A city that knows to defend itself

The Fortress City of Koblenz

The Large Fortress of Koblenz, officially "Fortress Koblenz and Ehrenbreitstein", is a system of Prussian fortifications built between 1815 and 1834 to secure the then strategically important confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers.

The Fortress System

The fortification system consists of the city fortifications of Koblenz and Ehrenbreitstein as well as the fortifications in front of them in the form of forts, flèches and redoubts, some of which have been preserved or have almost completely disappeared over the course of time due to erosion and later demolition (e.g. Fort Kaiser Alexander). Lines of sight between the individual buildings, which were located on the ridges and in the lower-lying plains around the city, facilitated mutual protection.

The fortification system is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley and is included in the UNESCO programme of support for World Heritage Sites. It is also on the list of monuments of national importance.

Ehrenbreitstein Fortress

118 metres above the Rhine, from Ehrenbreitstein Fortress you have probably the most fantastic view of Koblenz and the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle at the 'Deutsches Eck'!

Luftaufnahme von Festung Ehrenbreitstein mit dem Deutschen Eck, Rhein, Mosel und Stadt Koblenz im Hintergrund ©

Fort Asterstein

The for, named after the Prussian General von Aster, was built from 1818 to 1828. Today, the redesigned fortress park around the well-preserved redoubt with its elaborate courtyard façade invites visitors.

Learn more about Fort Asterstein

Luftaufnahme des Fort Asterstein umgeben vom Rasen und Wald ©Dominik Ketz | Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus GmbH

Fort Konstantin

Fort Grand Duke Constantine was built from 1822 to 1827 on the steep northern slope of Carthusian Hill. The largely preserved fort stands on the site of a medieval monastery. The foundations and crypt are still recognisable. At the foot of the steep slope is the so-called battery.

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Fort Konstantin bei blauem Himmel ©Koblenz-Touristik GmbH

Feste Kaiser Franz

Fort Kaiser Franz was completed in 1822 and served to defend the left bank of the Moselle. Today, the main gate, the redoubt and parts of the underground passage system have been preserved. The spacious and newly laid out fortress park offers an impressive view and can be visited daily.

Learn more about Fot Kaiser Franz

Luftaufnahme der Feste Kaiser Franz mit Bahngleise und Güterzüge im Hintergrund ©Koblenz-Touristik GmbH, Rainer Arenz

Neuendorfer Flèche

The Neuendorfer Flèche was built from 1820 to 1825 as part of the Kaiser Franz fortification system. Today, the outer moat wall, the underground mine passages leading off from it and the "moat section", reconstructed in 1995, are still preserved.

Learn more about Neuendorfer Flèche

Graben mit einer gemauerten Wand mit kleinen Spalten ©Thomas Dillenburg

The Franz, Asterstein and Konstantin fortifications are part of the funding measure "National Urban Development Projects 2015" between 2015 and 2019, which aims to enhance and redevelop historical fragments of the fortress.

Download the Fortress City Map as a PDF (German)