Koblenz; Pleasure boat on the Rhine River with Ehrenbreitstein fortress in background.
Festung Ehrenbreitstein is a fortress on the same-named mountain on the right side of the Rhine opposite to the town of Koblenz in the Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. It was built as the backbone of the regional fortification system, Festung Koblenz, by *Prussia between 1817 and 1832 and guarded the middle Rhine region, an area that had been invaded by French troops repeatedly before. The fortress was never attacked. After the defeat of Napoleon and the Congress of *Vienna in 1815, the Rhineland became a *Prussian province, and the fortification of the Koblenz area a military priority. Festung Ehrenbreitstein represented the largest military fortress in Europe save for *Gibraltar and was able to be defended by 1500 soldiers. Unchallenged, it remained in service until 1897, a Monument to Emperor Wilhelm I was erected right below the Festung, but on the west side of the Rhine, known as the Deutsches Eck (German Corner). Both fortress and monument were considered as symbols for the "Guard at the Rhine", as in the song Die Wacht am Rhein. During World War I the fortress was used as military headquarters. After World War I, the American General T. Allan, convinced of its historical value as a premier 19th century fortress, prevented its intended destruction. During World War II, it served as a place of safekeeping for archives and cultural objects but also harbored three flak guns. After World War II, it was used first by the French Army before it was handed over to the State of Rhineland-Palatinate. It now has multiple uses including a youth hostel, restaurant, museum and archive.
Size: 3600px × 5414px
Location: Koblenz, Rhineland-palatinate, Germany
Photo credit: © dpics / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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