After traveling the German Wine Road in Rhineland Palatinate for a couple of days, I take the Autobahn A 61 up to Bingen, the gateway to the dramatic natural landscape of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley– a UNESCO world heritage site, which stretches 40 miles from Bingen to the city of Koblenz.
I drive along the route B9 through the river valley, following the loops and sways of the Rhine through the terraced vineyards, while castles are greeting from the steep hills; some of them are in ruins, but most are picture perfect and home to museums, restaurants, and even hotels. For some excellent photo opportunities, make sure to stop at the Maeuseturm (right behind Bingen) and at the castles of Rheinstein, Reichenstein, and Sooneck.
