Limburg - Stolzenfels Castle - Koblenz

Route: Frankfurt - Limburg - Stolzenfels Castle - Koblenz - Frankfurt
Duration: 9 h
Firstly we will visit Limburg developed around the castle of the same name, originally built in the 7th century. It was first mentioned as "Lintpurc" in 910, when the St. George monastery was founded by Konrad Kurzbold. The town acquired stone ramparts in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries. The construction of a new church belonging to St. George monastry started around 1200. Around the same time, a new castle was erected south of the new church. Limburg received a charter granting it city status in 1214. Limburg's old town is one of the prettiest and best preserved in the region. It boasts a good number of half-timbered houses, some dating back to the 13th century, but most of them "only" from the 17th or 18th century. All those white houses with their red or black framework give Limburg a particularily cheerful atmosphere.The St. George Cathedral (Limburger Dom) is one of the best example of late Romanesque architecture in Hesse. Built between 1200 and 1235, it was elevated to the rank of cathedral in 1827. Next we will visit the Stolzenfels Castle which was built in the 19th century from the ruins of a 13th century fort, the castle with its park and gardens is culturally, historically and artistically one of the most important achievements of Prussian Rhine Romanticism. The Stolzenfels fort, built by Trier Archbishop Arnold von Isenburg, was used for levying the Rhine toll until 1412. The French destroyed the fort in 1689 during the Palatinate War of Succession. The site became the possession of the city of Koblenz after Napoleon’s defeat. The city then gave the ruins to the Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm in 1823. He then commissioned well-known architect, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, with the reconstruction which began in 1836 to Schinkel’s plans. The official opening was celebrated in 1842 with a grand costume ball. From this point on, the Stolzenfels Castle was open to the public and has always been regarded as the epitome of Rhine Romanticism. The exquisite furnishings, some of which are originals, reflect people's lifestyle and mindset at the time. The Large and Small Knights' Halls are two special highlights, with the smaller of the rooms situated in the medieval residential tower, having originally been used as a reception room. The walls are adorned with frescos recalling the history of the German empire. The Small Knights' Hall has two doors that lead out onto the roof terrace on the castle church. From here, there is a spectacular view of the Middle Rhine Valley. Next we will visit to Koblenz which is located at the famous Deutsches Eck, or German Corner, where the Rhine and Moselle converge. Vineyards, forests and four mountain ranges form the unique backdrop to this 2,000-year-old city. French joie de vivre and German tradition have produced a truly unique cultural fusion in Koblenz, characterised by cosy wine taverns, narrow alleyways, romantic spots and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. Today you can still visit the Kurfürstliches Schloss (Elector’s Palace) as well as the romantic Schloss Stolzenfels (Stolzenfels Castle) and the neo-classical Theater.  The Prussians left behind the unique Festung Ehrenbreitstein  (Ehrenbreitstein Fortress) that made the city to the greatest bastion on the old continent. The Four Towers, as the oriels of four Baroque houses on each corner of the main street crossing are known, are the perfect place to begin a stroll through the Old Town. Other top attractions include the Guard House, which dates back to 1689, and the Schängel fountain, which stands in the courtyard of the Town Hall and is one of the city's main landmarks.  Also Koblenz is the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage “Oberes Mittelrheintal” (Upper Middle Rhine Valley).After free time we return to Frankfurt.
Price: per person