Loreley

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Distance from Bonn	1 hour 20 minutes
Location	south on east bank of Rhine
Highlights	great views of Rhine and historical/mythical significance

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Loreley Info

Things to see and do

Add a captionBasically Loreley is a huge cliff which forces a very sharp bend in the Rhine. This has made a dangerous passing for ships in the past and inspired myths of Sirens (think something like mermaids), luring sailors to their death. The myth has been immortalized with a poem/song written in the 1800s:

I cannot determine the meaning
Of sorrow that fills my breast:
A fable of old, through it streaming,
Allows my mind no rest.

The air is cool in the gloaming
And gently flows the Rhine.
The crest of the mountain is gleaming
In fading rays of sunshine.

The loveliest maiden is sitting
Up there, so wondrously fair;
Her golden jewelry is glist'ning;
She combs her golden hair.

She combs with a gilded comb, preening,
And sings a song, passing time.
It has a most wondrous, appealing
And pow'rful melodic rhyme.

The boatman aboard his small skiff, -
Enraptured with a wild ache,
Has no eye for the jagged cliff, -
His thoughts on the heights fear forsake.

I think that the waves will devour
Both boat and man, by and by,
And that, with her dulcet-voiced power
Was done by the Loreley.

Now you can walk out on a point in the river to see a statue of the maiden combing her hair, or you can drive up to the top of the big rock for some wonderful views of the Rhine.