Koblenz is a German city, the third largest city inthe Rhineland-Palatinate. About 110 thousand people live here. The city is over 2000 years old, which makes it one of the oldest in Germany. His name comes from the Latin concept of Confluentes, meaning "merging". So it was named because of its location - on the territory of the connection of the rivers - the Rhine and the Moselle.
History
At first it was a fortified camp, which was founded by the famous Roman commander Germanicus. But then the Romans built on this place a strong fortress with 19 towers.
In the fifth century the city became part of the state of the Franks -the largest and strongest kingdom in Europe, uniting virtually the entire territory of today's France and Germany. The city already had a royal palace, and after the adoption of Christianity by the Franks, the first churches were built.
Koblenz: sightseeing
The Basilica of St. Castor - the maincity temple, founded in 836. The remains of the monk of St. Castor were brought to the temple built in 837, and since that time the saint has been called the patron of the city. The basilica was often built and rebuilt - at first it was a Romanesque basilica, then a classical cathedral in the Gothic style. Completely it was completed by the middle of the XV century. In the XX century, the temple was destroyed, during the Second World War. The current building is a historical reconstruction reconstructed in the postwar period.
In the XIV century, a bridge across the Moselle was built in the city, which today became another landmark. Stone bridge, built in the XIV century, perfectly preserved to this day.
Another interesting attraction is the stone fountain, set here by Napoleon in honor of the future victory over Russia. Victory did not happen, but the fountain remained.
The Rhine and the Moselle at the confluence point form a sharpangle, plait, which is called the "Deutsches Eck" or "German Triangle". This is the most important and the most popular place in the city, it is a pointed triangular protrusion promenade decorated with a majestic statue of William the First on the horse, the emperor of a united Germany.
In 1945, the statue was destroyed.After the end of the war, this place symbolized the rebirth of Germany: there was a memorial sign surrounded by the flags of all regions of the FRG, and only by 1993 the monument to Wilhelm was completely restored. Today it is also a cultural monument, included in the UNESCO list.
Another noteworthy place is the fortressEhrenbrightstein, built in the X century. By the XIX century, the building of the fortress was almost completely rebuilt, and until the creation of modern heavy artillery it was one of the most powerful powerhouses in Europe. Today there is a museum that tells about the history of the region.
Tourists should visit a large private museum,dedicated to the famous composer Beethoven. Germany, Koblenz is the motherland of his mother, here is the house where she was born. The museum has a rich exposition, and the interiors of the mid-18th century, with which Germany is so rich, have been completely restored. Koblenz is a city with a lot of attractions, which are obligatory for viewing and visiting. However, this can be said about every city in this country.
Modern Germany
Koblenz is one of the important centers of tourism in thewest of the country. The main building is executed in the baroque style: the city almost completely had to be rebuilt after a difficult Thirty Years' War of the XVII century, and then again to reconstruct after the Second World War. But it has Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque churches, an old university building.
In the city there are many ridiculous monuments. For example, the fountain "Joker" - a bronze figure, every couple of minutes spitting water.
Many river routes depart from KoblenzThe Rhine, on the coast of which many beautiful castles are scattered. The streets are peaceful and cozy, many souvenir stalls, shops, restaurants and bars. It is worth to taste the local wines. The city is located at the junction of two large winemaking regions of Germany.
Conclusion
One of the most interesting countries in Europe is Germany.Koblenz is one of the oldest German cities, worthy of tourists' attention. There are many monuments, attractions and places of interest here. A photo shoot against the backdrop of picturesque views of the city on the Rhineland-Palatinate will take your favorite places in albums and the memory of travelers.
