So there you got the best conditions to expect a nice piece of Germany and the whole holiday region in Luxemburg and France. This area is marked from the both rivers Saar and Moselle, which flow together in Konz after a trip through a varied area of wine and culture.
The historical legacy can be found at many places. Founds from the Celtics or Romans, castles from the Middle Ages, museums and mansions meet the visitors very often.
Friends of walking will find over 800 km footpath, which guide a tourist through conservation areas, landscapes with rocks, wineyards and forests. These ways are bound on the „Fernwanderweg Atlantik-Römerwald“, the „Moselhöhenweg“ and the „Ger-Lux-Fra-way“
The populary good kitchen of the holiday region Saar - Upper Moselle offers a big variety of deliciousnesses. Lovers from a hearty, peasant kitchen will swarm the same way like friends of the french „Haute Cuisine“.
All the same if you`re alone, with a partner, a family or a group, you`ll find a big offer of activities matching to every month and every weather. Swimming in indoor swimming pools, trips with a ship on Saar and Mosel, fishing, hang-gliding, para-gliding, waterski, canoing, rowing or fitnesscenters belong to the manifold offer. Although a big program for an old or young tourist`s free-time is offered around the whole year. The program e.g. contests of daily offers like tours through the city, winetasting, walks, bus trips and music festivals.
The Upper Moselle: there where the Elbling grows
Besides Riesling grapes there is - amongst others - another older grape variety, which sank into oblivision after a long time of dominance and reliving a renaissance nowadays: the Elbling grape. At the Upper moselle it plays an important role on both banks of the river - on the Luxembourgian as well as the German. Germany's possibly oldest grape variety possesses only a small area under cultivation but a large, an almost fanatic mass appeal. And of course it features an interesting history.
The Elbling grape
Region of origin is the Upper Moselle - accurately between Metzdorf/Sauer and Palzem, right there where the river is the borderline of the two European neighbouring states.
Here the Moselle landscape still looks a little different. The river flows unhurried, cliffy shell limestone defines the river bed. And here you will meet the individualist amongst Moselle tourists. Here particularly it is the landscape you love, it is the nativeness relaxing you and - most of all - here one avoids ready-made "all inclusive holidays".
In this region the Elbling plays a significant role, which is revealed by two figures: nearly 1.000 hectares of Elbling grapes, but only 2 hectares of Riesling grapes. There are three more "Isles of Elbling" at the rivers Moselle and Saar - the largest one close to Zell. Outside Germany just the Luxembourgian bank of Moselle is the only residual Elbling-area worth mentioning. Neither in Cyprus, its area of origin, it is mentioned any more nor in Switzerland, Alsace-Lorraine, Champagne or Eastern Europe.
Wine from the region southwest of Trier are said to be blithesome and straight, refreshing and uncomplicated, putting you into good temper. The Elbling wine matches with many meals and is certified as "Quality Wine of Guaranteed Origin".
After the Middle ages the Elbling fell into a long sleep. But the Sleeping Beauty was awoken by Walter Scheel, the former German President. He enjoyed this dry, refreshing wine and its rustic character and so he conveyed his message into the world. The derivation of name is still discussed - but it doesn't really matter wether if the name originally was Vitis Alba (white grape) or Helvus (yellow honey). The main thing is you will enjoy the Elbling. No matter where the name comes from ...
