This week, we went back to Koblenz, a city we visited a few weeks back. At that time, we did not have a chance to explore the city, but this time, that is all we did!
What makes Koblenz special?One of the most iconic places is the German corner, or Deutsches Eck. This is the joining parts of two rivers, the Rhein and the Mosel (Moselle). At this corner they meet up and continue flowing as the Rhein. In the Deutsches Eck, there is a monument to Kaiser Wilhelm I., surrounded by the insignia of each German state, to thank him for uniting Germany in 1871. It is now also a remembrance of the unity of Germany in 1990. There are several pieces of the Berlin wall located behind the monument.
The corner features flags from all of the German states, with the German national flag at the head of the corner. The Flag of the European Union and a flag from the United States are also displayed, to remember the victims of 9/11.
You can take a scenic boat tour around Koblenz, and depart from the many docks that are located along the Rhein river side. In addition, there is a tram that gives you an elevated view of Koblenz, taking you from the Deutsches Eck across the river to a fortress park.
The tram ride is a lot of fun, I definitely recommend it. It drops you off at a large outdoor park, complete with a viewing platform that overlooks the valley. This is also a highlight of the area.
The park is part of a 19th century fortress and museum. You get to have views of the fortress and museum from the outside, and if you purchase a ticket, you can also go into the museum. This museum features photography, archaeology, wine agriculture, as well as business and cultural history. We did not purchase tickets for the museum, but it sounds like fun.
Back down by the river, along the Mosel side of the corner, there is a little ice cream cafe, called Eiscafe am Deutschen Eck, which has THE BEST vanilla ice cream we have ever tasted. They offer various hot and cold drinks, as well as different ice cream dishes. Spaghetti Eis is a treat here in Germany- it consists of vanilla ice cream which has been put through a noodle press to resemble noodles. It is topped with strawberry sauce and white chocolate shavings, so you have your perfect “healthy” dessert.
If you visit the Deutsches Eck, be sure to take a walk along the Rhein river side. After walking past the Prussian government building, you will see the Koblenz castle. It is an 18th century design, but to me it looks more like the White House. There are beautiful gardens surrounding the castle, which are worth exploring.
Koblenz also has some really pretty churches, like the Florinskirche and the Herz-Jesu Kirche. The old part of the city, or Altstadt, awaits your visit, with its historic buildings and pretty alleyways, covered in vines and with a cafe on every corner.
Koblenz is the perfect mix of modern meets historic, with several shopping malls, and other modern streets and buildings among the older and historic parts of the city. The air has a relaxed feel to it, and its people warmly welcome tourists and travelers.
And remember, Drachenburg and Drachenfels from last week’s post are not far away from Koblenz! Be sure to stop there, too.
“TRAVEL IS THE ONLY THING YOU BUY THAT MAKES YOU RICHER.” – ANONYMOUS
Below is a video of the things you can do in Koblenz, check it out! It features more shots of buildings I wasn’t able to get pictures of!