The Rhine is only 175 metres wide at the Loreley Rock. The slate rock lies near Sankt Goarshausen on the inside of a narrow bend in the Rhine and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley. The Loreley is the best-known of the narrow sections in the Middle Rhine Valley. At Rhine kilometre 555, the rock is recorded as 125 metres high and 193.14 m above sea level. Geologically, it is around four million years old.
Literature, Myths and Architecture
The female figure Loreley was brought to life in 1800 in Clemens Brentano’s ballad “Zu Bacharach am Rheine”. Heinrich Heine published his poem “Loreley” in 1824, whose content corresponds to the legend as it is known today. The two works mark different literary milestones in the Loreley story.
In the Myth Hall, a rock installation illustrates how the Loreley Rock was formed. The Loreley myths are also presented on the walls in seven chapters. In this way, the geological formation of the rock and the stories associated with the Loreley meet in different ways. Right at the tip of the Loreley Rock, the Glass Rock is an architectural highlight.
Trails and Viewpoints
The Loreley Cultural and Landscape Park can be explored without barriers; check the current conditions before your visit. Its viewpoints offer views into the canyon-like gorge of the Rhenish Slate Mountains. The Myths Trail leads to the park’s six viewpoints. The Strahlenweg provides direct access to these six points.
The routes also have different starting points: the Loreley Extra Tour begins at the Loreley Visitor Centre and passes directly by the attractions on the Loreley Plateau. The premium Rheinsteig hiking trail runs right past the Cultural and Landscape Park. The Loreley region also offers hikes on the Loreley Spuren circular trails and other scenic routes. Guided tours of the Loreley last about an hour—a manageable amount of time for this activity.
Finding Your Way on the Plateau
The Loreley shuttle bus connects Sankt Goarshausen with the Loreley Plateau. If this connection is important for your plans, check the timetable in advance. On the plateau, the Tourist Information Centre offers a free Loreley exhibition. This means you can consider the exhibition, viewpoints and trails as different options for your stay, without combining them into a set itinerary.
Wine and Events
At 20 information boards, the Loreley Wine Trail shares facts about steep-slope viticulture, different grape varieties and the work of winegrowers in the vineyards. The subject ranges from cultivation on steep slopes to the people who work there. The Loreley Open-Air Theatre offers a different cultural focus: it was inaugurated in June 1939 and is a venue for concerts and festivals on the Loreley Rock. As the programme features individual events, check the dates for your planned visit in advance.
Discover more destinations: Bornich, Sankt Goarshausen, Sauerthal, Kamp-Bornhofen, Filsen, Braubach, Kestert, Dörscheid, Osterspai, Prath, Kaub.
Back to the main travel overview: Rhein-Lahn.
