Planes

Purs is located in the Rhineland-Palatinate region, about an hour south of Cologne-Bonn Airport and 90 minutes from Frankfurt. Transfers from both airports can be arranged on request.

Trains

Andernach Station, a kilometre from the hotel, runs regular services to Koblenz, Cologne, Bonn, Berlin and other stations in Germany, and beyond into Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

Automobiles

This rural Rhineland region just begs to be explored. Rent wheels at the airport and tear up the autobahn to Andernach, from where scenic drives to chocolate-box hillside hamlets, fairytale forest castles and Riesling-producing vineyards abound. There’s free parking at the hotel.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

They call Andernach ‘the edible city’, which you might imagine to be a reference to its upturned ice-cream cone turrets, mediaeval buildings and wedding-cake confections such as the majestic four-towered Mariendom. But you’d be quite wrong. In fact, Andernach’s nickname comes from the edible bounty grown in its streets: herbs tended in beds in the pedestrianised centre, and tomatoes, courgettes, strawberries and oranges planted around the castle moat. In the Historical Garden, excavated Roman columns and fountains are punctuated by vegetable patches and rows of ancient medicinal herbs. All of these are free for you to harvest as you stroll. It’s an admirable Andernach initiative that effortlessly combines two of the planet’s most satisfying pursuits: snacking and sightseeing. 

With nearly 1,000 years of history under its belt, the Marienbad is one of the Rhineland’s most important cathedrals. Gaze in awe at its tetrad of Romanesque towers as you munch absentmindedly on a sprig of mint, then ascend the winding stone steps of the nearby Round Tower – 180 feet of 15th-century stronghold, and Andernach’s emblem. Foot-weary climbers who make it all the way up to the battlements are rewarded with far-reaching views across the Rhine to the gently undulating green hills beyond. Boating day trips along the river, passing fairytale castles and verdant vineyards along the way, are also available from Andernach.

The 45-minute drive to the tiny Ahr Valley wine region north of Andernach is an experience in itself, all forested hills and sweeping Rhine views. Avoid designated driver’s regret by joining a scheduled tour to the celebrated Weingut Deutzerhof winery, where one glass of the signature pinot noir is just never going to be enough.