Editing Koblenz

{{Short description|Place in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany}}
{{About|the city in Germany}}
{{Distinguish|Koblentz}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox German place
|type = City
|image_coa = DEU Koblenz COA.svg
|image_flag = DEU Koblenz Flag.svg
|coordinates = {{coord|50|21|35|N|7|35|52|E|format=dms|region:DE-RP_type:city(113,400)|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan = Rhineland-Palatinate KO.svg
|plantext = Location of Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate
|state = Rhineland-Palatinate
|district = urban
|elevation = 64.7
|area = 105.02
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 07111000
|postal_code = 56001–56077
|area_code = 0261
|licence = KO
|website = [https://www.koblenz.de/ koblenz.de]
|mayor = David Langner<ref>[https://www.wahlen.rlp.de/de/kw/direktwahlen/wahl-der-buergermeister-kreisfreier-staedte/ Wahl der Oberbürgermeister der kreisfreien Städte], Landeswahlleiter Rheinland-Pfalz, accessed 30 July 2021.</ref>
|leader_term       = 2017&ndash;25
|Bürgermeistertitel = Oberbürgermeister
|party = Ind
|image_photo=Koblenz im Buga-Jahr 2011 - Deutsches Eck 01.jpg
|image_caption=View of the [[Deutsches Eck]] and Koblenz Old Town
}}

'''Koblenz''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|k|oʊ|ˈ|b|l|ɛ|n|t|s}} {{respell|koh|BLENTS}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|k|oʊ|b|l|ɛ|n|t|s}} {{respell|KOH|blents}}, {{IPA|de|ˈkoːblɛnts|lang|De-Koblenz.ogg}}; [[Moselle Franconian language|Moselle Franconian:]] ''Kowelenz'') is a German city on the banks of the [[Rhine]] ([[Middle Rhine]]) and the [[Moselle]], a multinational tributary.

Koblenz was established as a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] military post by [[Nero Claudius Drusus|Drusus]] {{Circa|8 BC}}. Its name originates from the [[Latin]] ''{{lang|la|(ad) cōnfluentēs}}'', meaning "(at the) [[confluence]]".{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}} The actual confluence is today known as the "[[Deutsches Eck|German Corner]]", a symbol of the [[unification of Germany]] that features an [[Emperor William monuments|equestrian statue of Emperor William I]]. The city celebrated its 2,000th anniversary in 1992.

The city ranks as the third-largest city by population in [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], behind [[Mainz]] and [[Ludwigshafen am Rhein]]. Its usual-residents' population is 112,000 ({{As of|2015|lc=y}}). Koblenz lies in a narrow flood plain between high hill ranges, some reaching mountainous height, and is served by an express rail and autobahn network. It is part of the populous [[Rhineland]].

==Name==
Historic spellings include ''Covelenz'', ''Coblenz'', and ''Cobelenz''. In [[Moselle Franconian language|local dialect]] the name is as the first historic spelling indicates, in German orthography, Latscho Kowelenz.

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Koblenz history}}{{Historical populations|1469|1,193|1663|1,409|1800|7,992|1836|13,307|1871|24,902|1900|45,147|1910|56,487|1919|56,676|1925|58,161|1933|65,257|1939|91,098|1950|66,444|1961|99,240|1970|101,374|1987|108,246|2011|107,825|2018|114,024|align=right|footnote=Population size may be affected by changes in administrative divisions.
source:<ref>[http://www.statistik.rlp.de/de/regional/geowebdienste/bevoelkerung/ Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland Pfalz]</ref>}}[[File:Koblenz braun hogenberg.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.4|Koblenz in the 16th century]]
[[File:Separatisten der Rheinischen Republik vor dem Kurfürstlichen Schloss in Koblenz, 22 November 1923.jpg|thumb|[[Josef Friedrich Matthes]] in 1923 in Koblenz during the short-lived [[Rhenish Republic]]]]
[[File:Koblenz castle and building.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.9|[[Ehrenbreitstein Fortress]] in the background]]

===Ancient era===
Around 1000 BC, early fortifications were erected on the [[Festung Ehrenbreitstein]] hill on the opposite side of the Rhine. In 55 BC, Roman troops commanded by [[Julius Caesar]] reached the Rhine and built a [[Caesar's Rhine bridges|bridge]] between Koblenz and [[Andernach]]. About 9 BC, the ''Castellum apud Confluentes'' was one of the military posts established by [[Nero Claudius Drusus|Drusus]].

