Fährkopf Minheim

Since the “Moselweinstraße”, as well as the Moselbahn (operating from 1903-1963), ran on the opposite riverbank, the parish of Minheim was cut off from the main traffic arteries of the Moselle valley for a long time. This also explains the fact that the tradition of ferry traffic was upheld unusually long until 1979.

Ferry operation is documented from 1876 until construction of the Moselle Bridge in 1979. At first, small barks were used to cross the river, then a reaction ferry (which ran on a steel cable) and at last a motorized ferry. Until the 1920s, only 14 bridges crossed the 240 km long section of the Moselle in Germany, whilst 50 reaction ferries were in operation. These unpowered ferries with their rope towers were a common sight along the Moselle. Today, canoes, kayaks or pleasure boats can be launched to the water at the old jetty.