Sommerrodelbahn Loreley, Alpine slide in Bornich, Germany
Sommerrodelbahn Loreley is an alpine slide near Bornich in Rhineland-Palatinate, where riders sit in small sleds and descend a stainless steel rail track built into the hillside. The track runs through a series of curves, dips, and jumps, and speed is controlled by a hand-operated brake lever on each sled.
The slide opened in 2013, adding a new type of outdoor activity to the Middle Rhine Valley, a region long known for its castles and vineyards. It was part of a wider effort to develop tourism options in an area that had relied mainly on its natural and historical landmarks.
The name of the slide refers to the Loreley rock, one of the most recognized landmarks along the Rhine. Riding here puts visitors in a landscape that has drawn travelers for centuries, even if the activity itself is entirely modern.
Children from age three can ride with an adult, and those eight and older may ride alone. Weather conditions can affect operations, so a dry day is a better choice for planning a visit.
The track has seven tight turns and several jumps, which is an unusually varied layout for this type of facility. How fast or slow each run feels depends almost entirely on how the rider chooses to use the brake.
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