Day 4 of the Avalon Waterways Cruise

Gary Marshall from Travel Daily Media shares insights from his day onboard the Avalon Envision as it traveled up the Romantic Rhine, stopping at Mainz and Heidelberg.

Journey Highlights

Starting from Strasbourg in France, the ship docked at Ludwigshafen. Not only is this city pivotal in German history, being the birth and burial place of Chancellor Helmut Kohl, but it also led to a tour of Heidelberg.

Exploring Historic Heidelberg

Heidelberg is known for its rich history, having been inhabited for approximately 600,000 years. Its name comes from Celtic settlers who established a place of worship on the ‘Heiligenberg’ or Holy Mountain in the 5th century BC. This city later became a significant center for Western philosophy and education. Notably, Martin Luther defended his Ninety-five Theses here in 1518.

Mainz and the Birthplace of Printing

The visit included the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, which celebrates the contributions of Johannes Gutenberg. Gary recalls, “We stepped into the birthplace of the printing revolution… We saw original Gutenberg Bibles and a replica of a 15th-century printing press.” The museum serves as a tribute to printing’s history and its impact on literacy worldwide.

Guests were then treated to traditional German coffee and cake before continuing their journey along the Rhine.

For those interested, visit the official Avalon Waterways website for more information on their European river cruises.