We arrived on the Rhine at its confluence with the Main River at Mainz, and from there sailed through the Rhine Gorge to Koblenz. The section of the Rhine (the upper part of the Middle Rhine) has more than 40 castles and fortresses dating back to Middle Ages. There are also many wine village famous primarily for Reisling wines.
The castles were constructed by princes from the 12th to 14th centuries and served as fortresses for the protection of landholdings and, in some cases, toll collection on the Rhine. The wars of the 17th century resulted in most of the castles being reduced to ruins we see today. A number have been restored as hotels.
