Railtrail Annual Brochure 2021

R hine R ail & A le T rail

N E W T O U R

Enjoy a trip to the wonderful Rhine Valley packed with brewery tours, beer tastings and wonderful Rhineland railways! Our new rail and ales themed tour features scenic branch lines, the Kasbachtal Railway, Germany’s oldest rack railway – the Drachenfalsbahn, and

DAY 1 Railtrail departs London St Pancras by Eurostar, speeding across Kent and towards France. Our Eurostar terminates at Brussels, where we change onto a highspeed train into Germany. Our hotel for six nights is the Hotel Pinger in the Rhine riverside town of Remagen . (D) DAY 2 We take the train along the Rhine to Brohl, where we join the Brohltalbahn . Otherwise known as the Vulkan Express , the line meanders up through the Brohl Valley into the Eifel Hills, whose dramatic rock formations were created during a period of volcanic activity. The line leads us to Niederzissen and we transfer to Maria Laach where we enjoy free time to discover the lake and abbey before we travel to nearby Mendig. Here we visit the Lava Dome Volcano Museum and neighbouring Vulkan Brauhaus . The Vulkan brewery dates back to 1875 and has the deepest fermentation cellar in the world , 30 metres underground. The basalt vault was built after the eruption of a volcano and is still used for storing special beers today. We get the chance to sample a Vulkan beer before we transfer to Engeln where we join the Vulkan Express for our return journey to Brohl and then retrace our tracks back to Remagen by train. (B,D) DAY 3 Today we head for the opposite bank of the Rhine by ferry and railway, travelling first to Königswinter . Here we take a return trip on Germany’s oldest rack railway, the Drachenfelsbahn , from the valley station up a height difference of 220 metres to the top station, where we find the ruined Drachenfels (‘dragon’s cliff’) Castle with great views across the river and the Siebengebirge hills. We enjoy free time before we travel by train the short distance to nearby Bonn where we visit the atmospheric Brauhaus Bönnsch . We sample the local brew at this characterful and traditional Rhenish bar adorned with photographs of famous past visitors from politicians to actors and have free time to explore beautiful Bonn before returning to Remagen by train. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ★ ★ Visit the Vulkan Brewery with the deepest fermentation cellar of the world – 30 metres underground formed after the eruption of a volcano ★ ★ Enjoy a return journey on the rural and rustic Vulkan Express ★ ★ Excursion to Königswinter and the Drachenfelsbahn rack railway ★ ★ Discover beautiful Bonn and the traditional Brauhaus Bönnsch ★ ★ Sample award winning craft and classic beers at the Lahnstein Brewery ★ ★ Explore the wonderful city of Cologne on a guided beer tour ★ ★ Experience a return journey on the Kasbachtalbahn Railway Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ ★ Dinner every evening at your hotel and one lunch ★ ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

the Vulkan Express train, plus visits to some of the Rhine’s most popular destinations including Bonn, Koblenz, and Cologne.

Fares From £899

Brohltalbahn – Vulkan Express

7 DAYS

© Brohltalbahn © Shutterstock

DAY 4 After breakfast we travel by train to Koblenz , which is framed by four low mountain ranges in the Rhine Valley and situated where the Moselle and Rhine rivers meet . We have free time to explore and can choose to start our day with a cable car journey over the Rhine River to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, the second largest preserved fortress in Europe. Alternatively, we can take a stroll around Koblenz’s historic Old Town or visit the monumental equestrian statue of William I, the first German Emperor, at the Deutsches Eck headland, where the Moselle flows into the Rhine. We then travel by train to nearby Oberlanstein and enjoy a relaxing afternoon including a brewery tour, beer themed lunch and sample 8-10 classic and craft award winning beers at the Lahnstein Brewery . (B,L,D) DAY 5 This morning we enjoy free time to relax and explore our base of Remagen , we can take a leisurely stroll along the Rhine Promenade, visit the fascinating Peace Museum Bridge or discover an eclectic mix of art works at the Arp Museum. At midday we travel by train to Cologne and are free to explore the attractions including historic Old Town, famous Cathedral and many museums before our two hour guided tour of some of city’s most atmospheric bars, where we sample the local ales. Following our afternoon in stunning Cologne we return to Remagen by train. (B,D) DAY 6 Today we take the train to the pretty riverside town of Linz-am-Rhein where we join the heritage diesel Kasbachtalbahn Railway , whose 1950s ‘Roter Brummer’ Uerdinger Railbus transports us from the bottom station to Kalenborn over 9 kms of track that rates amongst Germany’s steepest. Following our scenic return journey, we have free time for lunch in Linz-am-Rhein and to sample a local ale at the Old Steffens bar . A perfect way to spend our last afternoon! (B,D) DAY 7 Leaving Remagen, we change trains onto the highspeed line in Cologne. In Brussels we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. (B)

DEPARTS Monday 12 July 2021

FARES From London St Pancras International: Standard Class rail travel to/from Remagen including Standard Eurostar £899 Supplement for Standard Premier Eurostar upgrade return £199 First Class rail travel to/from Remagen including Standard Premier Eurostar £1199 Join & Leave at Remagen £739 Single Traveller Supplement £135 6 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal plus one lunch Eurostar and rail travel to and from Remagen in the class of your choice

All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager GUARANTEED FARE

HOTEL Hotel Pinger, Remagen

Conveniently situated for Remagen’s centre and its railway station, yet just a short stroll from the Rhine Promenade, the family-run Hotel Pinger is very much the hub of this small Rhineland town. The hotel boasts a traditional restaurant, bar and coffee shop. The Pinger brothers are the third generation to manage the hotel, which was bought as a restaurant by their grandfather and converted into a hotel after WWII.

Cheers!

Book now – online at www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323

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