Neustadt an der Weinstrasse and the beginning of the sixth stage towards Burrweiler The stages are considered two of the loveliest sections of the Weinsteig trail and include two of the real highlights of the whole route: Hambach Castle and Villa Ludwigshöhe What could be better than linking your stopover in St Martin with a visit to the WeinWeg Kulinarischer Wingertsbummel near Reil in the Moselle valley Things are a little more relaxed in the Middle Moselle near Reil in the peak of summer: the Kulinarische Wingertsbummel is a leisurely stroll through the vineyards winemakers line up along a six-kilometre route offering wonderful views of the meandering Moselle and a lively bustle with a glass or two of wine If you fancy extending the Wingertsbummel by a kilometre or two the village of Reil has prepared a couple of routes of different levels of difficulty Even the fantastic Moselsteig trail passes through the village Happy wine hiking to the Kulinarische Wingertsbummel near Reil Weinwanderweg Fest near Monzingen in the Nahe region Vineyard hike on the Weinwanderweg Mittlere Nahe near Monzingen for the Weinwanderweg festival with a total length of nearly 13 kilometres between Martinstein and Bad Sobernheim passing though the vineyards with wonderful views over the peaceful river valley A number of wine stands along the route of the Weinwanderweg Mittlere Nahe provide perfect sustenance and with excellent public transport connections there is nothing standing in the way of a more thorough wine tasting Leisurely bike paths stretch out for miles along the riverbanks The bike paths following the courses of rivers such as the Rhine or Moselle offer beautiful panoramas The wine festivals in Romantic Germany are a pure pleasure as diverse as the grapes that are grown and pressed here We reveal 20 idyllic picnic spots with breathtaking views that you can easily reach on foot or on your bike our fantastic castles form an impressive backdrop to our 13 premium long-distance hiking trails offering excellent quality walks along selected routes We reveal 10 walking tours that can be reached by train — in an eco-friendly and convenient manner Enjoy spectacular views in our holiday regions: the rolling countryside of the low mountain ranges (Mittelgebirge) The Sunday TimesIt’s 7pm on a Friday night and church bells are pealing out over the riverside town of Boppard “Those are our Covid bells,” explains Michael all the church bells in the valley rang together The bells in this church are going to keep ringing until the pandemic is over.” but Germany has done its best to enjoy the summer Displaced holidaymakers who couldn’t make it to the Mediterranean are still snapping up alternatives — including river cruises So much so that I’ve only just managed to squeeze on to a four-night voyage through the Rhine Gorge on Viva Cruises’ MS Inspire which is sailing as full as it’s permitted with 120 of us on board when there’s room for 142 this is ‘plan B’,” says a cheerful Marion Schoenherr We’re seeing a lot of people coming who might not have considered river cruising for another 20 years — and they’re saying what a pity they hadn’t discovered it earlier.” Swiss-owned Viva was one of the first lines to resume cruising all the buzz was about what a river cruise would look like and whether masks and social distancing would kill the vibe One-way arrows direct passengers around the decks We have our temperatures checked every day You’re allocated a table for all meals and can turn up whenever you like a welcome break from the usual regimentation of fixed dining times My 307-mile round-trip from voyage from Düsseldorf neatly packs in the highlights of the wooded Middle Rhine The mood on board is jolly as we set sail in blazing sunshine waiters circulating on the sun deck with trays of Aperol spritz part of an extensive menu of included drinks Throughout the evening we sail south through Germany’s flat I leave my curtains open as night falls and nod off soon after we’ve passed dazzlingly lit Cologne cathedral MS InspireBy morning the scenery has changed Half-timbered houses and vine-shaded beer gardens line the banks against a backdrop of steep hills just before the river funnels into its most scenic stretch At this otherwise unremarkable town the star attraction is the world’s tallest cold-water geyser a jet of carbonated water that shoots up to 180ft out of the ground every two hours with a roar drenching onlookers with mineral-rich mist This region of Germany lies over a fault zone and the geyser startled a group of prospectors in 1903 gushing forth as a borehole was sunk to exploit carbon dioxide for mineral water As I’m walking up the gangway back to the ship I notice tiny streams of bubbles in the water below The Rhine is actually fizzy here in patches Our port calls tend to be mornings and evenings during which I open my balcony doors as we drift past vineyards and ivy-cloaked castles the late-afternoon sun warming geranium-filled squares and dusky-pink crooked houses which turns out to be my kind of sightseeing tow a wooden truck packed with bottles of wine that clanks over the cobbles as we explore on foot in ancient squares and at the town’s original Roman walls while Michael brings 2,000 years of history to life I’m up early the next day to catch the best of the scenery as Inspire sails south through the gorge Early morning shafts of sun fall on castles perched high above the river cliffs more than 400ft high tower over swirls and eddies so dangerous that river traffic lights are necessary to guide boats a statue of Lorelei watches over the river in tribute to Heinrich Heine’s 1824 poem about a nymph whose hypnotic singing would lure sailors to their death The atmospheric old city of Mainz is heaving on a Saturday lunchtime its medieval squares crammed with market stalls selling seasonal produce I haven’t encountered such crowds since before lockdown and am slightly unnerved — but there’s enough room to keep a distance Mainz is our turning point and Captain Nurdin spins Inspire in a nifty U-turn so we can start the journey back north stopping at the wine-growing town of Rüdesheim A small festival is in full swing on the riverbank ageing rocker Harald Krüger belting out Jerry Lee Lewis covers to an enthusiastic crowd I scribble my track-and-trace details