World Heritage Trail Upper Middle Rhine Valley

In June 2002, the unique cultural landscape of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. It stretches from Rhine kilometer 526 to 593 over a length of 67 km along the Rhine Gorge through the Rhenish Slate Mountains between Bingen/Rüdesheim and Koblenz.

Opened in 2022, the World Heritage Trail focuses on this prime section of the Rhine Valley – not least with regard to the BUGA 2029.

From a sporting perspective, there are 120 km of footpath and almost 4000 m of elevation change between the start in Bingen at the mouth of the Nahe and Laubach in Koblenz, directly below the Rittersturz, the historic site that many associate with the conference of the same name in 1948, which was significant for the founding of a West German state.

Impressive and varied

No fewer than 40 castles and ruins are to be highlighted, the left-Rhine ones almost up close, the right-Rhine ones through ever spectacular views and panoramas, especially of the legendary Loreley rock or the Niederwald Monument right at the beginning. Old and impressive deciduous forest stands near Bingen, Boppard, and Koblenz are also worth mentioning, as are the numerous vineyards the hike passes through, including the Boppard Hamm at the largest Rhine bend.

Individually plannable

Some see it more from a sporting perspective, others want to get to know gastronomy and sights more closely – thanks to the comfortable train connections of the numerous Rhine towns, the stages can be planned individually, both as a linear route and as a hike with a fixed base.

Hiking boots laced up – let's go!!!

Backpack with day provisions, sturdy footwear, and also the free Rhineland-Palatinate Experience App for route planning

There are repeatedly narrow paths. Surefootedness is a prerequisite.

All start and destination towns can be reached via the B9 on the left Rhine bank:

Highway:

Bingen: A 60 exit Bingen-East

Bacharach: A 61 exit Rheinböllen

St. Goar: A 61 exit Emmelshausen

Oberwesel: A 61 exit Laudert

Hirzenach: A 61 exit Emmelshausen

Boppard: A 61 exit Boppard-Buchholz

Rhens: A 61 exit Paffenheck

Koblenz: A 61, A 48

Since on the left-Rhine route almost every town has a train station, the routes can be planned individually. Hiking from a fixed base is therefore also very well possible.

For orientation, the travel times between the individual stations with the regional train are as follows:

Bingen HbF - Trechtingshausen: 4 min.

Trechtingshausen - Niederheimbach: 4 min.

Niederheimbach - Bacharach: 3 min.

Bacharach - Oberwesel: 4 min.

Oberwesel - St. Goar: 6 min.

St. Goar - Hirzenach: 4 min.

Hirzenach - Bad Salzig: 3 min.

Bad Salzig - Boppard: 4 min.

Boppard HbF - Spay: 5 min.

Spay - Rhens: 3 min.

Rhens - Koblenz HbF: 7 min.

Bingen HbF - Koblenz HbF: 48 min.

Bingen: Hindenburganlage, City-Center Bingen

Bacharach: At the B9 Rhine shore

Oberwesel: B9 city wall and Rhine shore

St. Goar: At the B9 Rhine shore

Hirzenach: Rheinstraße

Boppard: Marienberg parking deck, Remigiusplatz Mühltal

Information about the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage

Since almost every town has a train station, the routes can be planned individually. Further information under Arrival.