Читать книгу The Moselle Cycle Route. From the source to the Rhine at Koblenz онлайн

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Appendix E Youth hostels

The vineyards of the Calmont slope rise behind Bremm (Stage 13)

INTRODUCTION

The cycle route follows the Canal des Vosges through Lorraine (Stage 3)

To many people the greatest thing about the Moselle is not the water that flows in the river: rather it is the wine that is produced along its banks. And what great wine it is. The Riesling grape grows at its very best on the slatey slopes of the Moselle gorge and the best of the resulting wines, from famous villages like Bernkastel and Piesport, are among Germany’s finest. But for the cyclist, the Moselle offers much more than either wine or water.

Rising in the Vosges Mountains in eastern France, the Moselle flows generally north through the French region of Lorraine and the German Land (state) of Rheinland-Pfalz. Once in Germany it follows a deep meandering gorge between the Hunsrück and Eifel Mountains before joining the Rhine at Deutsches Eck (‘German corner’) in Koblenz.

The great attraction to a cyclist of following a river from its source is that, once you have reached the start, it’s all downhill. From the easily reached source near the Col de Bussang, the Moselle cycle route descends over 650m to the Rhine at Koblenz, 512km distant. The cycling is straightforward, with much of the route following well-surfaced cycle tracks, often along the riverbank or canal towpaths. On those occasions where roads are used, these are usually quiet country routes. All three of the countries passed through – France, Luxembourg and Germany – are highly cycle-friendly, and motorists will generally give you plenty of room. This route is suitable both for experienced long-distance cyclists, and for those who have not done much cycle touring and wish to start with a straightforward, easily followed route.