Situated between the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers sits the city of Koblenz. The city, having been repeatedly bombed during the war, has been rebuilt and in some sections in the old style.
We began our whirlwind tour of Koblenz in Ehrenbreitstein, the location of the Fortess that overlooks the two rivers.
Festung Ehrenbreitstein
The Festung Ehrenbreitstein, or Fortress Ehrenbreitstein, is located atop of the hill across the Rhine from Koblenz, with a commanding view of both. There is a very nice park there, called the Festungspark, which includes an overlook of the rivers and several walking paths.
The fortress itself is about a half of a kilometer away from the parking for the park. But, there is also parking for it as well, if you continue to drive past the park. The problem with the parking is it get’s rather full quickly, and there is also a charge. But there is ample parking along the access road, so avail yourself of that if the parking is full.
The fortress has several interesting floors of exhibits, dedicated to the buildings history and its uses. The exhibits go back to the Roman times and there are several examples of Roman currency, pottery and other tools. Additionally, there are more modern examples of cannon and other military weapons. Here is a short slideshow of some of the exhibits.
Koblenz – Parts Of The City
We were not able to see all of the city, due to some constraints on our time, but we still saw enough of it to get the feeling it’s a very vibrant city.
Historical Koblenz
There are plenty of tourists and with numerous cafes and restaurants, there are no problems to sit down and have a drink or something to eat.
There are also stark differences between the old and newer sections, one trying to hold onto the past by cobblestones and fachwerk houses, the other marching into the future with malls and boutique stores, supplied by a seemingly busy bus network.
Deutsches Eck
The Deutsches Eck, or German Corner, is the point at which the confluence of the Rhine meets the Moselle. There is also a large park here and several landmarks to visit.
It is also the launch point for several Rhine river boat tours, including the familiar Viking River Boat Cruises. We enjoyed our day in Koblenz, it holds many interesting places to visit, too many for a single day tour. But even with one day, there is plenty to do and enjoy.
Our next stop is Switzerland and the Jungfrau area, until then, stay safe!
This looks like a very lovely and interesting city!