A real insider's tip is the "Lorelei Gallery" in Oberwesel on the Rhine

steel engravings, copper engravings, etchings, wood carvings, half timbered antique houses, german castles

I've never seen such a choice of original old steel engravings, wood carvings and etchings of the Rhine area. There's only a small sign on the door, which is always closed, and there is no shop window, so you need to know that it's the first door on the left just 6 meters if you walk into the Holzgasse around the corner from house number 41 on the main street (Liebfrauenstrasse).

However, do be sure to give the proprietor a ring shortly before you want to arrive, as he never opens the door to unannounced guests! On the other hand, if you call and make an appointment in advance, it's not a problem to visit the shop and see this fantastic collection of antiques late in the evenings or at weekends. The number from outside Oberwesel is 06744 7404, and if you're calling from town – there are phone boxes on the cruise boat landing stages, in the town center, near the railway station and near the hospital – leave away the code and just dial 7404 or 711270. If you're taking an evening stroll in Oberwesel, it's directly between the Hotel Restaurant Romerkrug and to the "Historische Weinwirtschaft" (Historical Wine Inn).

The antiques dealer also has innumerable impressive oil paintings of almost all the Rhine Castles – but these he won't be persuaded to sell. The shop is as good as any museum, so don't forget to make that call – you won't regret it!

Oberwesel has an old tradition in wine-making,
wine-tasting is also available to single travellers, many wine cellars can be viewed and there are guided tours to the various surrounding vineyards

Rhine River cruise questions and answers

More from the town: Oberwesel on the Rhine

If you are coming from one of the airports in Cologne, Dusseldorf, Amsterdam, Luxembourg or Paris: start your River cruise in Boppard on the Rhine ...

Stay a while in Boppard before embarking. It is full of medieval charm and worth seeing for its beautiful old buildings and attractions like the steepest german railway into the Hunsruck mountains, vineyards and much more.

Part 1: Half day Rhine River cruise from Boppard along the enemy brothers castles Sterrenberg and Liebenstein also castles Maus (mouse) and Katz (cat) to St. Goar and Fortress Rheinfels.

From Boat landing stages in St. Goar every 15 minutes with a miniature street railway to Castle Rheinfels on Rhine hills and back down the hill to St. Goar.

Part 2: Half day Rhine River cruise from St. Goar along Lorelei cliff, Oberwesel, castle Schonburg, Kaub, castle Gutenfels, water castle Pfalz (Palatinate) to Bacharach and Castle Stahleck.

part 3

part 4