This Art Nouveau town along the Moselle River was once Europe's second-largest wine trading center. Its underground cellars and 19th-century merchant villas tell the story.
Traben-Trarbach sits along the Moselle River in Germany, where Art Nouveau mansions like the ornate Villa Huesgen line the riverbanks. Below the streets, a vast network of 19th-century wine cellars extends for kilometers, telling the story of when this twin town was Europe's second-largest wine trading center after Bordeaux. You'll find the ruins of Grevenburg Castle perched on the hillside, while cyclists pedal past on riverside paths connecting the historic districts of Traben and Trarbach.
Underground Wine World
A labyrinth of tunnels runs beneath Traben-Trarbach, with vaults reaching up to two stories high. Wine merchants built these cellars in the 19th century, when more than 100 trading companies stored their wines here. Join a 90-minute guided tour through these tunnels for €12, including wine tasting. From November to December, local vendors transform the cellars into a Christmas market, selling regional foods and handmade crafts amid the stone arches.
Art Nouveau Architecture
The wine trade brought wealth to Traben-Trarbach in the early 1900s, resulting in distinctive Art Nouveau buildings throughout town. The Bridge Gate (Brückentor) stands with its curved ironwork and carved stone columns, while Villa Huesgen's facade displays intricate floral patterns and geometric designs. As you walk through the town center, you'll spot Belle Époque details like stone-framed windows, ornamental balconies, and colorful tilework.
Thermal Baths in Bad Wildstein
Natural springs in Bad Wildstein, a district of Traben-Trarbach, produce 32°C water from 400 meters underground. The thermal complex contains multiple indoor and outdoor pools, Finnish saunas, and aromatherapy steam rooms. You can swim in the main hall with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river valley, or book massages and spa treatments in the wellness area.
Riverside Cycling Routes
Rent a bike from shops in the town center to explore the 365-kilometer Moselsteig trail. Dedicated bike paths run along both sides of the Moselle River, connecting all districts of Traben-Trarbach. The routes follow the waterfront with gentle gradients, and you'll come across benches and water fountains at regular intervals for breaks.
Getting Around
Three bridges link different parts of Traben-Trarbach: the central Moselbrücke between the twin towns, the Wolfer Bridge, and the Rißbach crossing. Trains run regularly between Traben-Trarbach and Bullay, where you can catch connections to Koblenz and other major cities. Frankfurt-Hahn airport lies 20 kilometers east of town.
