(Recommended by Mary - CrStoneLk)
Hotel Haus
Lipmann
Marktplatz 3
56814 Beilstein (Mosel)
Tel - 2673/1573 ~ Fax 2673/1521
Email - hotel.haus.lipmann@t-online.de
Garden terrace on the Mosel
Closed - November to April
...We picked up the Mosel route at Trier
and followed the river past the miles and miles of vineyards. We passed barges, ruins and tiny attractive villages,
some of which we noted their names as they looked inviting for another trip. But this time we had a destination
in mind….Beilstein and our old, friendly Haus Lipmann (80 Euro). We arrived sans reservation which has proved disappointing
in the past but yes, he had a room, number 4, where we had stayed several times before. It comes complete with
balcony and view of the Mosel. We drank the house wine, best wine in all of Germany, ate a great supper, and retired
to our balcony to watch the road and river traffic. Then one of those unplanned for events that lucky travelers
happen across occurred. When we arrived in town, parking was tight, there were a few parked busses and many people
milling around the dock. Soon a ship arrived and the people hurried aboard. We could see that the passengers included
some priests and nuns. The boat sailed up the Mosel and returned an hour or so later. A brass band playing a slow
march was the first group to disembark down the gangplank. They were followed by young girls dressed in white,
tossing flower petals along the path. Next came the priests in their white and red regalia. Then the people started
to pour out of ship. There were old ones with canes, young children darting about and every age in between. Last
to depart were a huddle of elderly nuns in full habit hobbling along as they trailed the group and the dimming
strains of the music. The whole group headed through the narrow, cobblestoned streets and up the steep hill to
the church. I thought several of them might have trouble getting up to the church and I ran to get a picture of
the procession. All I found was the telltale path of petals and I could see the congregation of singing people
clustered in the church yard, everyone had made it. After the service at the church was over they headed back to
the boat for more gaiety and celebrating. The echoes of the music and laughter wafted into our room far into the
moonlit night. Haus Lipmann has a great breakfast and Beilstein has many candle lit wine cellars and places to
walk and hang out...
