We stopped here based on local recommendations. It was just a short trip along the Mosel from…read moreCochem to get here. Once we arrived in Beilstein, we were able to find a parking area that was right near the path leading up to the castle. It was a far easier hike from here, than from the parking lot near the river. Unfortunately, the castle was closed for the season. In fact, it is closed from sometime in November through about Easter (according to the sign). Therefore, we were not able to take in the scenic views from the castle. We wandered down to the village (a very short distance going downhill) and really enjoyed the quaint village. I felt as if I were in a Disney movie based on the layout of the streets and buildings. When you picture old, tiny European towns, this is it. Once again, unfortunately, the town seemed to be shut down for the season. We did not find a single location open. Even the church/monastery just above was shut down. Therefore, don't go here during the off season as you will miss out on seeing the castle via the tour.

Amazing quality of view per effort performance.read more

We stopped in for the view of the castle, which sits on a peak overlooking the Rhein. Much of this…read morecastle was renovated as it was in bad shape from the several wars. Today it hosts fine dining, a gift shop, and events. We stopped in for an hour to enjoy some drinks and appetizers. The host graciously allowed our party of 8 to put together some tables. The weather was raining so not many guests were coming for the view. Enjoyed some beer and a couple of pick plates. This host was friendly and the ambiance was spectacular.

It's one of the medieval castle ruins looking over the Rhine River on the western shore in the town…read moreof Sankt Goar. It is the largest and one of the most magnificent castle ruins on the Rhine. The parking is available at the castle site for .50 euro per hour. You'd need about two hours if you tour the castle for 5 euro per adult. Limited English tour is available, but you can always go on a self-guided tour (without a tunnel part). You can use your imagination to see yourself in the Middle Ages, explore fortifications, towering towers and halls and passageways cut into the rock. The importance of the fortress in military as well as cultural area is clearly presented to you in the museum of local history in the former chapel. If you are limited with time you can spend here, you can forego with the exploration of the ruin inside, and enjoy an excellent view of the Rhine from a vantage point--I'd give about 30 minutes to accomplish this with a quick visit to the gift shop.

An amazing view of the valley below! The Burg offers so much historical information on the local…read morearea and the Burg itself. They also have food available and beverages. Be careful to drive up and down the roads slowly! The roads are very narrow and there can be a lot of traffic during the summer.

Stunning. Nearly unbelievable that it's real!…read more Beautiful medieval castle overlooking Cochem and the Moselle River. The scenery is extraordinary. The castle tour is well worth it as is the drive to it. There is a small cafe/restaurant there. We had some excellent soups and some nice beers. Prices were reasonable considering the incredible view and historic setting. Pro Tip on Parking: Just keep driving up. The parking is all the way up by the castle and there are several areas. Many people park down the road and walk up. Don't do this... unless you want the cardio. Pro Tip on Photos: There are several excellent photo stops while on the drive down into Cochem before driving up to the castle as in my photos. Pro Tip on Cochem: Very cool town. Tourist restaurants are on the castle side of the river but there are a couple great places on the other side of the river that offer higher quality fare and a great view of the castle.

It's a relatively small castle, but what makes it outstanding is the view it offers of Mosel river…read moreand valley. Totally worth it just for that alone, and there are some interesting things to see inside as well. Highly recommend taking the bus from downtown (terminal is right next to the tourist office) to save the walk, unless you enjoy hiking up the steep hill. Most tours are in German, and when we arrived, we spent too much time snapping pictures in front of the castle (should have done that AFTER the tour), so we missed the English tour by a few minutes. Not wanting to wait a while for the next one, we joined the German tour. We were given a page of info in English (there are many languages available), although we definitely missed out on the jokes as the Germans chuckled once in a while. On the return trip, we got off at the old town instead of the bus terminal, where we get to see the shops and eateries. Makes for a great day trip when staying in the area.