Embark on a Rhine River journey

Marksburg Castle is well worth visiting along the Rhine River. It is a well-preserved structure and renowned for being the region’s only medieval castle that has never been destroyed. Perched nearly 300 ft. (90 m) above the water at Braubach, it also offers stunning views of the Rhine Valley below.

The butter-churn tower at Marksburg Castle, also known as a bergfried, is a distinctive architectural feature of this structure. This tower has an upper section with a smaller diameter than the lower section, resembling a butter churn. This design provides several advantages—the ledge where the lower tower meets the upper tower acts as a useful walkway or fighting platform, while the upper tower can be used as a lookout or defensive position.

Visitors may have an opportunity to walk across the rough-hewn stone passageways as they tour the citadel. Narrow, winding staircases offer views of the wine cellar, a bedroom, dining area and the impressive kitchen of the Gothic Hall building. Another highlight is the Gimbel Collection, with its twelve life-size figurines detailing changes to armor, weaponry and combat techniques from ancient times to the early modern period.

The Swiss city of Basel is home to more than three dozen museums and a plethora of art galleries and non-permanent installations and exhibits. One of its most renowned institutions is the Basel Kunstmuseum. In 1661, it became the first art collection to be made accessible to the public in Europe. Basel Kunstmuseum is also the largest art museum in Switzerland—its modernist collection has grown to such an extent that a second building was constructed across the street, accessible by a tunnel.

The Fondation Beyeler is another excellent museum to explore in Basel. It boasts an astounding collection of 19th- and 20th-century works by artists like Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, Joan Miró, Andy Warhol, Roy Liechtenstein, Max Ernst and many others.

In addition to its museums, the city also hosts Art Basel, a renowned annual international art fair that is a showcase for contemporary and modern art. Its popularity and success led to the launch of partner Art Basel fairs in Miami and Hong Kong.

Black Forest Cake, also known as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, is a classic dessert famous for its layers of chocolate cake, cherries, lashings of whipped cream and drizzle of kirsch (cherry brandy). This iconic treat comes from Germany’s Black Forest region, near the Rhine River Valley, where cherries and kirsch are local specialties. While its exact origins are debated, the cake likely evolved from traditional desserts in the area and became popular in the early 1900s, with the first official recipe being recorded in 1934.

The cake’s name reflects its roots—the dense, dark forests of Germany’s Black Forest region. Its layers of chocolate sponge, cherry filling and whipped cream are typically topped with chocolate shavings to resemble the forest’s trees. Over time, Black Forest Cake has become a favorite around the world. Whether enjoyed at a celebration or as a sweet afternoon treat, this dessert remains a timeless symbol of German baking tradition.

Located in the northeast corner of France, Alsace stands apart from other celebrated French wine regions. Protected by the Vosges Mountains and bordered by the Rhine, the area features a blend of glacier-influenced soils, noble grapes and one of the driest climates in France. The Franco-Germanic influences that are evident in Alsace’s culture and architecture also find expression in the region’s wines.

Alsace is legendary for its delicious cuisine, which combines fresh local ingredients, the German penchant for hearty fare and the French genius for coaxing distinctive flavors with technique and style. Cities like Strasbourg can boast an impressive number of Michelin-starred restaurants. Tasting your way through this fascinating region can be a great way to get to know it—from Alsatian cheeses and meats to local beer and the cinnamon-hued scent of glühwein (spicy mulled wine). Learn more about the region’s culinary classics below.

Choucroute garnie

The signature dish of Alsace, choucroute garnie is a savory mix of sauerkraut, onions and fresh herbs braised in Riesling. The garnie, or “garnishes,” consist of several cuts of pork—perhaps bacon, sausage and a smoked chop. It is so popular that food trucks and market stalls sell bowls to go.

Flammkuchen

Traditional flammkuchen, or tarte flambée, is a portable snack of chewy flatbread smothered with lardons, onions and crème fraîche.

Kougelhopf

Alsace’s bakers are famous for pralines, madeleines and more, but one “must-try” is the distinctive crown-shaped kougelhopf. It is made from a brioche-type dough with dried fruits and nuts, and baked in a special round, fluted pan.

Bretzels

You may notice that many bake shops hang a sign bearing the twisted knot image of a pretzel. That is because in medieval Alsace, bretzels were the symbol of the baker’s guild. But far from being just ordinary pretzels, bretzels are made from three rings of large, chewy and tangy dough dusted with a variety of sweet and savory seasonings.

Alsatian cheese

A nice accompaniment to your bretzel would be a few morsels of Alsatian cheese. The most popular is Munster, a small, creamy cheese that is made using unpasteurized milk, often sprinkled with cumin. Consider also Tomme d’Alsace, a pungent, semi-soft cow’s milk cheese whose rind is washed in Riesling to give it fruity notes. Or perhaps try bibeleskaes, a cream cheese seasoned with garlic, onion, parsley and, sometimes, bacon.