on a form at the bar and sit in the fading light enjoying the buzz of the socially distanced crowd and a crisp masses of deck space and tasteful interiors in sapphire blue Normally it’s chartered by a top-end American line Canny German bargain hunters have taken advantage and so Inspire’s season has been extended for British cruisers to enjoy this most civilised and gentle mode of travel Sue Bryant was a guest of Viva Cruises, which offers four-night Rheingau Experience cruises from £412pp, including meals and most bar drinks (viva-cruises.com). Fly to Düsseldorf with Eurowings (eurowings.com) A choice of autumn cruises are available for a voyage through GermanyThree German river cruises for autumnBooking any trip is a bit of a lottery at the moment but with a decent choice of autumn cruises on the Rhine a voyage through Germany is still a quarantine-free possibility Moselle Valley moseyA-Rosa offers a five-night cruise through the Moselle valley, round-trip from Cologne, calling at Cochem, Bernkastel, Trier and Koblenz, departing October 30. From £850pp, all-inclusive on board (arosa-cruises.com) Middle Rhine voyageBrand-new Nicko Spirit sails the Middle Rhine from Frankfurt, visiting Mannheim, Speyer and Strasbourg. In Strasbourg the boat docks at Kehl, on the German side, so anybody wanting to avoid French quarantine can simply stay there.From £1,745pp, all-inclusive on board, with four excursions and flights (lightbluetravel.co.uk) Adults-only jauntTui River Cruises launches this autumn, offering adults-only trips. A five-night cruise on Tui Isla takes in Frankfurt, Speyer, Plittersdorf, Kehl and Mainz.From £620pp, with most drinks, excursions and flights (tui.co.uk) ▶ Have you switched to river cruising during the pandemic Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Latest advice advises against travel on a ‘sea-going’ cruise ship I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has changed its warning against all cruise ship travel to permit river cruises “The government will continue to review its cruise ship travel advice based on the latest medical advice.” However, as of 16 July, the wording has been altered to indicate that only ocean cruises are off-limits. “Cruise ship travel means staying overnight for at least one night on a sea-going cruise ship with people from multiple households,” the advisory now reads. The key term is “sea-going”, implying that river-only vessels are not included in the warning. James Cole, founder and managing director of Panache Cruises, said of the move: “It’s so pleasing to see that the FCO has changed its advice and river cruising has been given the green light. “When you combine this with the industry leading protocols that are being implemented by each of the cruise lines, the low deposit schemes and flexible booking conditions, together with the exceptional deals available to consumers, now is certainly the best time in the history of cruising to book a cruise.” While some welcomed the change, others criticised the FCO for advising against all other cruising indefinitely. Kelly Cookes, leisure director at Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “The latest announcement by the UK Government today regarding the FCO advice against international travel on a ‘sea-going’ cruise ship will be welcomed by the industry, particularly river cruising operators. “However, the indefinite FCO advice against sea-going cruises appears to be somewhat illogical given all cruises with imminent departures had all either been postponed or cancelled by the cruise lines. “This advice is therefore creating even further confusion for customers and agents.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies To continue reading this article you must log in If you've never set a password you may need to register for free here and get unlimited access TTG Media Limited.Place of registration: England and Wales.Company number 08723341.Registered address: 2-6 Boundary Row A view of the Miniatures Exhibition by Al Mana Maples located at Doha Design District Qatar: The Miniatures Exhibition by Al Mana Maples showcasing 100 classical seats in precise 1:6 miniature replicas was unveiled to the public yesterday at the Doha Design District in Msheireb Downtown Doha The centrepiece of this exhibition is a vast collection of 100 miniature chairs dating from as early as 1836 to the end of the 20th century This satellite exhibit seamlessly complements the ongoing “Masterpieces of Furniture Design” exhibition in partnership with the Vitra Design Museum located at M7 Msheireb Properties Senior Manager of Interior Design Shaikha Al Sulaiti in her opening remarks described how the 1:6 miniature replicas provide a glimpse into the role of design in the industrial production process you’ll have a unique opportunity to delve into the world of design and gain insights into the intricate processes of industrial production It’s a chance to see how design evolves from concept to creation.” provided guidance on how to experience the exhibition fully He explained that visitors should begin their journey at the first miniature replica Michael Thonet’s Bopparder Stuhl from 1836 and follow a zigzag path that leads to the grand finale: Philippe Starck’s Louis 20 serves as a historical example of early wood-bending techniques it boasts layer-glued bent wood and walnut veneer with an upholstered seat Museum Boppard highlights the varying thickness of the five layers in the lateral frame The Miniatures Exhibition also offers visitors a journey through time with pieces like “The Shaker Community” from the 1840 and Achille Castiglioni’s “Mezzadro” from 1957 Al Sulaiti elaborated on the significance of the Doha Design District: “Design districts are more than just geographical locations; they are vibrant communities that serve as focal points for creative expression She also revealed the news about the district’s future mentioning the upcoming opening of a materials library in 2024 This unique resource will be a curated collection of physical and digital materials fostering inspiration and reference for designers working on various projects “The materials library at the Doha Design District will be a collection of unique with planned masterclasses offered by brands supplying material on an ongoing basis,” she concluded