Remains of a large bridge built in 49 AD by the Romans are still visible. The Romans built two forts as protection for the bridge, one in 9 AD and another in the 2nd century, the latter being destroyed by the [[Franks]] in 259. North of Koblenz was a temple of [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]] and [[Rosmerta]] (a Gallo-Roman deity), which remained in use up to the 5th century.

===Middle Ages===
With the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], the city was conquered by the Franks and became a royal seat.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} After the division of [[Charlemagne]]'s empire, it was included in the lands of his son [[Louis the Pious]] (814). In 837, it was assigned to [[Charles the Bald]], and a few years later it was here that Carolingian heirs discussed what was to become the [[Treaty of Verdun]] (843), by which the city became part of [[Lotharingia]] under [[Lothair I]].{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} In 860 and 922, Koblenz was the scene of ecclesiastical synods. At the first synod, held in the Liebfrauenkirche, the reconciliation of [[Louis the German]] with his half-brother Charles the Bald took place.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}} In the second, slavery was condemned, specifically it was decreed that any man that 'led away a Christian man and then sold him' should be considered guilty of homicide.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} The city was sacked and destroyed by the [[Norsemen]] in 882. In 925, it became part of the eastern German Kingdom, later the [[Holy Roman Empire]].{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In 1018, the city was given by the emperor [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]] to the [[archbishop-elector of Trier]] after receiving a charter. It remained in the possession of his successors until the end of the 18th century,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}} having been their main residence since the 17th century.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} Emperor [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]] was elected here in 1138. In 1198, the battle between [[Philip of Swabia]] and [[Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto IV]] took place nearby. In 1216, prince-bishop [[Theoderich von Wied]] donated part of the lands of the basilica and the hospital to the [[Teutonic Knights]], which later became the ''Deutsches Eck''.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In 1249–1254, Koblenz was given new walls by Archbishop [[Arnold II of Isenburg]]; and it was partly to overawe the turbulent citizens that successive archbishops built and strengthened the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein that still dominates the city.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}}

===French Revolution===

====Home of Royalist émigrés====

When the [[French Revolution]] broke out, Koblenz became a popular hub of royalist émigrés and escaping feudal lords who had fled France.<ref>{{cite book
 | title=The Great French Revolution, 1789–1793
 | chapter=Chapter 4
 | author=Peter Kropotkin
 | year=1909
 | translator=N. F. Dryhurst
 | publisher=New York: Vanguard Printings
 | url=http://www.revoltlib.com/?id=216
}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>  It was sometime in mid-1791, after June but before October, that supporters of loyalty in Koblenz (as well as [[Worms, Germany|Worms]] and [[Brussels]]) were preparing an invasion of France that was to be supported by foreign armies, with conspirators regularly travel between Koblenz and [[Tuileries Palace]], accepting encouragement and money from King [[Louis XVI]], while secret committees were collecting arms and enrolling men and officers.<ref>{{cite book
 | title=The Great French Revolution, 1789–1793
 | chapter=Chapter 30
 | author=Peter Kropotkin
 | year=1909
 | translator=N. F. Dryhurst
 | publisher=New York: Vanguard Printings
 | url=http://www.revoltlib.com/?id=242
}}</ref>  Among the notable émigrés living at Koblenz were Charles, [[Count of Artois]], (future [[Charles X of France|Charles X]]), ex-minister [[Charles Alexandre de Calonne]], and  Louis, [[Count of Provence]] (future [[Louis XVIII]]).  Officers and men were recruited through the Gazette de Paris (sixty [[Livre tournois|livres]] for each recruit), and the enrolled men were then sent to [[Metz]] and afterwards to Koblenz, and in a visit by Claude Allier to Koblenz in January 1792, he stated that 60,000 men were armed and ready to take action.<ref>{{cite book
 | title=The Great French Revolution, 1789–1793
 | chapter=Chapter 31
 | author=Peter Kropotkin
 | year=1909
 | translator=N. F. Dryhurst
 | publisher=New York: Vanguard Printings
 | url=http://www.revoltlib.com/?id=243
}}</ref>

