Roman architecture in Trier, cycling routes along the Moselle and Rhine, and the landscape of Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park each give Rhineland-Palatinate a distinct character. When planning your trip, you can decide whether cultural history, a cycling route, or nature experiences should be the main focus.

Roman history and architecture

Trier was initially a Roman colony, later developed into an important trading center, and by the end of the 3rd century was one of the capitals of the Tetrarchy. At the time, the city was known as the “second Rome.” This history spans from its origins as a Roman colony to its political significance in the Tetrarchy, giving Trier’s past a broad historical scope.

North of the Alps, Trier preserves an exceptional concentration of major Roman buildings and traces of Roman settlement. The Porta Nigra is considered a unique achievement of 2nd-century Roman architecture. Those interested in antiquity will find both a broader urban context and a specific, well-known landmark here.

The cathedral and everyday history

In Speyer, the cathedral takes center stage: it was founded by Salian emperors and built in the 11th century as the largest church then known in the Western world. Trier’s Roman urban history and the founding story of Speyer Cathedral thus represent distinct historical themes.

The Rhineland-Palatinate Open-Air Museum shows how people lived, made their homes, and worked over the past five centuries. The 35-hectare site includes more than 40 faithfully reconstructed historic houses. Rather than focusing on a single building, the museum looks at a variety of houses and long periods of everyday life. Its program includes activities and themed event days, such as a museum festival and a garden and planting day. Dates vary, so check the event schedule before your visit.

Cycling routes along the Moselle and Rhine

The Moselle Cycle Route follows the Moselle for 248 kilometers, from the tri-border area near Perl to its confluence with the Rhine in Koblenz. Most of the route is paved, largely separated from car traffic, and mostly flat. As the route operator may update route information, check the latest route description before planning your trip.

The Rhine Cycle Route in Rhineland-Palatinate passes through the Palatinate, Rheinhessen, and Middle Rhine regions, and runs through Speyer, Worms, Mainz, and Koblenz, among other places. It mostly follows a dedicated paved path and partly uses the Leinpfad towpath. Different features can help guide your route choice: for the Moselle route, the length, endpoints, and mostly flat course, largely separated from car traffic, are specified; for the Rhine Cycle Route, the regions it passes through, the listed cities, and its partial use of the Leinpfad are highlighted.

National park and cross-border surroundings

Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland jointly established Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park in 2015. The park covers around 10,000 hectares and is characterized by extensive beech forests, rare bogs, rocky Rosselhalden scree slopes, and arnica and purple moor-grass meadows. Its reach extends beyond Rhineland-Palatinate. Guided ranger tours and experience tours start at the Erbeskopf National Park Gate or another ranger meeting point in the park. Check the park’s schedule if you would like to include a tour in your plans.

The wider region also includes the Palatinate Forest and Northern Vosges UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which straddles the German-French border. In the “Vosges-Palatinate” massif, almost three-quarters of the area is forested, making it the largest continuous forest area in Western Europe. German-French biosphere farmers’ markets are held regularly in the reserve. Visitors can buy environmentally friendly products from the region there. Check the specific market dates before visiting.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ahrweiler, Altenkirchen, Alzey-Worms, Bad Dürkheim, Bad Kreuznach, Bernkastel-Wittlich, Birkenfeld, Cochem-Zell, Donnersbergkreis, Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, Germersheim, Kaiserslautern, Kusel, Mainz-Bingen, Mayen-Koblenz, Neuwied, Rhein-Hunsrück, Rhein-Lahn, Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis, Südliche Weinstraße, Südwestpfalz, Trier-Saarburg, Vulkaneifel, Westerwald, Zweibrücken, Worms, Speyer, Mainz, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Frankenthal

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