Bacharach Wine Hike to the Seven Maidens' View

Bacharach on the Middle Rhine is one of Germany's oldest wine-growing regions. Even the Romans cultivated vines on the steep slate slopes above the Rhine, and the Slate Riesling from Bacharach enjoys worldwide renown to this day. The guided wine hike from April to October makes this unique wine-growing and cultural landscape tangible.

The tour starts every Sunday at 10 a.m. and leads through the vineyards above the historic town center up to the Seven Maidens' View. This viewpoint owes its name to an old legend: seven haughty daughters of a Bacharach citizen are said to have been turned into seven rocks in the middle of the Rhine for their lack of affection towards their suitors – today they lie as dangerous cliffs in the current in front of the town and are clearly visible from above.

Along the way, the guides explain Bacharach's wine history, the geological peculiarities of the slate soils, the microclimatic advantages of the steep slopes, and the work of today's vintners. The hike passes individual vineyards with significant names, dry stone walls, and old vineyard huts. The ascent is athletic but manageable for hikers with average fitness.

At the destination or along the way, there is a wine tasting with current vintage wines from Bacharach vintners. The mineral freshness of the slate Rieslings, complemented by Spätburgunder and occasional Müller-Thurgau, can best be experienced nowhere else than at the place where the grapes grew.

The hike is an ideal way to get to know the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley beyond the well-known castle views. It combines exercise, nature, history, legend, and wine into a unique Sunday experience. A minimum of ten participants is required, and registration is by phone.