Page 150 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Germany

148 BACK ROADS GERMANY

1 Koblenz
Rhineland-Palatinate; 56001
Located at the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel, Koblenz marks the
northern end of the Rhine Gorge. Built in 9 BC as a Roman settle ment,
the city was repeatedly fought over for many centuries because of
its strate gic riverside location. Following its comprehensive destruc­
tion during World War II, it was rebuilt in a mix of old and new. Its
pedestrianized centre has many pavement cafés and is surveyed from
across the Rhine by the grandiose Ehrenbreitstein citadel.

A 90-minute walking tour the von Arken family, but in 1277, it
From the car park at the was taken over by the archbishop of
Kurfürstliches Schloss turn left Koblenz, who sought to protect him­
down Stresemannstrasse to the self from the city’s citizens, who were
Rhine, then left, following the river seeking indepen dence. The fortress
Above Restaurant Terrasse along the to its confluence with the Mosel. now houses the town archives. Walk
Rhine, Koblenz Known as the Deutsches Eck 1, through the archway just to the right,
or “German corner”, the head land up a flight of stairs and left on
BOATING ON THE RHINE is presided over by a giant Burgstrasse for the short walk
Several boats chug up and down equestrian statue of Emperor to the Florinsmarkt 3. One
the Rhine, allowing one to enjoy the Wilhelm I. Behind it, the of several focal points in the
scenery as well as sample wines. The Deutschherrenhaus was Altstadt, the Romanesque­Gothic
largest company, Köln-Düsseldorfer once the 13th­century head­ church of Florinskirche (Jun–Aug:
(0221 208 83 18; www.k-d.com), has quarters of the Teutonic open daily) is known, above all,
five sailings daily from Koblenz.
Knights, but the building is for the Augenroller, a figure that
VISITING KOBLENZ now home to the Ludwig rolls its eyes and sticks out its
Museum (closed Mon), displaying tongue every half­hour from its
Parking modern and contem porary perch below the clock. From the
The most convenient car park, the
Schloss Tiefgarage, is in the corner of art. Walking west along the Madonna and Child, Florinsmarkt, head south
Stresemannstrasse and Neustadt, just thin strip of parkland from Liebfrauenkirche on Münzstrasse, which
northeast of the Kurfürstliches Schloss. the Deutsches Eck, the becomes Löhrstrasse before
picturesque old town, Altstadt, intersecting with Am Plan 4,
Tourist Information
Forum Confluentes, Zentralplatz 1, comes into view. To the right is the Koblenz’s most famous street corner.
56068; 0261 194 33; www.koblenz- arresting castle Alte Burg 2 on the Here, the 17th­century buildings on
touristik.de banks of the Mosel. The first fortress each corner, Vier Türme, are celebra­
WHERE TO STAY here was built in the Middle Ages by ted for their ornate façades. Am Plan
KOBLENZ Festung
Ehrenbreitstein
Diehl’s Hotel moderate Balduin- Deutsches
This riverside hotel has pastel­coloured brücke M o s e l Eck
rooms, complete with claw foot bath­ Alte Ludwig HOFSTRASSE
tubs. Facilities include a pool and sauna. Burg PETER - ALTMEIER - UFER Museum
Rheinsteigufer 1, 56077; 0261 19 70 70; Florinsmarkt Chairlift
www.diehls-hotel.de AN DER MO S E L B RÜCKE Liebfrauenkirche AM ALTEN HOSPITAL KASTORPFAFFENSTR
Kleiner Riesen moderate MÜNZSTR R h e i n CHARLOTTENSTR O B ER T A L
Housed in a modern building, this Am EN T E N PFUHL KONRAD - A DENAUER - UFER
guest house has ele gant rooms. A con­ Plan JOSEF HELFEN STEINSTR
GÖRRES
tinental breakfast buf fet is served too. PFUHLGASSE GYMNASIALSTR FIRMUNGSTR RHEINSTR
PLATZ
Januarius-Zick-Strasse 11, 56068; 0261 GÖRGENSTR CLEMENSSTRASSE KARMELITERSTR HUMBOLDTSTR
30 34 60; www.hotel-kleinerriesen.de LÖHRSTR ALTLÖHRTOR Rheinpromenade
PLATZ
PLATZ
AROUND MARKSBURG VIKTORIASTR ZENTRAL- CASINOSTRASSE DEINHARD- STRESEMANNSTR IM TEICHERT
Zum Weissen Schwanen moderate
This family­owned country hotel has SCHLOSSSTRASSE AM PFAFFENDORFER TOR
interesting themed rooms. Two of them STEGEMANNSTRASSE NEUSTADT Kurfürstliches
are inspired by the work of 19th­ Schloss
century Austrian artist Friedensreich FRIEDRICH-EBERT-RING
Hundertwasser, who stayed here.
Brunnenstrasse 4, Braubach, 56338 Pfaffendorfer 0 metres 250
SÜDALLEE
(2 km/1 mile north of Marksburg); RIZZASTRASSE Weindorf Brücke
0262 798 20; www.zum-weissen- 0 yards 250
schwanen.de
Where to Stay: inexpensive under €70; moderate €70–€150; expensive over €150
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