Places of interest
The Historic Marketplace
The historic Bernkasteler marketplace and its impressive buildings are evidence of the spirit of the self-confident and proud middle class of the later middle ages. It irradiates the impressive brilliance and warmth of its 400-year-old history. The 17th century half-timbered houses, the Renaissance Town Hall, Michael's Fountain and the "Spitzhäuschen" (Pointed House) dating from 1416 all make for a distinctive ambiance.
The Landshut Castle Ruins
The Landshut Castle towers imposingly over Old Town Bernkastel. The first documented references to the castle date back to the 9th century. In 1277 the current upper (or new) castle was built and received the name Landshut and served as the residence of the archbishops of Trier as well as princes. It was destroyed by a fire in 1692 and "Landshut" has been a castle in ruins ever since. The castle tower, however, can still be climbed, lending a breathtaking panorama view of the city and the Mosel.
The Multimedia Mosel Wine Museum and the Wine Library
Experience Mosel's cultural wine landscape with the most modern media technologies and learn everything there is to know about terroir, steep slope viticulture, and vine varieties, Mosel VIPs, working in the vineyard and cellar and much more in the interactive multimedia adventures of the Mosel Wine Museum.
In the wine library, located in the historic vaulted cellar of St. Nikolaus Hospital, oenophiles can degust over 120 wines from Mosel, Saar and Ruwer.
Cusanus-Geburtshaus (the Birthplace of Nicholas of Kues)
Nicholas of Kues, one of the greatest academics in Western history, was born in 1401 in this house situated on the outskirts of the Kues quarter in the direction of Lieser. The house contains the permanent exhibition "Nicholas of Kues, 1401 - 1464, - Images of His Life and Work."
St. Nikolaus Hospital/ Cusanusstift
A gift from the great academic to his city. Nicholas of Kues was not only a great thinker - he also possessed a great heart. He endowed a hospital in his home town for 33 men in need from all walks of life. The foundation's facilities were modeled after monastic architecture and still serve today as a retirement home for seniors.
Graacher Tor, Local History Museum
The only preserved city gate in Bernkastel-Kues is the Graacher Tor. Eight city gates once penetrated the wall ring surrounding Old Town Bernkastel. The local history museum was opened in this last city gate in 1985.