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Oberwesel
Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Castles
Photo by Gabriele Delhey, license: CC BY-SA 3.0
Oberwesel is one of the best-preserved medieval towns on the Middle Rhine, sitting within the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge between Bacharach and St. Goar. The town retains nearly all of its original circuit of 14th-century walls with 16 towers, making it one of the most complete examples of medieval urban fortification in Germany. Rising high above the town on a wooded hillside, Schönburg Castle dates to the 11th century and now operates as a hotel and restaurant, offering remarkable views over the Rhine. The town is also known for its wine production, particularly red wines from the Blauer Spätburgunder grape, unusual for this part of the Rhine. The Liebfrauenkirche, a red-painted Gothic church, is one of the finest in the region. The area is excellent for hiking on the Rheinsteig and Rheinburgenweg trails.
Medieval town wallsSchönburg CastleRhine wine
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Things to Do
- •Walk the complete circuit of Oberwesel's 14th-century town walls, passing all 16 original towers
- •Stay at or dine at Burghotel Auf Schönburg, the hilltop castle hotel with views over the Rhine gorge
- •Explore the Liebfrauenkirche, the remarkable red-painted Gothic church at the heart of the old town
- •Hike the Rheinsteig long-distance trail south toward the Lorelei rock and St. Goar
- •Take a river cruise along the Middle Rhine to view the concentration of castles from the water
- •Visit the Stadtmuseum in the Günderodehaus to learn about the town's medieval history and wine heritage
Nearby Attractions
- Lorelei Rock — the legendary Rhine cliff and slate promontory at St. Goarshausen, famous across Germany, 8 km south
- Bacharach — one of the most picturesque wine towns on the Rhine with castle ruins and half-timbered streets, 10 km north
- Burg Katz and Burg Maus — two rival medieval castles facing each other across the Rhine near St. Goar
- Boppard — a well-preserved Roman and medieval town on the Rhine with a famous viewpoint over the river bends, 20 km south
- Cochem — a picture-perfect Moselle wine town crowned by the Reichsburg castle, 50 km southwest
Monthly Weather
January
4°/-1°
Least crowded
55mm
Cold and quiet. The Rhine gorge is atmospheric in winter mist.
Quiet and atmospheric. Good for a winter Rhine walk.
February
6°/0°
Least crowded
50mm
Still cool. The first spring flowers appear on the castle slopes.
Still cold. The first blossom appears on sheltered slopes.
March
10°/2°
Least crowded
55mm
Early spring. The vineyards begin to wake up.
Early spring. The gorge is beautiful when the almond trees bloom.
April
15°/5°
60mm
Fresh and bright. The Rhine gorge is beautifully green.
One of the best months. Green, fresh and uncrowded.
May
19°/9°
Best weather
65mm
Warm and lovely. One of the best months on the Rhine.
Excellent. Warm and lively with the Rhine season beginning.
June
22°/12°
Best weather
70mm
Warm and sunny. River traffic and castle visits are lively.
Warm and beautiful. Castle hotel and hiking are at their best.
July
25°/15°
65mm
Hot and busy. The Rhine is at its most picturesque.
Peak summer. Hot and popular.
August
24°/14°
65mm
Warm and popular. Hiking trails and river cruises are in demand.
Busy but lovely. Good for the river and castle.
September
20°/11°
Best weather
60mm
Mild and clear. The harvest season begins in the vineyards.
Ideal. Harvest season, mild weather and fewer crowds.
October
14°/6°
60mm
Autumn colour on the gorge slopes. Quieter than summer.
Autumn colour in the gorge. Peaceful and beautiful.
November
8°/2°
65mm
Cool and misty. The Rhine gorge is beautiful in autumn mist.
Atmospheric. Misty Rhine views from the town walls.
December
4°/-1°
55mm
Cold and quiet. A peaceful time to visit the old town.
Quiet winter. The town is peaceful.
Best weatherLeast crowded
