Amsterdam
Founded over 800 years ago, the lively Dutch capital offers the visitor such an enormous choice: stroll along the elegant canals lined with stately merchant’s homes from centuries past; savour the works of the Old Dutch Masters at the Rijksmuseum; experience the humility of Anne Frank’s House or just enjoy one of the 1500 or so cafes and bars. A cruise through this ‘Venice of the North’s intricate canal system or a trip outside the city through the typical ‘Low Country’ landscape of windmills, flatlands and bicycles will both prove tempting options.

Andernach
This is a Roman city, with a tremendous history and the medieval walls and attractive town centre remain largely intact despite intensive bombing in 1944/1945. The famous 15th century Round Tower is a major landmark and the Rhine Gate into the old city dates back to the year 1200. Here you can also find reference to one of the famous Rhineland legends whereby two young bakers’ boys saved the slumbering city from a dawn assault by a neighbouring town by hurling beehives from the walls down on to the raiders!

Arnhem
This town straddles the Rhine in the east of Holland and is probably best known for its part in the Second World War battle later famed by the book and film ‘A Bridge Too Far’. The popular town centre offers an excellent selection of shops as well as bars, cafes and restaurants, particularly around the Korenmarkt square. Just outside Arnhem, in the Hoge Veluwe National Park is the Kröller-Müller modern art museum which houses an impressive collection of over 250 works by Van Gogh and further exhibits of work by Seurat, Picasso, Mondrian and Renoir.

Bernkastel-Kues
One of the Moselle’s most charming towns, it has been associated since Roman times with wine production and today is the centre of the region’s flourishing wine trade. Lovely old buildings dating back to medieval times abound including half-timbered houses, the City Hall, a 15th century hospital and the old town gate which still guards the entrance to the streets. The twin-towns straddle the Moselle and are almost enclosed by steep hillsides from which the wine growers coax, with a little help from the gentle climate of course, the Riesling grape, perhaps the aristocrat of German vines.

Boppard
The town is situated on the ‘Boppard Loop’, a spectacular horseshoe bend in the river’s passage through the spectacular Rhine Gorge. Boppard has great history and remains include a 4th century Roman fort. Water and wine is much in evidence here as local hot springs have made the town a popular spa resort, whilst the wine-taverns of the picturesque old quarter are a tempting option to all visitors.

Cochem
An enchanting town and one of the most visited places in the Moselle Valley, picturesque Cochem is dominated by the 11th century Reichsburg Castle that overlooks the town. Stroll through quaint narrow cobblestone streets with their picturesque half-timbered houses or take the chair lift from the bottom of the town’s hill and ride suspended in mid-air amongst the slopes to gain a birds-eye view of Cochem and its incredible castle with its delicate pointed towers.

Cologne
Germany’s fourth largest city actually dates back to the first century B.C and is probably most famous for its twin-spired Gothic cathedral. Amazingly, this beautiful structure escaped destruction during the wartime bombing and has survived remarkably intact to impress subsequent generations of visitors. The adjacent Old Town is an intriguing area to explore with excellent restaurants, taverns and small shops. Kölnisch Wasser is the famous Eau de Cologne light perfume and the formula of the original composition has been produced in Cologne since 1709 and to this day remains a secret.

Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is one of Germany’s most cosmopolitan, creative and wealthiest cities with a modern section on the west bank of the Rhine linked by five bridges to the older part of the city on the east. Here you can explore eighteen museums, one hundred art galleries as well as the German Opera House. Along the riverbank, the Rheinufer Promenade is the perfect place for strolling with wonderful views, attractive restaurants and pubs. The adjacent historic Old Town offers a vibrant nightlife along its narrow streets; whilst the Königsallee is one of the world’s most elegant shopping streets.

