Hans-Lothar

Originally from the Spreewald, "a unique and enchanting region south of Berlin of the Slavic minority in Germany," Hans-Lothar now lives in Bacharach in the Rhine Valley. With a background in art history studied in Cologne and London, and having lived in New York and Sydney, he felt the pull toward home to the enchanted landscape of the Rhine Valley so strongly that he decided to stay and renovate a 350-year-old half-timbered "Gingerbread House." He describes himself as "a well travelled people loving unofficial ambassador for the beauty of Germany." Since 2023, Hans-Lothar has been collaborating with UnTours, immersing himself in the local culture and quickly making friends with "cool wine makers" while discovering the best restaurants and hidden spots to help guests have an unforgettable experience in this "unique and magical area." What he enjoys most about his role are "the UnTours guests. Friendly open minded people that look for regional authenticity and the relaxing moments of the UnTours destinations."

His top highlight showcases his appreciation for the region's natural beauty: "Since the Rhine Valley is a gorge you have to go to the heights and look down the winding river landscape, steep vineyards green forests hills, and the majestic castles dotted along both sides of the stream. There is one restaurant which offers all of that while sitting under a big chestnut tree and enjoying a freshly made cake or hearty regional dish not to forget fantastic local wine." For hidden gems, he recommends "a castle ruin at the end of Bacharach, the most magical place ever. Go there for a picnic or as alternative have one in the vineyards high above the town. Absolutely enchanting."

The region offers plenty of annual events, from "a bi-annual, medieval festival to all the wine fests in each town of the Rhine," plus "plenty of music festivals in stunning historic places and wineries" and "the best Christmas markets in the world." His practical advice for visitors includes having dinner earlier than might be typical elsewhere—"Usually in Germany Dinner time is from 6-max 8 after that some restaurants stop serving proper meals"—and remembering that "Sunday's all the shops and supermarkets are closed." Hans-Lothar wishes more people knew that "The Rhine Valley, besides being one of the most romantic cultural landscapes and because of its historical significance a world UNESCO heritage, it also has the highest castle density in the world. So if you want be 'castled out' there is no better place to come!"