The "Four Towers" and other Koblenz, Germany Things to Do Tips

The Four Towers

When you leave the Munzplatz and head down the pedestrian shopping zone, you get to a corner where you see the Pizza Hut. look up and you will see the famous four towers. These beautiful little towers, found on each corner, were all built after the reconstruction around 1689-1690.

The tower above Pizza Hut, and the one adjacent with the shield that says Hauptwache, date back to the 1690's, and were not destroyed by bombs in WWII. The tower above the "Apoteke" (pharmacy) was partially destroyed when the upper floor burned, and the tower above the tobacco store was completely destroyed in WWII. This very spot is marks the boundary of much of the bombing. Going back towards Munzplatz, most everything was spared in WWII, where as in the other direction, everything else was bombed.

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The square called Am Plan: The square called "Am Plan"

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Updated by wadekorzan

on Apr 24, 2003

The view from "Am Plan"

Leaving the fout towers, you come to the next square called "Am Plan". This is the old execution square, where Johan Lutter lost his head (see my tip about Johan Lutter). From here there is a wonderful view of the Church of Our Lady from here, and there are quite a few cafes where you can sit outside. There is also an internet cafe on this square open until midnight. There are only a few shops on the square, but one of them has very nice cards. Walk across the square in the direction opposite from the "Four towers" and you come to a shoppibng street which is very very nice. Go down that way and make a left in the Jesuitengasse where you see the beautiful tobacco store, and you will end up at Jesuitenplats, the next beautiful square.

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Beautiful Old Town: Jesuit Square

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Updated by wadekorzan

on Apr 24, 2003

Jesuit Square, with the city hall

Jesuit Square, called Jesuitenplatz in German, is 1 of the most beautiful squares of Koblenz. The jesuits came to koblenz in 1580 and built the Jesuit Church and a Jesuit College. the Jesuit college is now the city hall. In the middle of the square is a statue of a man named Johannes Mueller--a famous doctor and psychologist who came from Koblenz. Locals say he used to face the other way looking at the office of the mayor, didn't like what he saw, and so turned around. There is a beautiful cafe on this square called Cafe Lorenz. It is especially beautiful to see this square on a nice summer night!

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Things To Do: Jesuit Church

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Updated by wadekorzan

on Apr 24, 2003

The Jesuit church

When on Jesuitenplatz, take a look at the Jesuit Church, originally built when the jesuits arrived in 1580. Much of the church was destroyed during the invasions of the French under louis XIV and Napolean and so had to be rebuilt. the beautiful portal dates to the early 18th century and is done in the Baroque style. To the left of the entrance are a string of bells that do a lovely chime on the top of each hour.

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Beautiful Old Town: The "Schaengel" Statue

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Updated by wadekorzan

on Apr 24, 2003

The Schaengel Statue

When standing on Jesuit Square and looking at the city hall, walk through the archway that leads under city hall (Rathaus). Immediately to the right tucked away in the corner you see the statue of this little boy called the "Schaengel". You will also see this same boy on every manhole cover in the city--he is one of the symbols of the city. "Schaengel" is the way of saying "little John" in the local Koblenz dialect. When the french occupied the city on 2 occasions, under Louis XIV and Napolean, many of the soldiers had kids with local women. As many of these soldiers were named John (Jean in French), their sons became known as "little Johns". Eventually all the kids of Koblenz became known an "little John's", or "Schaengel", as they are still called today. To top it off, this little boy is a fountain--but he SPITS the water at yu--symbolizing that the youth--and the people--of koblenz, do not like authority. they have been dominated so many times--by the Archbishop of Trier, by the French, etc, that they have grown to dislike authority. that is why this Schaengel spits in the very center of city hall's entrance.

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Beautiful Old Town: The Jugenstil head of Hygea

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Updated by wadekorzan

on Apr 24, 2003

Hygea, the Greek Goddess of health

and beauty

Leaving Jesuitenplatz in the direction of the next square called Gorresplatz, you will find a shoe store on the right hand side called "Leonardo". Stop and look straight up and you will find this incredible Jugenstil gable--the face of Hygea, the Greek Goddess of health and beauty. Funny enough, she is looking down onto the street and onto a well known sex shop called Beate Uhse--do you think they planned it that way when they built the store? Always look UP when walking in Koblenz, as otherwise you will miss the many beautiful gables such as this.

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The square called Goerresplatz: The square called Goerresplatz

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Updated by wadekorzan

on Apr 24, 2003

Goerresplatz

This square is named after a once famous poet named Josef Goerres, who came from Koblenz. This square is GREAT at night, as there are some GREAT cafes here--this is where people come at night. in the iddle of the square is an incredibly beautiful fountain, that is incredibly detailed. The fountain tells the entire history of Koblenz--from the Romans at the bottom of the fountain, through the take over by Louis XIV, napolean, the destruction of WWII, until you reach the top of the fountain showing the final reconstruction of the city as you see it today. Don't miss it!

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Fort Ehrenbreitstein: Fortress of Ehrenbreitstein

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Updated by wadekorzan

on Apr 24, 2003

Fortress Ehrenbreitstein

When you leave the Ludwig Museum, male a left, go through the archway and then go immediately to the right and you hit the Rhine River. You have a spectacualr view of the Fortress Ehrenbreitstein. This is the largest fortress of its kind to be found anywhere along the Rhine River, and was started around 1038 by a certain Count Erembrecht. Shortly after its construction, the Archbishop of Trier took posession and then enlarged it--and it was enlarged many times over the centuries. During the times of Napolean, Napolean's troops had conquered koblenz already in 1794, but it took them an additional 5 years, until 1799, before they could take this fortress. i t could only be taken by besieging it for one year. Once the French had it, they didn't know what to do with it, so blew it up in 1801, 2 year after they had taken it. After the fall of the french, the Prussians moved in and rebuilt it between 1815-1832.

Nowadays there is a youth hostel and two museums located inside the fortress, and from there you have the MOST SPECTACULAR view of Koblenz, a view not to be missed. You can get to the top by foot, by car, or by cable chairlift.

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St. Castor's Church: St. Castor's Church

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Updated by wadekorzan

on Apr 24, 2003

St Castor's Church

Once you have left Goerresplatz, continue walking towards the Rhine, but make a left before reaching the Rhine so you can reach this beautiful church known as St. Castor's Church. This is the oldest church in koblenz, having been founded in the year 836 AD. In 842 AD discussions took place within the church which eventually led to the division of the so-called Franconian Empire--basically the establishment of Germany and France as separate entities. This catholic church was declared a minor basilica in the year 1992, and is still used for mass today. Next to the church, on the left, you will see a stone archway. Go through that archway and you will come in to what is called the "Blumenhof". This is a very quiet, pretty place, where you find a thumb sticking up out of the ground (modern art) right in front of the Ludwig Museum, which is an art museum. In the adjacent courtyard, there are many pretty flowers and bemches where you ca sit. From there you have a great view of the towers of the St. Castor's Church.

By the way, there is a fountain out front of the church where Napolean used to let his horses drink...maybe his soldiers, too, who knows?

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the Deutsche Kaiser: the "Deutsche Kaiser"

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Updated by wadekorzan

on Apr 23, 2003

the "deutsche Kaiser"