The Siren and the Mythically Dangerous Riverbend

Her song sank ships. Like the Sirens from Greek mythology, Loreley lured sailors to shipwreck. Her sad love story, her golden hair combed with a golden comb, at least according to Heine, and her beautiful voice. All part of one of the great European myths. Where her Greek sisters are said to have lived in several places, Loreley sang her song on a very specific location: the Loreley rock in a bend of the river Rhine. One you can visit, touch and, if you dare, sail past. You only have to look for the marker on the right bank, just after Rhine kilometer marker 554.

She’s surrounded by castles. Some with great views over all the ships that pass through the valley.

One is even placed strategically in the middle of the river, where it was able to collect toll from passing ships. Some of which may have survived the toll-paying, but not the lure of Loreley’s song just a few kilometers down stream.

The river, even at this stretch, is mostly tamed and still used for the transportation of goods. A shipping lane laid out in what is supposed to be the safe zone of the Rhine. But just as recent as 2011, a ship capsized in that faithful bend. You can see from the navigation marks that the currents can be strong and treacherous here.

If you just take a step back, or rather up to Urbar, you have a beautiful view of the lovely Loreley, and see a beautiful river, running around a beautiful rock, captivating the imagination of Europeans for centuries.

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