Speyer Cruise Port

Speyer is a Rhine River cruise port in Germany’s Rhineland Palatinate state, with a population of around 50,000. River ships stop here as a port of call on voyages through western Germany and towards France and Switzerland. The Rhine approaches the town on a broad loop, giving Speyer a pleasant riverside setting and making it a compact place to explore during a day ashore.

Speyer has more than 1,000 years of history to discover. The city began as a Roman military camp and was mapped under the name Noviomagus by 150 AD. Its great cathedral was begun in 1030, when Speyer was an important centre of the Holy Roman Empire. The city also has a significant place in the history of the Reformation. In 1529, 14 free cities and six Lutheran princes protested against an edict condemning Martin Luther as a heretic, an event associated with the origin of the word “Protestant”. Speyer was also home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the Kingdom of Germany during the 11th century.

The Kaiserdom is the main landmark. This enormous cathedral dominates the city centre and is one of the defining sights for visitors arriving in Speyer. Around it, narrow streets lead into lively squares, with pastel coloured buildings, small shops, cafes and old gates adding to the city’s historic character. Maximilianstrasse is the main shopping and dining street, with restaurants and pubs along the way. Farmers’ markets are held on Tuesday mornings in front of the Old Mint and on Saturday mornings near Königsplatz.

There is plenty beyond the historic centre. The Technik Museum has a Lufthansa Boeing 747 and a Space Shuttle, offering something very different from the city’s medieval sights. Speyer also has a river beach where visitors can relax in a deck chair or hammock while watching vessels pass along the Rhine.

Food and drink are another part of a visit, with vineyards and cosy taverns found in the surrounding wine region. In summer, Brezelfest brings a funfair, food and beer festival to town, with the pretzel at the centre of the celebrations.