2 Best Sights in The Rhineland, Germany

The origins of this grand wine estate date from 1100, when Benedictine monks built a monastery and planted vines on the slopes below. The striking early-18th-century palace is closed to the public, but wine tastings and cellar tours take place from Monday to Saturday, and there is an excellent wine shop, which also offers the estate's gin. The excellent restaurant, Schlossschänke, offers stunning views over the vineyards.

Built in 1211, Schloss Vollrads is the oldest of Germany's major wine estates. The tower, built in 1330 and surrounded by a moat, was the Greiffenclau residence for 350 years until the present palace was built in the 17th century. There is a wineshop, and the castle's period rooms can be toured during concerts, festivals, and wine tastings—check the website for specific dates. It's 3 km (2 miles) north of town. In addition to the restaurant (which closes early for dinner at 8 pm), you can sit outside on the patio in the warmer months and order very good Flammkuchen (baked thin-crust pizza, typically with bacon and onions) and sausages from the food truck.