Koblenz

Koblenz sits at the dramatic confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers — the Deutsches Eck, or 'German Corner' — marked by a large equestrian monument to Kaiser Wilhelm I. Founded as the Roman Castellum Confluentes over 2,000 years ago, the city later served as the residence of the Electors of Trier and, under Napoleon, as capital of the Département Rhin-et-Moselle. Fortress Ehrenbreitstein, one of the largest preserved fortifications in Europe, rises steeply above the Rhine and is reachable by cable car, rewarding visitors with panoramic views across both river valleys. The old town between the rivers preserves Baroque townhouses and Gründerzeit streetscapes, while the surrounding slopes produce wines from two of Germany's most celebrated river wine regions.