Hi Hive Friends,

how are you?

today I would like to take you further on my journey in Koblenz. In Koblenz live a friend of mine from college (with Corona a few of my friends actually moved away, because everything is going on online). Since I have of course not let me take the opportunity to visit my friend and get to know Koblenz better. Although it is not so far away from Cologne, it was the first visit of me in this city. And I must say, Koblenz has geographically really an excellent location!

Koblenz is about an hour away from Cologne by car. It is a very historic city in southwestern Germany. The city is known for its terraced vineyards and castle ruins (feel free to check out my recent posts, here I introduced you to some castles and palaces we visited near Koblenz).

Deutsches Eck - View from the cable car

View from the Rhine cable car of to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

During my visit there was a highlight, or rather an experience for me, which I would like to present to you today: we went up with the cable car (I love riding cable cars and still always be afraid during the ride that we fall down;)) to the fortress Ehrenbreitstein located on a hill. I must admit, the cable car ride was almost more exciting for me than the fortress itself. You had such a great view here. But also from the fortress you could have a good look at the "German Corner". The fortress itself houses several museums and cultural events are often held here.
If you drive further south along the riverbank, you come to Stolzenfels Castle. About the castle I have already made a post, look here with pleasure;).

The cable car from inside with its glass bottom

The Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

"Deutsches Eck", a "Memorial to German Unity"

The cable car goes directly over the Rhine in Koblenz. The cable car connects the Rhine facilities at the level of the St. Kastor Basilica with the plateau in front of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. The cable car can actually carry 7600 people per hour (quite a lot, right?!).

What made me a little uneasy during the ride was the glass bottom. I do not like glass bottoms. And yet somehow, it always gives me a little adrenaline kick;). As far as I know, not all cabins have glass floors. So if you don't like the whole thing, you don't have to take a cabin with a glass floor. If you want to go to Ehrenbreitstein Castle, you almost can't get around the cable car. I am very sure that it is the most beautiful way up ur fortress. I can recommend the combination ticket, which entitles you to visit the castle Ehrenmbreitstein and thus allows many exhibitions.

One of the highlights of the cable car ride was the view of the German Corner. The Deutsches Eck is an artificially raised promontory in Koblenz at the mouth of the Moselle River on the Rhine. It got its name from a nearby settlement of the Teutonic Order. It is best known for the monumental equestrian statue of the first German Emperor, Wilhelm I, erected there in 1897.

The monument, even from far above and in the distance, still looks very powerful and strong. It was very nice to see the German Corner from a bird's eye view. The Kaiser Wilhelm Monument was commissioned for the 100th birthday of the monarch. It was intended to commemorate the founding of the German Empire in 1871 and was in the tradition of many patriotic monuments erected during the Imperial period.
The monument was destroyed during the Second World War. It then served, or rather what remained, as a "Memorial to German Unity".
After the reunification, the question arose what should be done with the monument. Should it continue to commemorate unity or be rebuilt? It was decided to rebuild it. So today you can see a replica.

The German Corner is probably the best known landmark of the city of Koblenz. On the left bank of the Rhine, the Rhine complexes (Konrad-Adenauer-shore) branch off here, and on the right bank of the Moselle, the Peter-Altmeier-shore.

Bank of the Moselle

The German Corner belongs to the Middle Rhine Valley and is therefore also a Unesco World Heritage Site. If you want to visit the German Corner and the monument in the high season, it is recommended to drive or walk over the Balduin Bridge in the direction of Lützel (district of Koblenz) to the other bank of the Moselle. You can also take a ferry to the other side. The small ferry is called "Liesel" and takes you daily between 8:00 and 20:00 across the Moselle. A funny name, what do you say?!

I can also highly recommend the bank of the Moselle opposite the Deutsches Eck. We were here only briefly, but it is very good to relax here and you get away from the hustle and bustle at the German Corner. Here there is a beautiful meadow on which you can picnic well. Here you can see excursion boats, hotel ships, cargo ships and jet skis passing by.

At the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

I would like to tell you more about Ehrenbreitstein Fortress another time. To be honest, I'm still looking for the photos at the moment;) wish me luck that I find them, then I can tell you more about the Fortress Ehrenbreitstein.

I hope I could inspire you for the "German Corner" and the ride with the cable car. Feel free to write me your feedback in the comments. See you next time!

Yours, Katrin