A “fairytale town, swarming with stories and legends” and “the world’s prettiest town”: that’s how Victor Hugo defined Bacharach after having spent there a few days in 1842. It’s undoubtedly one of the loveliest villages of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, and it’s rather small, counting only about 2000 inhabitants.
This ancient Medieval town still shows many traces of its past and its rich historical heritage: walls, important buildings, traditional half-timbered houses, and cobblestone streets adding a special touch to this picture-perfect destination. The old town gives its best at dusk when you can have a romantic stroll and typical dinner in one of the many restaurants and wineries scattered along Oberstrasse, that is Bacharach’s main street.
The name Bacharach was said to come from Bacchus who was the old Roman god of wine, but there is no solid evidence of that. However, it’s true that no name would be more suitable than that for what is considered one of the best wine destinations in Germany!
If you’re planning a Rhine River Cruise, don’t forget to add this charming destination to your itinerary! Bacharach is also an excellent destination to spend a peaceful weekend off, exploring the countryside at your own pace and watching some lovely natural landscapes. On top of that, it’s one of the most popular German towns among wine lovers!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission.
Table of Contents
How to get to Bacharach
- By plane: if you’re flying to Germany, choose Cologne or Frankfurt as your base. You can easily reach Bacharach from both cities by car (1h20 from Frankfurt and 1h50 from Cologne)
- By train: there are direct trains leaving on an hourly basis either from Koblenz and Mainz. If you’re staying there, Bacharach is a day trip you cannot miss! You can easily reach Bacharach from Frankfurt and Cologne, but you’ll need to switch train once. Anyway, the whole journey won’t take you more than a couple of hours. For more information click here.
- By car: just take the Autobhan B9, and slowly drive around stopping in any picturesque location you’ll see along the way.
- By boat: every ferry stops there, of course! KD Company offers plenty of rides throughout the day, and you can find here the complete schedule.
When to visit Bacharach
The best time to visit Bacharach is summer when the weather is at its best (except in August, which might be rather rainy!). Summer is also the most popular season for a Rhine River cruise and for some trekking in the hilly countryside of this Region. September and early October might offer the best opportunities for your wine tasting tour.
It’s also a romantic place for couples, making it the perfect destination to celebrate a special occasion. Bacharach is really small, making it the ultimate day-trip destination for visitors who are staying in bigger towns. Anyway, it’s a lovely place to spend a whole weekend without getting bored!
Where to stay in Bacharach
Hotel Am Markt: located on the main street of the village, at the heart of the picturesque old town.
Bacharach Hof: this hotel is located even closer to the river bank. It’s a traditional and picturesque small hotel with an indoor pool and great value for money.
Things to do in Bacharach
Explore the Rhine River banks
A multi-day cruise is not the only way of exploring this area! You can simply choose a location as your base, and take advantage of the several themed cruises taking only a few hours.
If you’re staying in Bacharach, you can join the Nostalgia Tour to discover all the places that became the icons of German Romanticism. Or you can also learn more about the mythic Loreley Rock. More information here.
Spend a night inside a real castle
The majestic Burg Stahleck is a medieval castle dating back to the XII century and overlooking Bacharach from the top of a hill. It was built upon the ruins of an older fort, but its origin is still shrouded in mystery.
It’s one of the main landmarks of Bacharach, and it was turned into a youth hostel counting 168 beds in 1926. You can easily reach it with a pleasant 25minute walk among the vineyards and it’s a great destination to take some pictures of the valley and the hills nearby.
It’s a popular place for local events and ceremonies too, and you can simply go up there to visit the internal courtyard and imagine what life was like back then.
Learn some dark stories at the Wernerkapelle
That’s a ruined church upon a hill, just below the castle, and you can easily reach it with a short walk starting from Bacharach’s old town. This picturesque example of Rhenish High Gothic style hides a dark past. It takes its name from Werner, a boy who was murdered during a Jewish ritual in the Middle Ages.
Legend has it that the corpse of a murdered boy was found in 1287, and the locals accused the Jewish community of that crime, giving rise to racial harassment. A chapel was then built there in honor of that unlucky kid and it soon became a pilgrimage site. These evocative ruins later began one of the main icons of German Romantic art.
Have a walk on the walls
Enjoy a pleasant stroll along the Stadtmauer Rundweg and take a step back in time! You can walk along the perimeter of the ancient walls and enjoy some great views from there! Part of the trail is in the countryside, just outside the town, and its best viewpoint is surely the old Post Tower. Another walk you cannot miss runs along the riverbank, and it’s a great choice for bikers too (there are several bike rentals in Bacharach!).
Enjoy some wine tastings
Bacharach is not only a picturesque village at the heart of the most renowned German wine region: it was also a historic river port, as well as one of the main wine trade centers of the entire Rhine River Valley. During the XIV century, the smaller ships used to discharge their barrels there in order to let the larger ships go up the northern stretch of the Rhine River.
Nowadays, you can find several popular wineries and “Weinstube” (meaning “wine rooms”) offering tastings suitable for any budget, but you can also visit three famous wine estates named Wolfshöhle, Posten, and Hahn.
Visit the Peterskirche
This beautiful medieval church dating back to 1269 was built in late Romanesque style, and it’s perfectly preserved and well-maintained. Its bright colors and decorations, as well as its Gothic arches, make it an unmissable stop of any visit to Bacharach.
Take some pictures from the top of the Postenturm
The Post Tower was once part of the ancient walls, but it was also used as a reservoir for a while. It now stands all alone in the countryside, just outside the town. It’s one of the best viewpoints out there, and it’s perfect to take the best pictures of the castle and the Wernerkapelle. Several painters have used it as a base to immortalize Bacharach’s skyline. You just have to climb its 58 steps to get to the top, but it will be definitely worth the effort! Entry is free.
Have lunch inside the Alte Haus
During your wanderings in Bacharach, don’t forget to stop at the restaurant housed inside the Alte Haus, which is one of the most beautiful half-timbered houses in town! It was built in 1368, and it has kept its original style, both inside and outside, throughout the centuries. Of course, you cannot miss a glass of Riesling there!
Watch the façade of the Sickingen Haus
Another great example of local timber-house dating back to the XV century. It’s now privately owned since it belonged to the Petit family for 300 years now! Anyway, it’s one of the most photographed buildings in Bacharach, other than the oldest house of the entire Rhineland-Palatinate Region!
You might also like:
The best castles to visit on the Rhine
Best Rhine River cities
A Guide to Boppard, Germany