Loreley Rock
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Must-Do Experience,
Monument - Natural
In the romantic Rhine Valley near the town of St. Goarshausen, a siren named Loreley was said to bewitch sailors from upon her granite rock, causing them to ground their boats or lose control of them and sink. The area around the massive granite outcrop which rises vertically 433 ft (132 m) about the river, is indeed dangerous - the narrowest part of the Rhine between Switzerland and the North Sea surrounded by reefs and rapids which are a major threat to shipping. These days a safe channel is marked by buoys and no one admits to hearing the siren song of Loreley. (The translation of the name Loreley is 'murmuring rock')
The area is also important for wine-making. Since 1395, the Counts of Katzenelnbogen have had vineyards here and it was this dynasty of winemakers who invented Riesling. The whole Rhine River area, of course, became famous for Rieslings but they were first developed here, under the siren spell of Loreley. These days, due to the noise of modern life, it is hard to hear the murmuring of Loreley, but we can still drink the Riesling!
Latest Reviews
Review by Joyce, April 2013
Doing what: Rhine Valley Trip from Frankfurt including Rhine River Cruise
The scenery is beautiful. Highly recommend this tour. The meal was delicious. Stops to see scenic sights were nice extras. Enjoyed the wine tasting at the end of the day. All it lacked was an overnight stay in one of the old castles. Saw at least a dozen castles overlooking the Rhine amidst the very picturesque countryside.
Review by Barbara K, April 2013
Doing what: Rhine Valley Trip from Frankfurt including Rhine River Cruise
Great tour -- so many beautiful sights! Our tour guide, George, was amazing. Looking forward to getting back to Frankfurt to do another tour or two.
Review by Yuka N, March 2013
Doing what: Rhine Valley Trip from Frankfurt including Rhine River Cruise
We had a wonderful time. It was a cold March day with snow flurries so there was only one other couple on the tour. The four of us became fast friends, and along with our guide, Michael, we and a wonderful conversation about the Rhine, the castles and everything else. The boat ride was nice allowing us to see the small villages and castles. I do know the flora is better in the summer, but no crowds allowed us to see everything easily and make friends.
Practical Info
The Loreley Rock is located in the Rhine Valley, near the town of St. Goar. It is 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Frankfurt airport.
