Alken – Thurant Castle, River Cruises and Local History

River cruises, wine tasting and a long history offer different ways to shape your stay in Alken. The KD landing stage, Thurant Castle, the Old St. Michael’s Church and sections of the town fortifications each add their own historical and cultural highlights. You can also join expert-led guided tours of the town lasting about one to one and a half hours, or enjoy a wine tasting featuring Alken wines, available with advance booking.

River Cruises and Guided Town Tours

The Cologne-Düsseldorf Rhine River Cruise (KD) landing stage is in Alken. Tickets for KD cruises are sold beside the landing stage. It is a good idea to check the timetable in advance when planning a trip. The passenger vessel MS Goldstück is also based in Alken; arrange your trip on the boat with the operator in advance. Mooring is available in Alken for motorboats and sailboats.

Expert-led guided tours of the town are offered daily and last about one to one and a half hours. Tours can be arranged by appointment; it is best to check availability in advance. Their limited duration makes them easy to fit into your day’s plans as a separate activity. They offer a different perspective from focusing on individual historical themes: the castle, church and fortifications each have their own story to tell.

Thurant Castle and the Town Fortifications

The history of Thurant Castle near Alken dates back to the 12th century. Parts of it were built on old Roman foundations. Alken’s origins also date back to Celtic and Roman times. This offers two different historical perspectives: the early history of the town and the medieval history of the castle.

Sections of the town fortifications, dated to around 1400, have survived. At Fallerport, the connection to the battlement walk once ran through two surviving half-timbered storeys. On the banks of the Moselle, the customs tower is now used as a restaurant; remains of another tower can be found at Wiltberg Castle. The gatekeeper’s house at the entrance to the town is now home to a gallery. The remains of the fortifications thus show different traces: a former connection to the battlement walk, a tower now used as a restaurant, and another building that now serves as a gallery.

Church, Frescoes and Wine

The Old St. Michael’s Church in Alken is first mentioned in a document dating to 1015. Frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries have survived inside the church. The document’s date and the period when the frescoes were created belong to different chapters in its history; together, they provide a timeline for exploring this building.

A wine tasting featuring Alken wines is available with advance booking. If it fits your plans, book early and check current availability. This activity differs from Alken’s historical attractions: it requires advance booking, while a guided town tour can be arranged by appointment. River cruises, local history and wine tasting can each provide a different focus for your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Kollig, Bassenheim, Lind, Nickenich, Rüber, Kruft, Baar and Kell.

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