2 Best Sights in Bingen, The Rhineland

First mentioned in AD 793, this soaring Catholic church was built on the site of an older Roman temple. It's been destroyed and rebuilt a number of times since then, which has resulted in an interesting mix of architectural styles; the 11th-century crypt and Gothic and baroque furnishings make it worth a visit. It's dedicated to the 4th-century Martin of Tours, and you'll find the former patron saint of France depicted in carvings and frescoes throughout the church.

The forested plateau of the Rochusberg (St. Roch Hill) is the pretty setting of the Rochuskapelle, the most visible Bingen landmark from across the river in Rüdesheim. Originally built in 1666 to celebrate the end of the plague, it has been rebuilt twice. In August 1814, Goethe attended the consecration festivities, the forerunner of today's Rochusfest, a weeklong folk festival in mid-August. The chapel contains an altar dedicated to St. Hildegard of Bingen, with relics and furnishings from the convents she founded in modern-day Bingen and Eibingen. While the chapel is only open for services, it's worth a trip to stroll the leafy chapel gardens, with its shaded outdoor pews, tree-lined trails, and lovely Rhine and vineyard views.