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The German Corner (Deutsches Eck) – Start your
visit at the German Corner, where a massive statue of Kaiser Wilhelm on horseback overlooks the Moselle and Rhine flowing together. Nearby there
are tons of river front cafes and biergartens where locals go to do a little
people watching. A good place to get the feeling of the town. |
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Ehrenbreitstein Fortress – The River Crane restaurant,
built around 1600 to house a crane, is now both a restaurant and the spot
where you catch the ferry for the fortress. Once across the water, you'll
head up the hill in a gondola. At the top, you'll cross a moat and pass
through a massive gate that leads to the parapets. Here's your goal, a spectacular
view of Koblenz and down the rivers. |
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Take a walk through Old Town – This pleasant,
charming neighborhood is a reconstruction of what was destroyed in WWII. |
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 The Basilica of St. Castor is a Romanesque building consecrated
in 836, and witnessed the Verdun agreement of the division of Germany. The
church is quite pretty, but it's the fountain that most people remember.
In the Napoleonic era the French erected it to commemorate their campaign
in Russia. When Russian soldiers reached Koblenz they tweaked Napoleon's
nose by adding a plaque: "Seen and approved." |
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Look
for is the "Schängel," a bronze statue of an impish figure, blowing water out of his mouth .
His prankish character has been adopted by the people of Koblenz as their
mascot – which will tell you something of their character. |
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Kaisserin Augusta
Park – One of the prettiest strolls in the town is the promenade
that runs along the Rhine. A nice spot for a picnic, you can sit on the
grassy slopes under the statue of the Princess and watch the boats drifting
by. |
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The Kurfürstliches Schloss is a neo-Classical palace
built in the late 1700s by the Elector Wenzeslaus. In the mid 1900s it served
as Prince Wilhelm's headquarters, before he became Emperor. Palatial, it's
the most grand building in Koblenz. |
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A little ways out of town, Schloss Stolzenfels seems
a typical 13th century castle – until you learn that it was built by
the King of Prussia in the 1800s. He did a great job: this is everything
you'd expect of a robber baron's castle – from drawbridge
to keep. Check with the tourism office for scheduled tours in English. |
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Schmetterlings (Butterfly) Garden (Bandorf-Sayn) – Outside
of Koblenz, tour the magic of a Schmetterlings (Butterfly) Garden. You
may watch a butterfly break out of the leaf-like cocoon and try out its
wings for the first time. There are examples of caterpillars, butterflies
and moths, as well as spiders and scorpions, in the display cases.
Walking along, watch out for the quail making their way down the paths,
finches sitting up high, a waterfall splashing past orchids, and Japanese
koi ponds that run under the seven bridges in the garden. |
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Burg Eltz – Make the trek to Burg Eltz in
the Moselle Valley. The road meanders for quite a while, so you've got to
be determined to get there, which may explain why this family owned castle
has never been lost in battle. This castle is the real thing: a medieval
fantasy, mostly built from the mid 12th century - the mid 16th century and
completely intact, not a reconstruction! |
