149
Left Medieval Marksburg, Braubach
Below Deutsches Eck, the spur between
the Mosel and the Rhine2 Marksburg
Rhineland-Palatinate; 56338
The huddle of towers and turrets
high above the delightful half-
timbered town of Braubach belongs
to the Marksburg (open daily). Built
in 1117, it is one of the Rhine’s most
impres sive castles, and is particularly
remarkable for being the only
medieval castle in the region never
to have been destroyed. It is easy to
imagine lively banquets in its Gothic
grand hall, while its armory and array
of torture instruments recall
a more gory past.
ª Return to B42 and turn left. Take the
Kamp-Bornhofen-Boppard ferry across
the Rhine, then in Boppard, turn left
along Rheinallee for parking lot.DRIVE 14: The Romantic Rhine
Eat and Drink: inexpensive under €20; moderate €20–€40; expensive over €40EAT AND DRINKKOBLENZ
Weindorf inexpensive
This “wine village,” set around a mock
village square beside the Rhine
promenade, is a fun place to sample
local wines and enjoy traditional
German food.
Julius-Wegeler Strasse 2, 56068; 0261
13 37 19; http://www.weindorf-koblenz.de
Weinhaus Hubertus inexpensive
This lovely, traditional wine tavern
in the heart of the old town offers an
excel lent selection of local wines and
a good seasonal menu. Sample the
Zander (local perch) and seasonal
dishes such as the autumnal rack of
lamb flavored with pumpkin seeds.
Florinsmarkt 6, 56068; 0261 311 77;
http://www.weinhaus-hubertus.de
Augusta moderate
Located on the Rhine, this restaurant
uses local produce and serves wines
from nearby vineyards. The lunch
specials include regional dishes.
Rheinstrasse 2a, 56068; 0261 91 44
68 22; http://www.augusta-koblenz.de
Loup de mer expensive
This elegant, fine-dining restaurant
with an attractive outdoor patio is
particularly strong on fish and seafood.
Neustadt 12, 56068; 0261 161 38AROUND MARKSBURG
Zum Weissen Schwanen
The hotel Zum Weissen Schwanen
has an excellent restaurant for local
fish and lamb dishes in particular.
Brunnenstrasse 4, Braubach, 56338
(1 mile/2 km north of Marksburg);
0262 798 20on Münzstrasse, which becomes
Löhrstrasse before intersecting
with Am Plan 4 , Koblenz’s most
famous street corner. Here, the
17th-century buildings on each
corner, Vier Türme, are celebra ted
for their ornate façades. Am Plan
once served as a butcher’s market,
the city’s main execu tion site and
the venue for medieval tourn aments.
An alley off its left side leads to the
Liebfrauenkirche 5 , Koblenz’s
main church. Despite its Baroque
onion domes and Gothic choir and
chancel, the church is Romanesque
in origin. With the church to the
right, follow Braugasse east, turn
left onto Entenpfuhl and then right
along Firmungstrasse to head back
to the Rhine. Alongside the river,
the Rheinpromenade 6 , a pleasant
prome nade, stretches south and
is worth strolling down as far as
the quaint wine village Weindorf 7.
Back near the junction of Rheinstrasse,
a passenger ferry (Easter–mid-Nov:
open daily) crosses to the right bank
of the Rhine. From here, turn left then
right down the Charlottenstrasse
and Obertal to the chairlift (Easter–
Oct: open daily) up to the Festung
Ehrenbreitstein 8 (open daily),
which has a commanding position
over the city. First built in AD 1000,
the fortress was extended by the
arch bishop of Trier who lived here
between 1648 and 1768 until its
des truc tion by Napoleonic troops
in 1801. Today’s version, a Prussian
rebuild from 1832, houses the
Landesmuseum (mid-Mar–mid-Nov:
open daily). The state museum looks
at local trade, includ ing car manufac-
ture in a tribute to Audi, which was
founded nearby. Return to the
Rheinpromenade, turning right onto
Stresemannstrasse to the parking lot.
ª From the Kurfürstliches Schloss turn
left and get on to B49. Turn right on to
B42 in the direction of Lahnstein. Follow
signs to the Marksburg parking lot.