AROUND RÜDESHEIM 43 Strunk with a rope. The French line ended south of Lorch on the valley floor and the American line a bit north of Kaub. The lines did not touch and the area around Lorch, Kaub and the surroun-ding area which had been left out for-med a bottleneck-shaped area that was given the name “Free State of Bottleneck”. Today you can buy a Free State passport that entitles you to buy wine from a Free State vintner at a reduced rate. Tourist Information Lorch am Rhein, Markt 5, 65391 Lorch, +49 (0)6726/1815, I 1844, info@lorch-rhein.de, www.lorch-rhein.de Open hours: Mo-Fr: 9 - 13.30 h; and 14 - 16 h Thur: 14 - 18 h; Infos also at the kiosk Rheinblick/KD Agency, March - October, 9.30 - 18.30 h Burg Katz and Loreley ROMANTISCHER RHEIN A symphony of fascinating contrasts. Between Rüdesheim and Bingen in the south, and the Siebengebirge hills in the north, lies a truly magnificent valley, waiting to be discovered. This is a land-scape unlike any other in Europe, where natural beauty combines with more than two thousand years of culture. And run-ning through the valley, linking together the two UNESCO world heritage sites and countless other highlights, is the majestic river Rhine.The very special symbiosis of palaces and castles, char-ming medieval villages and wonderful wines is evident at every turn. A holiday in the Rhine valley promises tradition, but also the lure of a journey of disco-very with a host of exciting new experi-ences along the way. Explore the valley from the river bank, travelling through romantic lanes and steep vine-clad ter-races, or take to the water on one of the many white boats and steamers. Or Wisperstraße AROUND RÜDESHEIM LORCH Located approximately 10 kilometres downstream, in the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley, lies the wine town of Lorch. Lorch is a well known tourist town and its suburb of Espenschied is an approved climatic spa. Espenschied and the other sub-urbs of Lorch can be reached via the romantic Wisper valley. But also the small historical old town centre with its half timbered houses makes Lorch an attractive destination for a holiday or days out, dominated by the parish church St. Martin. Worth seeing are the oldest monochrome wooden car-ved altar in Germany (1483), a triumph cross (second half of the 13. cent.), the choir stalls (end of 13. cent.) and the baptistery (1464). The “Robert- Struppmann-Museum” is the muse-um of art and local history of Lorch. Emphasis lies on the collection “Pfaff”, which consists mostly of medieval sculptures, e.g. the “Traubenmadonna” and the head of John the Baptist (both mid of the 14. century). Furthermore numerous sacral devices and devotio-nal objects, which gave an historical review on the last centuries, are expo-sed. On a large open area on the edge of Ransel the “Museum für ländliche Kultur” (Museum for Rural Culture) exhibits various agricultural machines and tools from the period from about 1900 to 1970. In addition there are reconstructions of various workshops such as a smithy. A further interesting feature is the “Freistaat Flaschen-hals” (Free State of Bottleneck) which is no joke but actually a historical event through which the towns of Lorch and Kaub became an independent “Free State” after the First World War from 1919 to 1923. The victorious American and French powers established the zones of occupation by drawing a circle Kirche St. Martin 42