Festung Ehrenbreitstein

Cultural enjoyment with vision.

Content

Introduction to the Festung Ehrenbreitstein
History of the fortress
How to get there
Places of interest nearby
Plan your vacation

From the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress 118 meters above the Rhine, you have probably the most fantastic view of Koblenz and the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. The Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, the second largest preserved fortress in Europe, was built in its current form between 1817 and 1828. Its origins date back to the year 1000.

Führungsgruppe im Hof der Festung Ehrenbreitstein auf der Wein und Kultur Führung ©Koblenz-Touristik GmbH, Johannes Bruchhof

Recommendation:
Fortress tour

During the one-hour guided tour, you will experience how history comes alive on the Festung Ehrenbreitstein with original historical sites, from the fortified buildings of the Romans to the castles of the knights and the Prussian fortifications.

Koblenz

Landesmuseum Koblenz

The State Museum has permanent collections documenting important aspects of the region’s technological developments as well as its economic and social history. Exhibitions on archaeology and the history of the fortress are two of the more recent...

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Flug über die Festung

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History of the Festung Ehrenbreitstein

Image: Bird Griffin. The impressive cannon, the largest in Europe in its time, which still reminds us of this century.

From Ehrenbertstein to Ehrenbreitstein

The Conradine Ehrenbert had a castle built around the year 1000, whose name "Ehrenbertstein" became "Ehrenbreitstein" in the course of time. In the 11th century, the castle became the property of the Trier archbishop Poppo, whose successor enlarged the complex. In the 12th century, the castle hill was enriched by Helfenstein Castle, seat of the later counts. In the 15th century, under Archbishop Richard von Greiffenclau, the castle was expanded into a fortress protected against artillery.

Kanone Vogel Greif im Landesmuseum Koblenz ©GDKE Rheinland-Pfalz / Pfeuffer

During the Thirty Years' War, the castle experienced a lively change of ownership. in 1797, French troops laid siege to the fortress, but were only able to force a surrender by starvation in 1799. in 1801 they had the fortress blown up. In 1815, after the Congress of Vienna transferred the Rhenish territories of Kurtrier to the Kingdom of Prussia, King Frederick William III ordered the expansion of Koblenz into a fortified city. One of the largest fortifications in Europe was built.

The fortress system without equal

Explore the fortress city of Koblenz

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Luftaufnahme von dem Koblenzer Stadtteil Ehrenbreitstein mit der Festung, dem deutschen Eck und dem Zusammenfluss von Rhein und Mosel ©Dominik Ketz | Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus GmbH

Guided tours on the Festung Ehrenbreitstein

A number of informative and entertaining guided tours await those who wish to delve deeper into the turbulent past of the fortress. A guided tour of the fortress is not to be missed.

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Festungsführung in Festung Ehrenbreitstein wo Führer die Funktionalität preussischer Waffen zeigt ©Koblenz-Touristik GmbH

Journey to the Festung Ehrenbreitstein

Float 800 meters over the Rhine to the fortress plateu

The Seilbahn Koblenz

Tickets & Information

Die Seilbahn Koblenz im Gegenlicht der Sonne mit Rhein im Vordergrund und Festung Ehrenbreitstein im Hintergrund ©Koblenz-Touristik GmbH, Dominik Ketz

Alternative arrival

With the fortress elevator up to the cultural center Festung Ehrenbreitstein

Since 2011, the Ehrenbreitstein fortress elevator has connected the former residence Ehrenbreitstein, located on the right bank of the Rhine, with the cultural center in just under three minutes. The fortress elevator, which is connected to the public transport system, is operated like an elevator with call and start buttons. All tickets - single, return or combined with the fortress - are available from the ticket machines at the top and bottom stations of the fortress elevator.

More information

Festungsaufzug Festung Ehrenbreitstein ©Koblenz-Touristik GmbH

Travel for All - Certified Offer

Learn more about the accessibility of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

Parties and celebrations on historic grounds

Events on the Festung Ehrenbreitstein

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Konzert im Innenhof der Festung Ehrenbreitstein ©PlusPunktFilm

Places of interest near the Festung Ehrenbreitstein

Seilbahn

Dikasterialgebäude am Rheinufer vor der Festung Ehrenbreitstein mit dem Rhein im Vordergrund ©Koblenz-Touristik GmbH

Dicasterial Building

Fort Asterstein

Ausstellung eines mittelalterlichen Schiffes im Rhein-Museum ©Koblenz-Touristik GmbH

Rhine Museum

Mutter-Beethoven-Haus im Koblenzer Stadtteil Ehrenbreitstein ©Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus GmbH, Dominik Ketz

Mother Beethoven House

Plan your vacation in Koblenz

Experience Koblenz

Discover the city on the Rhine and Moselle according to your personal taste. Take a look at the various experience pages and plan your next vacation according to your wishes!

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Zwei Männer von der Seite halten Weingläser und blicken auf die Stadt Koblenz beim Sonnenuntergang ©Koblenz-Touristik GmbH, Philip Bruederle

Landesmuseum Koblenz

Explore the fortress city of Koblenz

The Seilbahn Koblenz

Events on the Festung Ehrenbreitstein

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