Linz am Rhein
Located to the south-east of Bonn on the eastern bank of the Rhine, near Remagen, Linz is another historic Rhineland town, first documented in the year 874. Much of the old town area is pedestrianised and has many attractive half-timbered buildings. The main square - the Marktplatz, also known as Castenholzplatz – houses the 16th century Town Hall, the Mariensäule pillar and the Ratsherrenbrunnen fountain all framed by a circle of centuries-old houses. Nearer to the river on the Burgplatz is another fountain, the Linzer Strünzer, apparently the symbol of the archetypal inhabitant of Linz with a reputation for exaggeration!

Koblenz
Dating back over 2,000 years, this grand city is situated at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers. Dominating the two rivers is the dramatic fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, perched high on a cliff, whilst the ‘Deutsches Eck’ – the German Corner – is a highlight of your passage along the waterway. The beautiful Old Town boasts romantic little squares and winding lanes. Perhaps walk from Florinsmarkt (St Florin’s Market) to Münzplatz (Old Mint Square) and Jesuitenplatz (Jesuits’ Square) and pass medieval churches and beautifully restored historic houses as well as attractive shops, restaurants and typical “Weinstubes” - wine taverns.

Rüdesheim
Possibly the most famous of all the Rhineland towns, and certainly one of its most delightful, Rüdesheim is renowned for the lively Drosselgasse, a cobbled, pedestrianised street packed with attractive restaurants and taverns.The splendid 16th century Bromserhof houses a fascinating collection of mechanical musical instruments. One of the spectacular exhibits is a carillon with bells made of original Meissen porcelain and its counterpart rings on every hour from the tower of the Rüdesheim/Rhine castle in the Drosselgasse. It displays various wooden figures which represent the four main wine vintages of the 20th century.

Zell
This is a particularly fine working wine town, which perhaps reflects the true character of the Moselle region. Vineyards abound and extend along both sides of the valley and the famous ‘Schwarze Katz’ wines are a popular temptation to the visitor. Zell’s black cat legend dates back to Noah and his Ark and today black cats can be found on signs, souvenirs and even houses throughout the town. Strolling the quiet streets and the attractive riverside promenade is a delightful way to discover this historic town which can trace its origins back to the 8th century.

GERMANY’S WINE COUNTRY
It was the Romans that first brought wine, their own favoured beverage, to this part of their lands although vines were only cultivated locally from the 6th century following the decline of the Empire. Over the next 600 years, the landscape as we know it today developed with vineyards being planted on the terraced inclines of the river valleys. The slate deposits in the soil offer optimal conditions for wine cultivation as during the day, the sun heats the slatey soil whilst during the cool evenings, the heat dissipates once again. The mineral deposits act as a long-term fertiliser and give the wine, particularly the Riesling, its unmistakeable characteristic taste. Germany has thirteen designated wine regions, and there are three important ones in Da Vinci’s cruising area.

Mittelrhein: This area reaches south from near Bonn down past Koblenz to the Rheingau and Middle Rhine wines are lively, robust yet quite subtle. Famous wine estates include Bacharach Wolfshöhle and Bopparder Hamm, both producers of full-bodied Riesling – perhaps best enjoyed in the romantic wine taverns and quaint inns of the area.

Rheingau: The Rhine makes a sharp turn near Wiesbaden on its way north from Switzerland, and flows westwards for around twenty miles; thus exposing the vineyards on the right bank to a southerly, sunnier aspect. This is the Rheingau and its principal town is Rüdesheim with its very narrow fun street, the Drosselgasse. Look out there for wines from the estates of Georg Breuer and Prinz von Hessen, local producers of top quality Rheingau Rieslings.

Mosel-Saar: Having entered Germany from France, the meandering Moselle river boasts a cluster of famous vineyards in its middle (Mittelmosel) and lower (Untermosel) sections, which extend from around Trier to virtually the outskirts of Koblenz. Ranging from dry to sweet, Moselle wine is characterised by full fruit and light alcohol and the better known wine producing communes/villages, going from Trier northwards, include: Piesport, Wehlen, Bernkastel, Graach, Traben, Uerzig and Zell.