Koblenz, Germany

 We arrived in Koblenz in early afternoon and guess what?  Another cold, wet day in Germany!


A massive statue of Prince William I is at the intersection of Rhine and Moselle Rivers.


Atop the hill is Ehrenbreitstein, the Fortress of Koblenz.  It is Europe's largest fortress.  Construction began in 1100, Napoleon destroyed it in 1801, and was then occupied by France for 18 years.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Interesting sculpure!


The Basilica of St. Castor.


The original construction took place between 817 and 836.  Reconstruction to bring it to its current shape began in 1160.  It was damaged by a British air raid in 1944.  In 1948 a 25-year reconstruction started.  Pope John Paul II raised it to a minor basilica in 1991.


History column in the Josepf-Gorres Platz in the city center.  It depicts the history of Koblenz starting with the Roman wine ships, warlike confrontations, periods of prosperity, and reconstruction in the 20th century.  It was given to the city in 1992 to celebrate its 2,000th anniversary.


This building was formerly an orphange where many of the street urchins were housed.  (more on that later)


See all the dormer windows on the roof?  During the Christmas season the city turns these into an advent calendar and opens one door each day.  We were too early to see it.


The Schangelbrunnen fountain is a landmark in Koblenz.  The boy at the top randomly spits on people as they pass by.  The base of the fountain has depictions of various boys up to mischief.  The derogatory term Schangel originated in 1794-1813 when France occupied the city and there were many babies born to German mothers and French soldiers.  Many boys were named Jean (German: Johann or Hans) back then.  Jean was difficult for the local Koblenz dialect and it eventually became Schang.  Every native of Koblenz proudly considers themselves a Schangel now.


All the manholes in the city are adorned with the Schangel.


Koblenz is the first place we encountered "Stumbling Steps".  These copper monuments are in front of houses where Jewish people used to live.  It shows their name, birthdate, place of death and date of death.

I found them to be heartbreaking, but at the same time I was glad to see these victims of the holocaust are rememberd.


Clock tower in the city center.


A portion of the original Roman wall surrounding the city.'

Next stop Cologne!


Comments

polcat24 said…
It was too bad we didn't get to see the windows when they are decorated for advent. They gave us plenty of warning about the spitting boy statue.
December 1, 2023 at 7:41 AM
Yogi♪♪♪ said…
Interesting place. The stumbling steps are poignant.
December 1, 2023 at 8:13 AM
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