Alken: River Cruises and Historic Sites

Alken is a destination for travelers who want to include river cruises and history in their plans. The KD landing stage and historic buildings dating back several centuries offer concrete starting points. A wine tasting featuring Alken wines can also be arranged, but advance booking is required.

River Cruises and Landing Stages

Alken has a landing stage served by the Köln-Düsseldorfer river cruise line (KD). Tickets for the KD landing stage are sold next to the landing stage. Check KD’s current timetable before setting out. The passenger vessel MS Goldstück is moored in Alken; contact the operator before your trip for details. There are also mooring facilities for motorboats and sailboats. These details offer different starting points for planning: the KD landing stage and ticket sales, the berth of the MS Goldstück, and mooring facilities for motorboats and sailboats.

Guided Town Tours and Wine Tasting

Expert-led guided tours of Alken, lasting about one to one and a half hours, are offered daily; tours can be arranged by appointment. The approximate duration helps you fit one into your day. A wine tasting featuring Alken wines is offered with advance booking. The planning requirements differ for these two activities: a tour time must be arranged, while the wine tasting requires advance booking. If needed, confirm the tour time or the tasting’s availability in advance.

Castle, Local History and Church

The history of Thurant Castle dates back to the 12th century. Parts of the castle were built on ancient foundations dating from Roman times. These foundations represent an older building layer than the castle complex. Alken’s origins also date back to Celtic and Roman times. Another trace of the past can be found at the Old St. Michael’s Church: it is first mentioned in a document from 1015 and preserves frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries. Alken’s history thus brings together early origins, a castle with Roman foundations, and much later wall paintings.

Surviving Sections of the Town Fortifications

Several distinct historic structures survive from the town fortifications, which date to around 1400. The Fallerport was once connected to the battlement walkway by two surviving half-timbered stories. On the banks of the Moselle, the customs tower is now a restaurant. Remains of another tower can be found at Wiltberg Castle, while the gatekeeper’s house at the entrance to the town now houses a gallery. These examples show different forms of historic presence: surviving elements of the fortifications, further tower remains, and buildings now used as a restaurant or gallery.

More Cultural Attractions in the Wider Mayen-Koblenz Destination

The wider Mayen-Koblenz destination offers more cultural attractions. In Mayen, Genovevaburg Castle is one of the town’s landmarks; it was built in 1280 by Heinrich von Finstingen, Archbishop of Trier. Sayner Hütte offers a different focus: this restored industrial monument invites visitors to explore its modern exhibitions and multimedia presentations. Sayner Hütte also offers guided tours and creative workshops. Genovevaburg Castle adds to the comparison of historic castles, while Sayner Hütte opens up a distinct theme centered on industrial heritage.

Discover more destinations: Baar, Vallendar, Ditscheid, Kettig, Pillig, Bermel, Kalt, Wierschem

Back to the wider travel overview: Mayen-Koblenz.