====Near destruction by Royalist forces====

On July 26, 1792, the [[Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick|Duke of Brunswick]], who commanded one of the invading armies, composed of 70,000 Prussians and 68,000 Austrians, Hessians and émigrés, began to march upon Koblenz.  He published a manifesto in which he threatened to set fire to the towns that dared to defend themselves, and to exterminate their inhabitants as rebels, including Koblenz.  The city's fate was at hand.  But, just as in World War 1, the torrential rains and difficult conditions of the [[Forest of Argonne|Argonne]] forest halted the invaders, the roads "were liquid mud," and supplies began to run out due to weather impacting supply lines.  The radical revolutionary [[Georges Danton]] negotiated with the Duke of Brunswick, under unknown conditions, for his retreat, which was carried out through [[Grandpré, Ardennes|Grand-Pré]] and [[Verdun]], then across the [[Rhine]], and the city of Koblenz was saved.<ref>{{cite book
 | title=The Great French Revolution, 1789–1793
 | chapter=Chapter 37
 | author=Peter Kropotkin
 | year=1909
 | translator=N. F. Dryhurst
 | publisher=New York: Vanguard Printings
 | url=http://www.revoltlib.com/?id=249
}}</ref>

====Participation in the Vendee uprising====

In 1793, the uprising of [[War in the Vendée|Catholic peasants at the Vendée]] aimed at the overthrow of the [[National Assembly (French Revolution)|National Assembly]], which began only after emissaries from Koblenz traveled there, bringing [[papal bull]]s, royal decrees and gold.  In escaping the watchful eye of French revolutionary forces, these emissaries were aided and protected by the middle classes, the ex-slave-traders of [[Nantes]], and the anti-[[sans-culottes]], pro-England merchants.<ref>{{cite book
 | title=The Great French Revolution, 1789–1793
 | chapter=Chapter 54
 | author=Peter Kropotkin
 | year=1909
 | translator=N. F. Dryhurst
 | publisher=New York: Vanguard Printings
 | url=http://www.revoltlib.com/?id=266
}}</ref>

====Overall influence====

Due to their experience in the French Revolution, [[Peter Kropotkin]] had termed the phrase ''Koblenzian'' to describe the type of royalist émigrés that lived in Koblenz.<ref>{{cite book
 | title=The Great French Revolution, 1789–1793
 | chapter=Chapter 58
 | author=Peter Kropotkin
 | year=1909
 | translator=N. F. Dryhurst
 | publisher=New York: Vanguard Printings
 | url=http://www.revoltlib.com/?id=270
}}</ref>

===Modern era===
The city was a member of the league of the Rhenish cities which rose in the 13th century. The [[Teutonic Knights]] founded the [[Bailiwick of Koblenz]] in or around 1231. Koblenz attained great prosperity and it continued to advance until the disaster of the [[Thirty Years' War]] brought about a rapid decline. After [[Philipp Christoph von Sötern|Philip Christopher, elector of Trier]], surrendered Ehrenbreitstein to the French, the city received an imperial garrison in 1632. However, this force was soon expelled by the Swedes, who in their turn handed the city over again to the French. Imperial forces finally succeeded in retaking it by storm in 1636.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|pp=612–613}}

In 1688, Koblenz was besieged by the French under [[Louis François Boufflers|Marshal de Boufflers]], but they only succeeded in bombing the Old City (''Altstadt'') into ruins, destroying among other buildings the Old Merchants' Hall (''Kaufhaus''), which was restored in its present form in 1725.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=613}} The city was the residence of the [[Archbishopric of Trier|archbishop-electors of Trier]] from 1690 to 1801.

