The Rheingau is one of Germany’s most important wine-growing areas and can attribute its international fame to its excellent Riesling wines. The “Rheingau Riesling Route” leads through the numerous communities of the Rheingau and is bordered by vines, castles and monasteries. Many of the castles are home to vineyards and wineries, where one can drink and purchase the wine produced by the winemakers themselves during the season. The town of Eltville is also on the Riesling Route, on the banks of the romantic Rhine. The historic atmosphere of the town, famous for its roses and sparkling wine, is enhanced by the half-timbered houses, the crooked laneways and the princely castle which, with its remarkable tower, is the landmark of the town. The nearby natural landscape of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2002. The Rheingau is renowned for the Rheingau Music Festival, the Rheingau Gourmet Festival and the Burghofspiele in Eltville. An intact infrastructure makes the Rheingau a particularly attractive residential region at the gateway to the Rhine-Main area.