Day 5 Koblenz and Castles on the Rhein River – Sept 24

 

We started the day docked at Koblentz, Germany. The name Koblenz means confluence and the name is appropriate since the Moselle River joins the Rhein at this point.  The town is overshadowed by the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.  It is across the river from Koblenz. 

We broke up into small groups and our guide walked us around town and told us of the history of the area.  Explaining first that Koblenz is in the middle of Europe.

The river here is lined with Sycamore trees that were planted at Augusta, who was a wife of Kaiser Wilhem I.  The area is called Augusta Promenade.  Our guide explained that this part of the Rhein floods and pointed out a wall marking the severe floods in the past. 

flood markers

The Brothers Grimm wrote many of their fairy tales about things they experienced in the Koblentz area. 

In the park around the rivers was a memorial with three large panels that were a part of the Berlin Wall.  One portion had a plaque identifying 1953 as  the year Germany was invaded by Russia.  Another panel was dated 1989, which was the year that the Berlin Wall came down.

We next walked to the Church of Charlemagne.  There was a row of grave markers that used to be on the floor of the church and people would walk across them.  When the church was redone, they were placed along this wall.  This church started out as a monastery and has been honored by the Pope.

Grave markers

Church of Charlemagne

We walked through the downtown areas and saw our first American car, a Ford.  We commented in the past couple of days how there were only European cars and definitely not any large SUVs or vans. 

On the top of this store was a large head representing the Goddess of Hygiene.  This store was established in the early 1900s and was a House of Soap.  At that time keeping clean was a new concept, but they soon learned that using soap to clean reduced the disease. 

We next saw the Collegium Societatus built in 1580 by the Jesuits.  The school was established to work against Martin Luther.

Europe sure does like its fountains.  In this case is was the Schangel Fountain, or Spitting Boy.  During WWI there were many illegitimate  children fathered by the soldiers.  The boys were considered to be onery and this fountain was dedicated to them.  Around the bottom there were scenes showing this boys in the act of no good.  Every few minutes the boy on the fountain does spit.

After the city tour we rode the gondola to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.  The original  fortress was built by the Prussians and has been in use for over 3000 years and is one of the largest fortresses in Europe.  The current fortress was built in 1817.  We explored the maze the fort, noticing cells with tiny windows, a moat and roof top gardens.  The views overlooking the city of Koblenz and the Rhein River were breathtaking.

Heading out the city we entered the Rhein River Gorge.  This is were the majority of the castles were built.  Many of the castles were built as fortifications, but many were built to take advantage of the river traffic and exact tolls for those plying the river.

The first castle or (Schloss) we came to was Stolzenfels Castle. 

The next castle was Marksburg Castle which was the only castle not completed destroyed on the river. 

The town of Boppard has a church with two roman towers. 

The next two castles were next to each other with an interesting story. They are Sterrenberg and Liebenstein Castles.  They were built by two brothers that were feuding.  They built a wall between the castles to keep each other apart.

Sterrenberg castle

Liebenstein Castle

We passed  by the smallest town on the Rhein, Anotole with only 30 inhabitants. 

Next was the Maus (Mouse) castle shortly after we went past the Katz (Cats) Castle.  Guess the Germans have a sense of humor.

We passed by the town of St Goar and then the Rheinfels Castle.

Shortly after at km 555 is the statue for Loreley.  She was an enchantress that would sit on the hill and sing to lure  men on the boats who would crash.  At km 556 was the large rock she sat on.

Loreley Statue (sorry blurry, it was a bit far away)

Loreley Rock

We saw the Seven Maidens was a set of rocks perceived as killer reefs.  The rocks were covered with cormorants and a few herons.

Much of our trip this afternoon was misty or rainy.  I sat under the cover at the bow of the boat and watched folks jump in and out from the lounge to take pictures of the castles as we passed by.  I was snuggled under a fleece blanket and fared pretty well considering the weather. 

View of Moselle River entering Rhein River from on top of Fortress