Wertheim am Main Germany Baden-Wurttemberg

1102 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

AmaWaterways (74 Cruises)

Cruise Ama AmaWaterways AmaCerto ship

AmaCerto

162 Passengers
3500 tons
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Cruise Ama AmaWaterways AmaPrima ship

AmaPrima

162 Passengers
3500 tons
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Emerald Waterways (235 Cruises)

Emerald Dawn.

Emerald Dawn

227 Passengers
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Emerald Luna .

Emerald Luna

227 Passengers
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Emerald Sky.

Emerald Sky

227 Passengers
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Emerald Star.

Emerald Star

227 Passengers
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Emerald Sun

Emerald Sun

227 Passengers
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Scenic Cruises (602 Cruises)

Scenic Amber.

Scenic Amber

169 Passengers
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Scenic Crystal.

Scenic Crystal

169 Passengers
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Scenic Jade.

Scenic Jade

169 Passengers
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Scenic Jasper.

Scenic Jasper

163 Passengers
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Scenic Jewel.

Scenic Jewel

169 Passengers
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Scenic Opal.

Scenic Opal

169 Passengers
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Uniworld Boutique River Cruise (47 Cruises)

Viking River Cruises (109 Cruises)

Wertheim | Cruise Port Guide

A watchtower leans gently at the point where the Tauber meets the Main: the Spitzer Turm, a red sandstone sentinel whose base bears the marks of major floods. Ships dock just a few steps away, at the very foot of Wertheim's old town, so the day begins as soon as you step off the gangway: steep lanes, tightly packed half-timbered houses and, high above it all, a ruin that has watched over the confluence since the Middle Ages.

A Confluence as a Backdrop

Few German towns are as easy to explore right from the waterfront. The gangway leads to the point of land where two rivers meet: the broad, industrious Main and the quieter Tauber, lined with willows. The Spitzer Turm, a remnant of the medieval town walls, leans slightly over the water it once watched over; flood marks engraved in the stone tell the story of a long coexistence with the whims of both rivers, which locals still recall with a mixture of respect and pride. The point itself invites visitors to pause and watch barges pass by canoes.

Half-Timbered Houses, Wells and Narrow Lanes

A few metres farther on, the old town's half-timbered houses line the market square. The Engelsbrunnen, a Renaissance well carved from local sandstone in 1574, serves as a meeting place for residents. The narrow lanes offer plenty of details to discover: intricately carved beams, engraved dates and houses so narrow they seem to lean on one another for support. The Stiftskirche, built in the late 14th century, adds its Gothic clock tower to the scene, while café terraces set up on the cobblestones invite visitors to take in the surroundings at a leisurely pace.

Glass in All Its Forms

This small town maintains a remarkable glassmaking tradition for its size, having built a reputation for technical and laboratory glassware. The Glasmuseum showcases its many facets, from ancient beads to scientific instruments, while workshops keep the art of glassblowing alive. Watching a glowing ball of molten glass take shape at the end of a blowpipe remains a fascinating little spectacle, and the artisans' shop windows offer far more original souvenirs than the usual refrigerator magnets.

The Climb to the Castle

Above the rooftops, the ruins of Wertheim Castle, once home to the counts of Wertheim, rise in tiers of red sandstone walls. A climb of about 20 minutes brings you to the ramparts, which were battered during the Thirty Years' War and later reclaimed by ivy. The reward awaits at the top: sweeping views across both valleys, the hillsides of the Taubertal and the old town's brown rooftops. Many passengers take the photograph that will sum up their day here.

Along the Tauber

For a breather between climbs, the path following the Tauber offers a pastoral change of pace: vegetable gardens, orchards, wooden footbridges and anglers sitting motionless beneath the willows. The river seems to flow at its own unhurried pace, just minutes from the bustle of the market. This contrast between tranquil waters and busy shopping lanes gives the old town its distinctive balance, and a few well-placed benches make it easy to enjoy the scenery without rushing.

Port of Call Highlights

SiteDistance from the PierAccess
Spitzer Turm and confluenceRight off the gangwayOn foot
Market square and EngelsbrunnenApproximately 300 mOn foot
Wertheim CastleApproximately 1 kmOn foot, steep uphill climb

On the way back down to the ship, you follow the riverbank and its gardens one last time before reaching the confluence and its leaning tower. Wertheim is easy to remember: two rivers, a carved well and a red castle perched on a hill. Simple images are often the ones that stay with us the longest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Right at the foot of the old town, a few steps from the point where the Tauber joins the Main. The day begins at the bottom of the gangway: steep lanes, tightly packed timber framing and, high above, a ruin watching over the confluence.
The leaning watchtower at the tip of the confluence, inherited from the medieval wall. Its red sandstone base carries flood marks cut into the stone, recording a long cohabitation with the whims of the two rivers.
The point of the confluence right off the gangway, the market square about 300 metres on, then the climb to the castle roughly a kilometre away. That still leaves time for the Glasmuseum or the path alongside the Tauber.
About twenty minutes, on a steady ascent of roughly a kilometre. At the top, the ruin of the counts of Wertheim tiers its red sandstone walls, broken open during the Thirty Years' War, and the panorama takes in both valleys and the slopes of the Taubertal.
A Renaissance well carved in 1574 from local sandstone, on the market square, which serves as the locals' meeting point. Around it, timber-framed houses lean on one another, so narrow they seem to hold each other up.
Because the small town keeps up a glassmaking tradition remarkable for its size: it built a reputation in technical and laboratory glass. The Glasmuseum shows every side of it, from ancient beads to scientific instruments.
Yes, workshops keep the craft alive, and watching a glowing ball take shape at the end of a pipe is a small spectacle that never quite palls. The artisans' display cases offer souvenirs rather more original than the usual fridge magnets.
Yes, the path that follows the Tauber: kitchen gardens, orchards, wooden footbridges, anglers motionless under the willows. The river seems to flow for itself alone, minutes from the bustle of the market, and a few well-placed benches let you enjoy it.
Partly. The point of the confluence, the market square and the riverbanks are reached without effort, but the lanes are steep and the climb to the castle is demanding. You can have a fine call without going up to the castle at all.
The euro, with cash for the craft workshops. On the religious side, the Stiftskirche, built in the late 14th century, adds its gothic clock tower to the scene, a few steps from the market square.