Bingen is the ideal starting point for excursions in every direction. Within an hour's drive, there are numerous interesting destinations, which can also be comfortably reached by train.
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To the north-west there is the romantic
Rhine valley. Major attractions are the castles, manor houses and museums along the majestic river to
Koblenz, where the
Mosel River joins the
Rhine River. In the south it is a short drive to Worms, Speyer and the Pfalz. Mainz, Wiesbaden and Frankfurt are to the east; to the west the spas in Bad Kreuznach, Bad Munster am Stein-Ebernburg and Bad Sobernheim, as well as the precious gems centre in Idar-Oberstein.
The landscape around
Bingen is interesting because it is so varied. Rheinhessen, Hunsrueck between the rivers Nahe and Mosel, the Rheingau on the right side of the Rhine River, all offer
a variety of places of interest.
On the Bingen side of the Rhine River there is
Rheinstein Castle, one of the prettiest of the Rhine valley castles. It was rebuilt in 1825 and completely renovated in 1990/91. The fortress was the customs post of the archbishops of Mainz in the 14th century. Only a few miles further is
Reichenstein Castle, built in 1215 and thus one of the oldest Rhine fortresses. The castle museum contains the biggest 'ovenplate' collection in Rheinland-Pfalz as well as hunting trophies from four continents.
On the right side of the Rhine River, directly opposite Bingen, there are the ruins of
Ehrenfels Castle, once a castle owned by the archbishops in Mainz and used to house and protect the cathedral treasures. It was built in the 13th century and has been a ruin since the French war of succession.
One of the loveliest excursions from Bingen is to the
Loreley. The 132 metre high cliff, which rises steeply above the Rhine River near
St. Goarshausen, it should be viewed from on-board one of the Rhine ships, just as the sailors once did. The legend says that when they caught sight of the maiden they were lured on to the cliffs and sank.
