Passenger and car ferry Bacharach/Oberwesel - Kaub It would simply be wrong to regard the numerous ferries on the Rhine as mere means of transportation. They are a real institution and are as much a part of the Rhine Valley as the castles and the wine. They have a long tradition and the profession of ferryman on the Rhine has existed since the Middle Ages. The shallows and rocky outcrops were once treacherous and only someone with a good knowledge of the river could bring his guests safely and dryly from bank to bank. Even today, it takes skill and experience, as the ferries are part of one of Europe's largest transportation routes. The Rhine is an important waterway and thus continues its importance as a transportation route to this day. Shipping and ferry services on the Rhine are therefore not nostalgia, but part of the daily landscape. Bridges are few and far between here and are concentrated in the region around Koblenz. Upstream and downstream, however, ferries are typical inhabitants of the Rhine. Further information can be found on the website.