Bernkastel Kues

Bernkastel-Kues: the small, picturesque town on the Moselle

Bernkastel-Kues is a small town on the Moselle that draws visitors from all over the world every year. The region is known and loved far beyond Germany’s borders for its fine wines. Many customers order the wines and lay them down for special occasions. If you know your wine, it is far more memorable to taste it at one of the many festivals or in a local wine tavern. And if you decide on a holiday in the run-up to Christmas, you can enjoy regional delicacies at the Christmas markets, which have a charm all of their own here.

Visit the lovely Moselle town of Bernkastel-Kues with its historic old town. Wine and good living also await you on the boat trips along the Moselle, which several operators run.

A short history of Bernkastel-Kues

In its early days Bernkastel-Kues was shaped by Roman settlement. Unlike Trier, Aachen or the area around Cologne, you will find no direct remains here. The town’s history goes back further still: people were already settling in the area 3,000 years ago. The Roman past lives on in the town’s name as well. The place that was granted its town charter by Rudolf of Habsburg in 1291 was originally called Beronis castellum. The turbulent centuries of the Middle Ages and the revolutions changed Bernkastel-Kues again and again. The merger with the town of Kues came at the beginning of the 20th century, and the town has grown into its present shape ever since.

A walk through Bernkastel-Kues

The town holds a particular fascination for its visitors, and the best way to discover it is on a walk through the narrow lanes of the historic old town. Here you will find countless half-timbered houses, all beautifully preserved. They have been looked after over the centuries and lovingly restored. Many have kept their original character and weathered the storms of time. In the centre there are various restaurants and cafés where you can linger a while. The narrow lanes, a legacy of the medieval layout, leave a particularly strong impression. Small shops invite you to browse. Let the place work on you and allow yourself time to discover what makes it special. If you would like to know more about the region, its history and the days out on offer, call in at the Mosel-Gäste-Zentrum at Gestade 6 in Bernkastel-Kues. It is open Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00. You will not only get valuable information there, you can also book tickets for the festivals and events. Alongside the wine festivals of the Middle Moselle, Bernkastel-Kues has a music festival. It takes place every year and is hugely popular well beyond the region. The medieval days and the “Tage alter Chormusik” early choral music festival also draw many visitors each year, from the region and from far beyond it.

Discover the sights in the surrounding area

The Moselle and its glorious landscape form the heart of the region. There is plenty to discover beyond the wine tastings. Small towns with beautifully restored medieval half-timbered houses are part of that. They tell of the past and give you a sense of life in a far-off age. During the season, from spring to autumn, you can take boat trips on the Rhine or the Moselle. The scenery will win you over. Besides the wine festivals, the region’s history holds a great fascination. Visit Eltz Castle or Maria Laach Abbey if you would like to immerse yourself in the medieval past. In the summer months the lakes offer not only peace and relaxation but a cool dip too. As well as the Waldsee Rieden, where your holiday home could be, you can swim in the Laacher See or relax on its shore. Beyond the boat trips, the Rhine and the Moselle can also be explored by bike or on long walks. Bürresheim Castle is another of the sights that are known far beyond the region. You can relax in the adjoining park or set off on a long walk, and the castle’s handsome architecture is a joy in itself. There is so much to discover around Bernkastel-Kues that many guests come back, because one visit was never going to be enough. They take home impressions that stay with them for a long time.

A break in the Eifel

The Eifel captivates with its glorious countryside and the sheer number of days out. Walks, cycle rides and gentle strolls are all on the doorstep, as are trips to the great wine-growing areas of the Moselle. In the warmer months you can swim in clear lakes or relax on the shore. The unique Geo-Naturpark also makes an ideal starting point for trips to the various towns of the region. You can explore the wine country and enjoy the idyllic landscape. Our top holiday homes with a sauna, hooded beach chair, sun loungers, a wood-burning stove and much more are the ideal base for everything you have planned in the region. Choose from three holiday homes with a high standard of furnishing. Holiday Homes Susi, Annika and Tommy hold a 5-star rating from the German Tourist Association. They stand quietly, right by the Waldsee Rieden. It is the perfect place for a relaxed holiday. After an eventful day in Bernkastel-Kues, Trier, Mayen, Monreal, Koblenz, Cochem or another town close by, the homes offer wonderful peace and quiet in exclusive surroundings. If you would like to rent a holiday home by the lake in the Eifel, the length of your stay is up to you. We recommend booking for a week. You can also extend the rental, and with it your holiday at the Waldsee. Then you will have time and peace enough to discover the beautiful countryside around you.

Are you holidaying with children?

In that case we would recommend a place to stay in the Eifel, so that you can set off from there on the many rewarding days out. The holiday park at Waldsee Rieden is the ideal base, because the various adventure days out for children are close at hand and you have no long journeys to make. Klotten Wildlife and Adventure Park, Daun Wildlife Park and Neuwied Zoo are all good options.

Daun Wildlife Park is best explored on a car safari, as the site is very large. You drive through the park in your own car and can stop at any number of viewpoints to watch the animals at close quarters. Tollipark in Mayen is a huge play paradise for children and lies only about 10 minutes’ drive from the Eifel holiday park at Waldsee Rieden.

The Bernkastel-Kues holiday region has no shortage of events, and wine and good company are at the heart of them. Concerts, wine and street festivals and the Christmas markets are all hugely popular here.

In December 2021 the small town on the Moselle had 7,114 inhabitants

The town has a very long history: there is evidence of settlement on the site as far back as 3,000 years ago. Around the turn of the era, Bernkastel-Kues came under Roman influence. It has held its town charter since 1291.