Speyer
Speyer saw the birth of the Protestant movement. The Imperial Diet (Reichstag) of Speyer in 1526 marked the city as the centre of Reformation in Europe and earned it a place right at the heart of German history. The neo-Gothic memorial church with its Luther monument and the Baroque Lutheran Trinity Church still remind us of this event. However, the main attraction is the Imperial Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Its proximity to Alsace is reflected in the passion for cuisine and social festivities: Speyer hosts the Pretzel Party every 2nd weekend of July, the famous Emperor's Table every 2nd weekend of August, and the Old Town Festival every 2nd weekend of September. We recommend the Technik Museum Speyer (including Europe's largest space flight exhibition), the Historical Museum of the Palatinate (major exhibitions: Maya, from 2 October 2016 to 23 April 2017, and Richard the Lionheart, from 17 September 2017 to 15 April 2018) and SEA LIFE for families with children.  

Worms
The city of Luther and the Nibelungs is already preparing for its great anniversary in 2021. Martin Luther defended his theses before Emperor Charles V (Diet of Worms) from 16–25 April 1521. In fact, the world's largest Reformation monument, apart from that in Geneva, is situated here. However, Worms is definitely worth a visit even before the anniversary. The Luther Trail 1521 will open officially on 14 May 2017. This historic route, stretching approximately 400 km, traces Martin Luther's journey to the Diet of Worms and his return to the Wartburg Castle almost 500 years ago. What's completely unknown to many is the city's Jewish heritage: together with Speyer and Mainz, Worms is one of the 'ShUM-Cities on the Rhine – Jewish heritage for the world', seeking recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the Middle Ages, the three cities formed a network that profoundly shaped the culture, religion and jurisdiction of Central and Eastern European Jewish diaspora to date.

Mainz
Mainz is not only the capital of the Rhineland-Palatinate but also the only German member of the internationally renowned Great Wine Capitals network, representing Germany's largest wine-producing region. The annual Mainz Wine Market is ample evidence of this. In the Gutenberg Museum (2018: Gutenberg 550 years anniversary), you'll discover how Luther's theses could spread so quickly and far beyond the country's borders due to the invention of the printing press. Following its successful premiere in 2016, the Mainzer Sommerlichter will again be held in July (28–30 July, 2017): you can enjoy the unique combination of a stunning fireworks display set to music, a colourful laser show and stirring music from the banks of the Rhine or from one of the exclusive riverboats. There will also be a varied accompanying programme, including a Wine Village. Last but not least, the main celebrations for German Unity Day will be held in Mainz this year.

Koblenz
Follow the call of the Loreley to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress including youth hostel (the second largest after Gibraltar), cable car and Romanticum trio, which will make your visit to the only city on the banks of both the Rhine and the Moselle unforgettable. Make an extraordinary journey down the Rhine in the 'Romanticum', the interactive exhibition at the Zentralplatz, and experience Germany's Grand Canyon of Romanticism exactly the way great poets, thinkers, painters and musicians of the 19th century did. Take William Turner for example: his journey down the Rhine celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2017, together with that of the laying of the foundation stone of the fortified city of Koblenz. Fort Constantine, Fort Asterstein, Kaiser Franz Fortress, Neuendorfer Flèche and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress are all parts of the Prussian 'Coblenz and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress' city fortifications. Their impressive perimeter of 14 km makes them one of Europe's largest complex fortifications built in the 19th century.

Trier   
Founded by the Romans, the oldest city in Germany, and imperial residence of the Late Antiquity, Trier is the predestined location for cultural, historical and archaeological exhibitions concerning the ancient world. See this for yourself on International Museum Day (21 May 2017) or the UNESCO World Heritage Day (4 June 2017). The Trier Antiquity Card is ideal to explore the nine World Heritage Sites. We recommend Porta³ (16–18 June 2017) and the Mosel Musikfestival (08 July to 3 October 2017), the oldest and largest classical music festival in the Rhineland-Palatinate, for those who prefer music. One of Germany's most charming Christmas markets then opens in late November. Furthermore, the city is already preparing for a very special birthday: Karl Marx would have been 200 years old in 2018 – a great regional exhibition will celebrate this occasion (5 May to 21 October 2018).

Idar-Oberstein
Here, you will never lose the sparkle in your eyes! In Bruce Willis' birthplace, everything revolves around the fine treasures that make any woman's heart beat faster. You can visit every single step of the gemstone manufacturing process, from the mine{j}– the Steinkaulenberg gemstone mines are the only gemstone mines in Europe open to visitors – to the final polish. The fascinating finished product can then be admired in the German Gemstone Museum! Idar-Oberstein is situated right in the middle of the new Hunsrück-Hochwald National Park, which you can discover in all its beauty with a ranger-guided tour. And don't forget Germany's longest suspension bridge 'Geierlay', which opened in the autumn of 2015 and is only about one hour's drive away. This is a must for those of you who have a thirst for adventure and would like to imitate Indiana Jones! Afterwards, replenish your energy in a rustic restaurant with original Idar-Oberstein rotisserie meat cooked on an open beech fire.

Neustadt an der Weinstraße
The historic old town of Neustadt an der Weinstraße, situated on the doorstep of the Pfälzerwald UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, has the largest number of timbered houses in the Palatinate. Germany's secret wine capital has been a member of the 'Culinary Heritage Network', which now has 1,450 members in 44 European regions, since 15 October 2015. Neustadt is just the place to relax with a good glass of wine. The Gimmeldinger Mandelblüten Festival between late February and mid March is the first wine festival of the season in Germany (25/26 March 2017) and an absolute must. Another outstanding event is the German Grape Harvest Festival in association with the w.i.n.e.FESTival at the historic Spiegelpalast 'Bon Vivant' of the 20s. The programme from late September to mid October includes local, national and international wines, and special events for wine enthusiasts combined with grandiose music performances by international artists.

2017: 70 years of Rhineland-Palatinate
For the Romantic Cities, 2017 is not only about 500 years of Reformation (Martin Luther). The Rhineland-Palatinate federal state also celebrates its 70th birthday. On this occasion, the Rhineland-Palatinate Directorate General for Cultural Heritage is preparing a special exhibition titled vorZeiten – Archäologische Schätze an Rhein und Mosel (Prehistory – Archaeological Treasures of the Rhine and Moselle, May to October 2017) in the Mainz state museum, displaying spectacular finds and unique exhibits. The journey through time begins more than 400 million years ago. Evidence from the time of Charles the Great and the Second World War completes the exciting journey through the history of archaeology. Various castle and fortress festivals (Trifels Castle Festival, 20–21 May; Villa Ludwigshöhe Castle Festival, 25 August; and Stolzenfels Castle Festival, 10 September) conclude the festivities.

Endnote
Top 100 attractions in Germany
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) interviewed more than 44,000 visitors from 66 countries about their favourite attractions in Germany and developed a Top 100 list for 2016. It includes five of the Romantic Cities: Number 28 (Trier/Roman monuments/UNESCO World Heritage Site), Number 32 (Speyer/Cathedral/UNESCO World Heritage Site), Number 68 (Koblenz/Deutsches Eck/Ehrenbreitstein Fortress), Number 85 (longest suspension bridge 'Geierlay' near Idar-Oberstein), Number 87 (Neustadt a.d.W./Hambach Castle).

Contact

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Romantic Cities (cities between the Rhein and the Moselle)
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Email: werner@romantic-cities.com