The federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate in the southwest of Germany is distinguished by its diverse array of scenery in this beautiful handbook, ranging from the hills of the Eifel, Hunsrück, and Westerwald to the wide Mainz Basin and the gentle, vine-clad undulations of Rhine-Hesse. The bizarre red sandstone formations of the Palatinate Forest are captured along with the river valleys of the Rhine, Moselle, Saar, and Lahn, which also greatly contribute to the region's beauty and popularity. Exploring the local Celtic hill forts, bearing witness to a long and significant history, this guide also roams through some of the oldest cities in Germany, from Andernach and Mainz to Speyer and Trier, with architectural monuments such as Trier's Porta Nigra dating back to the days of the Romans. The region's power is portrayed in the magnificent edifices created during the Middle Ages, including the three imperial cathedrals in Mainz, Speyer, and Worms, which are illustrated as epochal works of great historical and architectural merit. Depicting the Middle Rhine Valley as not only the epitome of the romantic Rhineland but also a major waterway used for trade and transport for more than two millennia, these images present its proud hilltop fortresses and picturesque villages, squeezed in between the water's edge and precipitous walls of rock. Showcasing Rhineland-Palatinate in all its glorious variety, this handbook also details the culinary delights of the region, its fascinating castles and fortresses, and shipping on the River Rhine.
