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The Rhine River is the tourist mecca of the region. Throughout the centuries it was the major communications hub with local rulers and robber barons collecting tolls and custom duties from the passing commerce. They built castles and fortresses to ward off frequent invaders.
The section of the Rhine passing through the Koblenz Region is known as the Mittelrheintal, home of some 40 castles and fortresses. The more famous are shown on the map below.
Marksburg, a 12th century castle, subsequently renovated by susccessive occupiers, was never destroyed. It is an outstanding example of the traditional architecture of he region.
Reichenstein, dating back to 1214, was,for a time. the hangout of robber barons. The archbishop of Mainz transformed it in 1344 into a palatial residence.
In 1823, the city of Koblenz gave, as a gift, the ruins of a 13th century fortress to the then Prussian crown prince, Friedrich Wilhelm. He promptly converted it into a magnificent palace with adjoyning formal gardens which were completed in 1840. Schloss Stolzenfels is the crowning achievement of the cultural movement in music, literature and architecture of the the 18th and 19th centuries known as the Rheinromantik.
We must not forget the Loreley, a rocky promontory near St. Goar, marking the narrowest part of the river with associated navigational problems. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the subject of the famous 1824 poem by Heinrich Heine. Nearby Burg Katz, a 14th century castle, has had a stormy history and wound up in private Japanese hands, no longer open to visitors.
Beyond the Rhine River, the Koblenz Region has other attractive tourist destinations.
The Moselle Valley is famous for its beautiful landscapes and superb wines. Along the river is the Moselradweg, a 200 mile long bicycle path. The river is lined with numerous castles and fortresses, such as the Reichsburg in Cochem.
Bad Kreuznach, a spa city in the South, is well-known for its wellness and spa facilities, bathhouses including a Dead Sea Grotto and Radon Therapy services.
In the Westerwald, in the northeast of the region, the almost 150mile long Westerwald-Steig represnts a paradise for hikers.
The Koblenz Region is divided into ten districts (Kreise) as shown on the map below. Towns and cities are listed in the "Hotels" section of this page by district and hotel information is accessed by clicking on the location of interest.
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