Alken combines river cruises with a rich local history. Thurant Castle dates back to the 12th century; parts of a fortification dating to around 1400 have also been preserved in the town. If you choose Alken as your destination, you can shape your stay around specific interests: the town’s history, a guided town tour, Alken wines, or river traffic.
River Cruises and Landing Stages
The KD landing stage is a landmark for river cruises. Tickets for the landing stage in Alken are sold beside it. Timetables are a separate part of planning: check them before your trip if you would like to include a cruise. The MS GoldstĂĽck is also moored in Alken; coordinate your travel plans for this vessel with its operator.
Alken also has moorings for motorboats and sailboats. This means there are several ways to enjoy the water: the KD landing stage and its ticket sales, the mooring for the MS GoldstĂĽck, and facilities for motorboats and sailboats. When choosing accommodation, it may help to consider in advance whether your stay will focus more on local history or on the river. Information about the landing stages does not replace checking the details of your travel plans.
Castle, Fortification, and Early Local History
The history of Thurant Castle dates back to the 12th century. Parts of the castle were built on old Roman foundations. Alken’s origins also reach back to Celtic and Roman times. These historical periods can be seen in various aspects of the town: the castle, remnants of the fortification, and the Old St. Michael’s Church.
Several parts of the town fortifications, which date to around 1400, have been preserved. The history of Fallerport includes a connection to the battlement walk, which once ran through two surviving half-timbered floors. The customs tower stands on the banks of the Moselle and is now a restaurant. Remains of another tower can be found at Wiltberg Castle. The gatekeeper’s house at the entrance to the town now houses a gallery. Together, these different structures offer insight into the former fortifications and their traces in today’s townscape.
The Old St. Michael’s Church also adds to the historical tour: it is first mentioned in a document from 1015 and preserves frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries. Several historical periods therefore come together in Alken. Thurant Castle points to the 12th century, while the frescoes were created much later; the fortifications, in turn, date to around 1400. History enthusiasts will find different ways to explore the town’s past.
Planning Town Tours and Wine Tastings
Expert-led town tours are offered daily in Alken and last about one to one and a half hours; other times can be arranged by agreement. The approximate duration gives you a specific time frame for this activity. Check current availability when planning. Wine tastings featuring Alken wines are available with advance booking. If you would like to include both in your stay, coordinate the times in advance and also check the timetable if you plan to include a river cruise.
A hotel in Alken is one accommodation option, but it does not replace arranging tour and wine-tasting times in advance or checking river connections. This way, you can plan around the activities that really matter to you.
Culture Across the Wider Mayen-Koblenz Destination
The wider Mayen-Koblenz destination offers other distinct cultural attractions. Genoveva Castle was built in 1280 by Heinrich von Finstingen, Archbishop of Trier. Following restoration, Sayn Ironworks now features modern exhibitions and multimedia presentations and is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage. These examples broaden the picture of Mayen-Koblenz, while Thurant Castle, the church, and the fortification remains provide the historical connection to Alken.
Discover more destinations: Kruft, Mülheim-Kärlich, Weitersburg, Volkesfeld, Kobern-Gondorf, Kerben, Ettringen, Lonnig
Go to the wider travel guide: Mayen-Koblenz.
