A Charming City
Koblenz
is one of the most beautiful and oldest towns in Germany with over
2000 years of history. Surrounded
by four low mountain ranges, the picturesque old city has an
abundance of cultural monuments and historic buildings, as well as
many cosy lanes and narrow alleyways. Cobbled river promenades and
lovely squares are a real treat. In the historic center narrow lanes
and sidewalk cafes are abundant. (English
spelling replaces the K with a C.)
Originally
the city was in the shape of a triangle as it is at the confluence of
the Rhine and Mosel Rivers, while the third side provided
fortification for the medieval city. The Mosel is spanned by a 1344
Gothic freestone bridge with 14 arches, and two modern road bridges
as well as two railway bridges. The arched bridge is built over Roman
supports. It was damaged during WW II but repaired and rebuilt. We
were docked within sight of this bridge and walked down to check it
out.
Our
walking guide told us, “Koblenz was one of the military posts
established by Drusus about 8 BC; the city celebrated its 2000th
anniversary in 1992. This Roman town became very important in the
13th
century as an important link for European trade. During WW II the
city was heavily bombed and 87% of the city destroyed because
munitions were manufactured here in addition to it being an
important transportation center. A plaque in the pedestrian walkway
says 3772 flights dropped 10,000 tons
of
bombs in a short time destroying 15,000 of the 25,000 homes. Over
1000 people died and many more were injured. The old city was rebuilt
using many of the old facades.”
Parts
of the old city wall, which contained 21 towers, are still visible.
As we walked I thought how the colorful and cheerful window flower
boxes were reminiscent of Switzerland. Many towers were visible in
the skyline, many with onion domes. Except for a wee bit of wood
trim, the houses are brick or stucco with slate roofs. Typical in
this part of the world, most of the buildings were joined with no
right of way between.
 |
| Policeman greeting a local vendor |
|
We
detoured into the small area in front of the Mittelrhein Museum, a
late Gothic building erected between 1419-1430. Poised above the
entry door and below the clock is the augenroller
(eye
roller). I was intrigued with how his eyes seem to move around as you
viewed him from different angles.
Jesuits
arrived in 1580 to ensure the survival of Catholicism. The entrance
way and door to the Jesuit college is the only original part of the
building.
Manhole
covers are seldom of interest, but leave it to me to find an unusual
one The French occupied this area for twenty years. It was home to
French refugees during the French revolution. Of course only males
were here and eventually some of them married German girls. Their
offspring were called schangel.
The brass covers in the city depict a mischievous little boy. Koblenz
also has many comical and descriptive statues around town.
The
Church of Our Lady demonstrated three architectural styles. The twin
towers were Romanesque, the chapel Gothic and the onion-shaped domes
Baroque. The stained glass windows on the side of the church were an
unusual scallop shape.
The
Basillica of St. Castor, founded in 836, has four towers.
The present Romanesque building was completed in 1208 and the
vaulted Gothic roof dates to 1498. The French erected a fountain in
1812 in front of the church including an inscription to commemorate
Napoleon’s invasion of Russia.
Koblenz
is a charming and interesting city and certainly is worthy of a
visit.
