Romantic trip through Germany’s River Main

Check in: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM, Merlijn will set sail for Rüsselsheim, passing the first lock on the river Main. We’ll present you with a welcome drink and introduce the crew. We will also provide information on the tour, the ship, and offer you a safety briefing. You will enjoy your first dinner on board while cruising.

After breakfast your bike tour will start, heading towards Frankfurt. Frankfurt was a city state, the Free City of Frankfurt, for nearly five centuries, and was one of the most important cities of the Holy Roman Empire, as a site of imperial coronations. It lost its sovereignty upon the collapse of the empire in 1806, and then permanently in 1866, when it was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. Frankfurt is both a major city and a global hub for commerce, culture, education, tourism and transportation. It is the financial centre of the European continent, and home to the headquarters of major European Banks. There will be enough time to discover the city at your own pace, as there is an overnight stay in Frankfurt.

We start with a sailing breakfast, and wave ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ to Frankfurt from the aft terrace. The captain will sail the ship on to Offenbach: the start of the bike tour, taking you to Bürgel, Mühlheim and Hanau, the town where the famous Grimm brothers were born. Don’t forget to try a ‘currywurst-mit-brötchen”: a type of fine German pork sausage typically steamed and seasoned with curry ketchup! Via Steinheim, with its charming historic centre, and Klein-Krotzenburg along the river Main, we will head towards the small, romantic city of Seligenstadt with its meandering alleyways, half-timber houses and Basilica. After crossing the river Main on a small ferry, we will continue to our destination Aschaffenburg. Tonight you will enjoy the local German cuisine, while eating dinner out in one of the many restaurants.

Following the river, we will pass lovely small towns and villages, such as Klingenberg and Groszheubach, both famous for their fine red wines. Our day ends in Miltenberg: a charming village with numerous alleyways, winding streets and old restored half-timber houses, as well as a historic market square and ‘Zum Riesen’, the oldest pub in Germany. After dinner, you will be offered a brewery tour and beer-tasting session at the famous ‘Faust’ brewery.

While you enjoy your breakfast, the Merlijn will continue its journey, sailing from Miltenberg to Wertheim, at the confluence of the rivers Main and Tauber; a town that invites you to visit its historic centre and the mountain ruins. From here, you will cycle to Lohr, passing the half-timber castle Homburg, and biking through the ever-changing landscape of abundant vineyards and forested mountain slopes with bizarre rocks and historic monuments, such as the Triefenstein monastery. Further on, you will arrive at Lohr am Main and its Gothic and Baroque buildings, where you will board the Merlijn. Together, we’ll sail on to Karlstad. Dinner will be served on board, and afterwards, there will be time for a post-meal walk in Karlstad, where the streets are laid out much like a chessboard, but are not entirely straight, which was conceived for military purposes.

Today, the bike tour will lead you further on along the river Main, leaving behind Karlstadt and its historic centre. The next port of call is Würzburg, which is a definite highlight of the trip. Explore this beautiful Baroque city and visit the ‘Würzburg Residence”, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Enjoy a guided tour of the Residence, after which you will make your way to the ship. In the evening, a captain’s dinner will be served on board.

After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and continue your European trip or leave for the airport