200 years of Rhine-Hesse

The Romans already knew the value of the mild climate on the Rhine. This is also good for vines, making this Germany's biggest wine producing region. Round houses like this Trullo (pictured) are usually associated with areas like Apulia. They used to offer farmers and vintners shelter, today they serve as accommodation for hikers. This one is a landmark of the wine village of Flonheim.

The huts had already been standing on the vineyards for nearly a century when world affairs entered the small region. Following Napoleon's defeat the Congress of Vienna reallocated territories. That's how Grand Duke Louis I of Hesse found himself installed here, whilst having to give up his Westphalian territories. Records in Mainz show that Rhine-Hesse was officially founded on July 8, 1816.

Many dignitaries throughout history have strolled here – these days it's tourists who walk down the idyllic Leichhof street, on their way to the famous Mainz Cathedral. From 1000 to 1246 many rulers were crowned here. Over the centuries changes were made to the church so that today it has Romanesque, baroque as well as gothic elements.

Directly across from Mainz Cathedral you'll find the Gutenberg museum. Johannes Gutenberg's invention, the mechanical movable type book printing, revolutionized the world in 1450. Displayed in the museum are several copies of his famous bible print and a reconstruction of the inventor's workshop. The museum was opened in 1901 and extended over the years.

It is just a short distance from Mainz to Worms. The city is one of Europe's oldest and it is aloos home to an impressive cathedral. Charlemagne made Worms his winter residence. Another emperor, Charles V, invited Martin Luther in 1521 to the Diet of Worms calling on him to revoke his 95 theses. According to tradition, Luther is said to have declared, "Here I stand, I can do no other."

The Nibelung festival at Worms cathedral has been taking place since 2002. Open-air performances tell the tale of jealousy, murder and intrigue centered on Siegfried, the hero who bathes in dragon's blood, and his wife Kriemhilde. A key scene is set in the doorway to Worms Cathedral – Brünhild and Kriemhild argue over who has the higher rank and is therefore entitled to enter the church first.

The Jewish cemetery, which was established in 1055 is seen as the oldest in Europe. Historians meticulously record the history of this cemetery. Worms along with Speyer and Mainz, was an important place for Jewish erudition. As such these cities are currently applying for UNESCO World Heritage recognition.

Brush up on your history in Ingelheim! At the end of the 8th century Charlemagne had a large imperial palace constructed. Four centuries later the Staufer dynasty made many structural changes as fortifications were added to protect the city from attacks. Today visitors can take a historic tour of the Imperial palace complex which by using digital pictures lets you see the changes through the ages.

It's said that Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa met the polymath Benedictine abbess here. Hildegard von Bingen was confident and charismatic and her moral teachings in the 12th century equally fascinated monks, aristocrats and the uneducated. Her herbal remedies are still used today. At the Museum at the River in Bingen you can find out more about the woman who was to become Saint Hildegard.

After the cathedrals of Cologne and Strasbourg the Katharinenkirche in Oppenheim regarded as the most important Gothic church building on the Rhine. Its stained glass windows, particularly the Oppenheim Rose are famous. Legend has it that a trainee glazier singlehandedly changed the plans of his master, who was furious but the people of the town said: "the trainee has surpassed his master."

Under the old town of Oppenheim there is an enormous underground labyrinth. These passages and vaults were created in the middle ages and used by grocers to store their stocks and later during sieges they served as shelters. At some point the underground labyrinth was forgotten, until 1980, when the ground gave way and swallowed a police car. Today there are guided tours of this underground realm.

A visit to Rhine-Hesse would not be complete without a wine tasting. The best place to enjoy sampling this exquisite wine is at a vintners, sitting on high in the vineyards - letting your eye look over the Rhine, known affectionatley as Father Rhine here, which gives this region its name.