Moselle Valley Vineyards ()
The Alter Klosterhof has been feeding people since 1456. Here, you can feast on regional favorites such as onion cake and tarte flambée. For a special date night, we recommend the Rotisserie Royale restaurant. They offer a rotating multi-course seasonal menu served with wine. If the set menu does not whet your appetite, they also offer meals à la carte with vegetarian and omnivore choices including mushroom tarts, fried salmon, beef, lamb and duck. End your evening with an affogato, indulgent Grand Manier Orange parfait with pear in red wine or the Rotisserie surprise. For a more adventurous meal, make your way to the Schützenhaus, the “Balcony of Bernkastel.” Here, you can sip wine and enjoy fine meals inspired by the Dutch-German ancestry of the owners 65 meters above the old town with a 365-degree panoramic viewpoint of Bernkastel-Kues.
For the ultimate relaxing stay, go to the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten. They offer one to seven-night options so you can stay within your time limits and budget. You can also relax at the spa without staying overnight. They have four pools, 10 saunas, a women’s only spa and a private spa. They offer traditional Chinese medicinal treatments, fitness equipment and outdoor sports. When you get hungry, there are multiple bistro and bar options to fuel you.
For a smaller, quaint hotel experience, check out Christiana’s Wine and Art Motel. As an homage to the Moselle wine region, each of the 17 rooms is dedicated to a regional winemaker. It is located in the Bernkastel-Kues town center, so it is a great starting point no matter how you are spending your time. For those visiting Bernkastel-Kues for outdoor adventures, bernkastel.de offers hiking and biking holiday travel packages that include transportation, overnight stays and guided tours.
Bernkastel-Kues is known for its hiking and biking scene. With its prime location, there are fantastic views of Landshut Castle, the Mosel river and the vineyards. In fact, you can hike nine kilometers from Mount Olympus (not the one where Zeus lived) to Landshut Castle. For a bit of a challenge, you can climb up the ruins of the castle which dates back to the fourth or fifth century CE. The ruins can also be reached by shuttle or car if you aren’t up for the hike. If you need more inspiration, bernkastel.de offers a list of their five most beautiful walks ranging from 4.3 to 7.4 kilometers and are moderate to difficult.
Berkastal-Kues also offers 690 kilometers of cycle paths and is very biking-friendly. There is a cycle-repair shop, places to rent bikes and e-bikes, and plenty of e-bike charging stations.
If hiking and biking aren’t your thing, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in Bernkastel-Kues. Meander around the town center and enjoy the shops and restaurants housed in the unique and beautiful architecture. If you visit during the first weekend of September, check out their annual five-day Middle Moselle Wine Festival. From Thursday to Monday, meet the wine queen, shop the craft market, eat sweets, check out the fairground and, of course, drink some wine.
