The barrier formed by the Eifel shields the double municipality from west winds, putting it in a rain shadow and sometimes subjecting it to a föhn effect.

Tied in with this is the high humidity due to ongoing evaporation of water from the Moselle, which, especially in summer, makes at times for heavy and muggy weather, and which also brings many storms along with it.

As early as 500 BC, the Treveri, a people of mixed Celtic and Germanic stock, from whom the Latin name for the city of Trier, Augusta Treverorum, is also derived, settled in the region around Zeltingen-Rachtig.

The municipality's oldest known seal, from the late 14th century, already bears these charges, and both refer to the former landholder, the Electorate of Cologne, whose arms are seen on the sinister (armsbearer's left, viewer's right) side.

[4] Zeltingen-Rachtig fosters partnerships with the following places: With 133 ha of vineyards, the double municipality is among the biggest winegrowing centres on the Middle Moselle.

The operetta Zeltinger Himmelreich is produced every other year by more than 100 amateur performers on Zeltingen's old marketplace; active in this are mainly members of the local clubs.

In nearby Bernkastel-Kues, the Großes Weinfest der Mittelmosel (“Great Wine Festival of the Middle Moselle”) is held each year in late summer, and the Zeltingen-Rachtig winemakers have their own booth there.

Also, in Wittlich, there is the Säubrennerkirmes (“Sow Burner Fair”); it is one of Rhineland-Palatinate's biggest folk festivals and was begun in 1951, based on the mediaeval Säubrennersage (a legend that tells of a sow that inadvertently allowed a siege force to enter Wittlich, sack it and burn it down after she ate the turnip that the gatekeeper had used instead of the bolt, which he could not find; all swine in the town were accordingly punished with burning – meaning, in effect, a huge pork barbecue).

A local supply of food is guaranteed: a bakery, a grocer's shop, medical practices, several inns, a post office and a bank branch can all be found in the municipality.

In planning for Bundesstraße 50, right near Zeltingen-Rachtig, is the Hochmoselbrücke as part of the Hochmoselübergang – a highway link between Belgian and Dutch harbors and the Frankfurt area.