Alsatian wine

Whatever you eat, it will pair beautifully with Alsatian wine. You might choose a dry Riesling, a full-bodied Gewürztraminer or an earthy pinot gris (the perfect partner for Alsace’s heartier dishes). Pinot noir is the only Alsatian red wine; dry with hints of cherry and raspberry, it pairs perfectly with the pork dishes that all Alsatians love.

Alsatian beer

Alsace is also France’s main beer-producing region, with a plethora of breweries centered in Strasbourg working with locally grown hops. The preference is mostly for lagers, but many new microbreweries are adding more varied styles to the mix. A popular Alsatian aperitif is beer with a dash of amer, a bitter orange liqueur. Kirsch is the most common eau-de-vie, made with elderberries, strawberries or whatever fruit is in season.

Bon appétit!

If you love food and wine, were it 1820 or so you might have found employment as a gourmet. Back then, a gourmet was a valet to a French wine dealer whose job it was to sample and assess the quality of various wines—a task that grew to include food sampling to determine which pairings best complemented each vintage.

Alsace is one of Europe’s oldest wine regions thanks to the Romans, who brought viticulture here, and the hillsides of the Vosges, a terroir protected from westerly winds and rain. The best way to experience the region’s wine is by exploring Alsace’s Route des Vins. As France’s oldest wine route, it is the perfect place to sample Alsace’s world-famous cuisine and satisfy your inner gourmet.

The gourmet connection

In the 19th century, Alsatian wine dealers often hired tasters called "gourmets," from the old French word groume, or groom. Armed with their trusty tâtevin cups, they would sample, rate and price wines. This required a refined culinary palate, because—as any oenophile knows—pairing certain vintages with food helps bring out the wine's best qualities. This is one reason why wine tours feature delectable nibbles along the way.

The Alsace Wine Route

Established in 1953, this 110-mile stretch winds through 67 different wine-producing communes. They are home to more than 1,000 different wine producers, including well-known names such as Maison Trimbach, Hugel et Fils, Domaine Paul Blanck, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht and Marcel Deiss.

Equally intoxicating is the overall romance of the region. Scenic routes passes by lush vineyards, medieval castles and iconic, half-timbered villages straight out of a fairy tale, including Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Colmar, Ribeauvillé, Obernai and Eguisheim. These are fascinating places to explore year-round, but between May and October wine fairs, harvest festival and special saint’s days make the atmosphere extra festive.

Varietals and inspired pairings

Alsace is the only Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) region in France to produce mostly varietal wines—that is, wine made from a single grape. These are mainly whites based on the dominant Riesling, Gewürtztraminer, pinot gris, auxerrois blanc, pinot blanc and sylvaner grapes. Alsatian red and rosé wines come from the pinot noir grape. There are also two “late harvest” classifications—Vendange Tardive (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)—sweet wines made from grapes affected by noble rot.

Come to the scenic Alsatian Wine Route, pair a glass with a bit of Alsatian charcuterie, Munster cheese or pâté de foie gras, and understand why the gourmets of old had the best job in the world.

Germany’s Black Forest is home to stunning natural beauty, artisanal crafts, traditional dress and excellent cuisine. See why people come from all over the world to enjoy this idyllic region.

Where it is located

The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine Valley to the west and south, and its highest peaks climb to 4,900 feet above sea level. The Black Forest is an idyllic place, with green hills dotted with pretty villages, church steeples and the occasional tarn, or glacial lake. It is also home to some of Germany’s best-known waterfalls.

What is behind its name?

This densely forested region is called schwarzwald, German for “black forest.” But the Germans borrowed the name from the Romans, who called it Silva Nigra, Latin for “black forest.” At that time, the thick growth of conifers blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving much of the forest darkened even during the day.

Crafts and traditional dress

The Black Forest has a rich history of mining, but today its main industry is tourism. People come from all over the world to enjoy the beauty and charm of its landscapes and little towns. The region is known for skilled clockmakers: the Black Forest is where cuckoo clocks and other mechanical clocks come from. Woodcarving is another one of the area’s artistic crafts. The Black Forest is also famous for its tracht, or traditional dress, that is still worn for holiday events. The ladies wear black skirts (sometimes with floral aprons), embroidered blouses and bollenhüte, a hat adorned with red (if the wearer is unmarried) or black (if married) pom-poms. The men’s tracht varies by town, but usually includes elaborately embroidered suspenders and black hats.

A food-lover’s paradise

The Black Forest is known for excellent cuisine—there are more than a dozen Michelin-starred restaurants in the area. Black Forest ham, a smoked pork product, comes from the region, as does Black Forest Cake, a chocolate confection made with cream, sour cherries and kirsch, a colorless fruit brandy.