River Cruise Buzz: Cruising the Rhine River, Koblenz via Uniworld Cruises

Cruising the Rhine River, Koblenz

Featured Excursion: Koblenz walking tour and Christmas Market

Snowy day in Koblenz could not keep me from exploring.

Our ship cruised from Rudesheim and headed north through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. When we arrived to Koblenz, it was obvious that we would not be able to take the bikes out for a ride. Instead we bundled up and took a walking tour of the immediate area.

Wikipedia tells me that Koblenz is an old German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle. where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.

Koblenz gondola ride — View from above: down below is the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers.

The monument called the Deutsches Eck means “German Corner.” is the name of a headland in Koblenz where the Moselle joins the Rhine. Our ship was docked close to the old city and after a guided walking tour, cruise guests sailing on SS Antoinette were free to roam. I decided to purchase a ticket to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress to check out the view from above the river.

The site where Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is situated can be traced back to about 1000 BC. Even though we were visiting under blizzard-like conditions, the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress offered breathtaking views across the Rhine.

Koblenz Christmas Markets

After a couple hours getting lost exploring Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, we headed back down the gondola and went in search of Gluhwein.

Koblenz stall — Koblenz double-decker bar cottage.

Cruise visitors will be able to discover six Christmas markets in Koblenz: Münzplatz, Plan, Rathausplatz, Liebfrauenkirche, Jesuitenplatz, Zentralplatz. There area more than 100 glittering, festive, cottage-style stands.

Koblenz market — Christmas cottage selling arts and crafts.

The Koblenz Christmas Markets offer the usual: wooden stands offering arts and crafts, spicy mulled wine, and sweet Christmas cakes.

Places of interest in Koblenz

Google these attractions in Koblenz for more information

Deutsches Eck – German Corner at confluence of Rhine and Moselle. Don’t miss.
Festung Ehrenbreitstein – fortress accessible by walking or via gondola (small fee).
Schloss Stolzenfels – need a guide to go inside the castle.
Museum of Military Technology
Bundesgartenschau Koblenz – garden
Schangelbrunnen – a historic site

Tourist-Information

Official Koblenz Christmas markets website click here

http://www.koblenz-touristik.de/en
Jesuitenplatz 2
56068 Koblenz
Phone: ++49/(0)261/130920 (information and accomodation)Phone: ++49/261/(0)1291610 (tickets)
Fax: ++49/(0)261/1309211
E-Mail: info-jesuitenpl‎@‎koblenz-touristik.de