St.Goar - the birthplace of Loreley and other Sankt Goar, Germany Things to Do Tips

Loreley-haus in St.Goar

Loreley-Haus is the name of the oldest building in St.Goar and the legend tells us, it was there, where Loreley spent her youth.
The story about the Loreley is quite an old fairytale : a young mermaid named Lorely was caught by a fisher in St.Goar - she was raised by the family and used to sit next to the famous "Loreley-rock", combing her golden hair and singing her song. Many of the captains of the ships passing by did not concentrate enough on the rough river and lost their lives...
Heinrich Heine wrote the text to the famous Loreley-song :
Ich weiss nicht was soll es bedeuten
Dass ich so traurig bin;
Ein Maerchen aus alten Zeiten,
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.
Die Luft ist kuehl und es dunkelt,
Und ruhig fliesst der Rhein;
Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt
Im Abendsonnenschein.
Die schoenste Jungfrau sitzet
Dort oben wunderbar;
Ihr goldnes Geschmeide blitzet,
Sie kaemmt ihr goldenes Haar.
Sie kaemmt es mit goldenem Kamme
Und singt ein Lied dabei;
Das hat eine wundersame,
Gewaltige Melodei.
Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe
Ergreift es mit wildem Weh;
Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,
Er schaut nur hinauf in die Hoeh'.
Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen
Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn;
Und das hat mit ihrem Singen
Die Lore-Ley getan
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

In the village of St.Goar the valley is quite narrow and I may NOT recommend to stay overnight there in a hotel - the trains are running through town all day and night !!
Drive on top of the Loreley-rock , it is just about 5km from St.Goarshausen and there you will not hear these noises. You may cross the Rhine by carferry during the day !

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Address: St.Goar - Hauptstrasse
Directions: ILoreley-house is in St.Goar, opposite of the ships-dock . Just walk these few meters, while you have to wait for the next carferry !!
Website: http://www.loreleytal.com/loreley/clemens-brentano/

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Things To Do: St.Goarshausen & Burg Katz

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Updated by globetrott

on Apr 7, 2007

by globetrott , 1 more photos

St.Goarshausen & Burg Katz are another highlight of a cruise through the Rhine-valley. St.Goarshausen is opposite of St.Goar and quite close to the famous Loreley-rock. In St.Goarshausen you may still see some old towers - remains of the medieval townwalls - and high above the village is Burg Katz, dating back to the year 1370. The castle was destroyed by Napoleon in 1806 and reconstructed again at the end of the 19th century.
Nowadays you may not visit the castle,because it is owned by the German ministry of finances and used for the recreation of their employees. Not a bad way to spend our taxes :-((
The name "Katz" (cat) comes from the count of Katzenelnbogen, who owned quite a lot of castles along the Rhine. Opposite of Burg Katz, in a distance of maybe 1000 meters you may see Burg Maus (mouse) - see my next tip !
In St.Goarshausen the valley is quite narrow and I may NOT recommend to stay overnight there in a hotel - the trains are running through town all day and night !!
Drive on top of the Loreley-rock , it is just about 5km from St.Goarshausen and there you will not hear these noises !!

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Address: St.Goarshausen
Directions: St.Goarshausen is about 25km upstream from Koblenz, at the right bank of the river Rhine. You may cross the Rhine at St.Goar by a large car-ferry in order to get to St.Goarshausen.

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Things To Do: meet eagles and falcons in Burg Maus

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

meet eagles and falcons in Burg

Maus

by globetrott

Burg Maus is the second castle close to St.Goarshausen and the Loreley-rock. Burg Maus is open for visitors, BUT only in order to see performances of eagles and falcons flying high above the Rhine-valley and returning back to their home again afterwards. You may not drive up to the castle, BUT will have to leave your car in a side-valley of the Rhine and take a walk of about 20 minutes uphill to the castle Maus. At the castle they have a small restaurant and cafe !
You may visit Burg Maus and the performances there
between march 20th and beginning of October
daily except mondays. The castle will be open after 10.00a.m.
performances are at 11.00a.m. and 02.30p.m.
sundays and holidays have extra-performances at 04.30p.m.
entrance-fee is 6,50 Euros or 20 Euros for families.
mailto:ulrichvoell@burg-maus.de
mailto:info@burg-maus.de

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Phone: +49(0)6771-7669
Address: D-56346 St. Goarshausen-Wellmich
Directions: Burg Maus is in St. Goarshausen-Wellmich, in a side-valley and you have to follow the signs and leave the car there - walking up to the castle takes about 20 minutes !
Website: http://www.burg-maus.de/
Other Contact: Fax+49(0)6771-951003

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Things To Do: The Loreley-Rock

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

the Loreley-Rock

The Loreley-rock is the main attraction that tourists think of , when talking about St.Goar, although the famous rock is in fact next to St.Goarshausen, at the other bank of the river Rhine. BUT from St.Goar you definitely have the best view of the rock.
When you have enough time it would be a good idea to drive on top of the Loreley-rock and enjoy the great view. The ships sailing up and down the river Rhine / Rhein will have to follow their special trafic-lights, organizing an alternating one-way-trafic for this very dangerous part of the river.
On my main picture you may see St.Goarshausen on the right and at the end of that long artificial peninsula - between the river and the port - you may find a sculpture of the Loreley.

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Directions: The Loreley-rock is on the right bank of the river Rhine and in order to drive on top of the rock you have to leave the main road at St.Goarshausen and follow the road first for Bornich and finally to "Loreley-Felsen"

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Things To Do: Burg Rheineck - the castle of St.Goar

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

Burg Rheineck - the castle of

St.Goar

Burg Rheineck is the name of the great castle high above St.Goar, It dates back to the year 1245 and it is partly a castle-ruin today, and partly it was reconstructed and is a museum today. A smaller part of the old castle was transfered into a modern 4star-hotel - see my hoteltips !
Take a look inside the castle or go at least to the great terrace in front of the museum - it is free of charge and open day and night for a great view of the river Rhine / Rhein.

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Directions: You may drive up by your own car, BUT be aware of the fact that the road is quite steep and also a bit narrow at some places. The tourist-tram will take you there as well.

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Things To Do: There is one Loreley-sculpture at the river Rhine

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

the Lorelei in St.Goar

There is one - quite modern - sculpture of the Loreley at the end of a small artificial peninsula close to the Lorelei - rock. That sculpture is the only Lorelei-sculpture that you may see from the train, when passing by. At the right bank of the river the trainline goes through the Lorelei-rock by a tunnel and as soon as you get out of that tunnel, you have to search for the sculpture.
Nothing special, but the better sculpture is the one next to the Berghotel on top of the Loreley-rock anyway.

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Things To Do: another Lorelei is sitting on top of the rock

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Written by globetrott

on Mar 15, 2006

the Loreley sitting next to the

Berghotel

by globetrott