RÜDESHEIM
ON THE RHINE
Rhine Cruise Stop and Rüdesheimer Coffee
Rudesheim
on the Rhine is one of the most visited towns along the romantic middle
Rhine River with its hilltop castles and wine vineyards, a popular
stop for the river cruise ships making the journey from Basel to Cologne.
The Drosselgasse, originally a 15th Century shipping port market lane,
is now a pedestrian zone full of handsomely decorated restaurants, wine
taverns and open air gardens with live band entertainment, leading to
the half-timber medieval town square, the heart of the old town and
its principal attraction for tourists.
First established as a wine growing town in the Roman era, Rudesheim
was once reached by bridge from Bingen across the river, but the bridge
is gone, so the river today is crossed by ferry, a journey of a few minutes
except when traffic is heavy. The rail lines from Weisbaden, carrying
mostly freight traffic, but the occasional passenger local along the
Rheingau east bank of the river, rumble steadily past the quant old town
of narrow streets of wine cellars, restaurants and specialty shops, while
the cruise
ships anchor at the river docks for excursions of tour passengers to
venture ashore, for wine tasting and souvenir shopping. But while in
Rudesheim on the Rhine, the experience is not complete without a sample
of the local signature alcoholic brew - and I don’t mean beer.
Rüdesheimer Coffee
One
of the first sights you see if crossing by ferry or following the
river from the north around the legendary siren’s rock which lured
river sailors to their doom is the former Asbach liqueur factory which
along with wine provided this Rhineland town with its identity and its
signature drink, the Rüdesheimer Coffee. The late night brew of
caffeine and whiskey called Irish Coffee may be more famous, this cocktail
has been a specialty holiday drink of choice in Germany for almost 60
years. I recently had a chance to sample the Rüdesheimer Coffee
in the traditional atmosphere of the Rüdesheim Schloss Hotel, made
for me before my eyes by the well-practiced waiter. After the delicious
sweet comfort drink and a hearty meal I must admit to a rather deep sleep
in the arms of a dreamed beckoning Lorelei.
The Rüdesheimer Coffee recipe, mixing Asbach Uralt liquour with
two cubes of sugar, lighting on fire, then adding coffee, vanilla flavored
whipped cream, and sprinkled with grated dark chocolate was invented
by Hans Adam in 1957 and has become a favorite in Germany, especially
at holiday time. Hugo Asbach arrived in Rüdesheim on the Rhine from
his home in France in 1892. Having worked in the distilleries of Cognac,
distilling wine into brandy, Aspach set about to create a product that
would rival the French libation supreme while catering to German tastes,
creating his brandy licquer, Asbach Uralt. In 1907, Asbach teamed with
wine merchant Albert Sturm, expanding the company, and over the past
100 years has been a household name in Germany and its unique coffee
drink a holiday tradition.
Rüdesheim Wine Tasting, Shops and Sights
Beyond
the shops and wine tasting, and during the holidays, one of Germany’s
charming Christmas Markets, a guided tour of Siegfried's Mechanical Music
Box Museum and the town’s Rheingau Wine Museum in the medieval
Brömserburg
Castle are highlights of Rudesheim, as well as a ride in the Rudesheim
Sielbahn cable gondola to walk the trails through the wine vineyards
on the hillsides above, and a visit to the Niederwald Monument, standing
watch over the river valley below. © Bargain
Travel Europe
Reviews and travel deals on the Rhine River on TripAdvisor
These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission. Photo courtesy Mainz Tourismus.
See Also:
KD FLEET - RHINE AND MOSEL RIVER CRUISES
THE LORELEY ROCK - LEGEND OF THE RHINE
