Things To Do in Koblenz

Koblenz was heavily bombed during World War II, but many of its historic buildings have been restored. The focal point of the Altstadt is the Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), a 13th-century Gothic basilica built on a Romanesque foundation, with twin towers topped by onion-shaped spires. The early-18th-century Rathaus was formerly a Jesuit college. In the courtyard behind the hall is a fountain dedicated to the youth of Koblenz called Das Schängelchen (The Spitting Boy), and that's just what he does. At the edge of the old town, near the Deutsches Eck, is Koblenz's oldest, biggest, and most attractive church, St. Castor's, originally built in 836, though in its present form it dates mostly from the 12th century.

Festung Ehrenbreitstein (tel. 0261/9742441; www.festungehrenbreitstein.de), across the Rhine from Koblenz, can be reached by chairlift between May and September. You can also drive there via the Pfaffendorfer Bridge just south of the Altstadt or take bus no. 8, 9, or 10 from the rail station. The fortress was constructed on a rock and towers 120m (400 ft.) above the Rhine. The present walls were built in the 19th century. From the stone terrace is one of the best views along the Rhine; the panoramic vista includes not only Koblenz but also several castles on the river and many terraced vineyards. To reach the fortress, make the 3.50€ one-way passage across the river from the main Rhine dock. Ferries operate mid-March to late November daily 9am to 5:15pm. The chairlift operates April to October daily 9:30am to 4:30pm. Round-trip tickets cost 8€ for adults, 5€ for children 13 and under.

A Lofty Look at the Corner of Germany -- For the most panoramic view of Koblenz, go to the point where the two rivers meet. It is called Deutsches Eck, or the "corner of Germany." From the top of the base where a huge statue of Wilhelm I once stood, you can see the Altstadt and across the Rhine to the Festung Ehrenbreitstein.