In 1786, the last archbishop-elector of Trier, [[Clemens Wenceslaus of Saxony]], greatly assisted the extension and improvement of the city, turning the [[Ehrenbreitstein]] into a magnificent baroque palace. After the fall of the [[Storming of the Bastille|Bastille]] in 1789, the city became, through the invitation of the archbishop-elector's chief minister, Ferdinand Freiherr von Duminique, one of the principal rendezvous points for French [[émigrés]]. The archbishop-elector approved of this because he was the uncle of the persecuted king of France, [[Louis XVI of France|Louis XVI]]. Among the many royalist French refugees who flooded into the city were [[Louis XVI]]'s two younger brothers, the [[Louis XVIII|Comte de Provence]] and the [[Charles X of France|Comte d'Artois]]. In addition, [[Louis XVI]]'s cousin, Prince [[Louis Joseph de Bourbon, prince de Condé]], arrived and formed an army of young aristocrats willing to fight the [[French Revolution]] and restore the [[Ancien Régime]]. The ''[[Army of Condé]]'' joined with an allied army of Prussian and Austrian soldiers led by Duke [[Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick|Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand]] of [[Duchy of Brunswick|Brunswick]] in an unsuccessful invasion of France in 1792.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} This drew down the wrath of the [[First French Republic]] on the archbishop-elector; in 1794, Koblenz was taken by the French Revolutionary army under [[François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers|Marceau]] (who was killed during the siege), and, after the signing of the [[Treaty of Lunéville]] (1801) it was made the capital of the new French [[Departments of France|department]] of [[Rhin-et-Moselle]]. In 1814, it was occupied by the [[Russia]]ns. The [[Congress of Vienna]] assigned the city to [[Prussia]], and in 1822, it was made the seat of government for the Prussian [[Rhine Province]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=613}}

After [[World War I]], France [[Occupation of the Rhineland|occupied]] the area once again. The city was the center of the American occupation force from 1919 - 1923. In defiance of the French, the German populace of the city insisted on using the more German spelling of '''Koblenz''' after 1926. During [[World War II]] it hosted the command of German [[Army Group B]] and, like many counterparts, was heavily bombed and rebuilt afterwards. From 16 &ndash; 19 March 1945, it was the scene of heavy fighting by the [[U.S. 87th Infantry Division]] in support of [[Operation Lumberjack]]. Between 1947 and 1950, it served as the [[Seat of government#Seat of government|seat of government]] of [[Rhineland-Palatinate]].

The [[Rhine Gorge]] was declared a [[World Heritage Site]] in 2002, with Koblenz marking the northern end. 
[[File:Koblenz im Buga-Jahr 2011 - Festung Ehrenbreitstein 45.jpg|center|thumb|upright=2.5|[[Ehrenbreitstein Fortress]] as seen from Koblenz]]
[[File:Koblenz hdr Panorama.jpg|center|thumb|upright=2.5|HDR panorama of Koblenz from Metternich]]

==Main sights==
{{morerefs|section|date=February 2025}}
===Fortified cities===
{{main|Koblenz Fortress}}
[[File:Koblenz - Basilika St. Kastor Westfassade.jpg|thumb|[[Basilica of St. Castor]]]]
[[File:Koblenz - Panorama von Festung Ehrenbreitstein.jpg|thumb|Panoramic view at Koblenz with monument at [[Deutsches Eck]]]]
Its defensive works are extensive, and consist of strong forts crowning the hills encircling the city to the west, and the citadel of [[Ehrenbreitstein]] on the opposite bank of the Rhine. The old city was triangular in shape, two sides being bounded by the Rhine and Mosel and the third by a line of fortifications. The latter were razed in 1890, and the city was permitted to expand in this direction. The [[Koblenz Hauptbahnhof]] (central station) was built on a spacious site outside the former walls at the junction of the [[Linke Rheinstrecke|Cologne-Mainz railway]] and the strategic [[Cannons Railway|Metz-Berlin line]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}} In April 2011 [[Koblenz-Stadtmitte station]] was opened in the inner city to coincide with the opening of the [[Federal Garden Show 2011]]. The Rhine is crossed by the [[Pfaffendorf Bridge]], originally the location of a rail bridge, but now a road bridge and, a mile south of city, by the [[Horchheim Railway Bridge]], consisting of two wide and lofty spans carrying the [[Lahntal railway]], part of the Berlin railway referred to above. The Moselle is spanned by a Gothic freestone bridge of 14 arches, erected in 1344, two modern road bridges and also by two railway bridges.

Since 1890, the city has consisted of the Altstadt (old city) and the Neustadt (new city) or Klemenstadt. Of these, the Altstadt is closely built and has only a few fine streets and squares, while the Neustadt possesses numerous broad streets and a handsome frontage along the Rhine.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}}

===Electoral palace===
{{main|Electoral Palace (Koblenz)}}
In the modern part of the city lies the palace (''Residenzschloss''), with one front looking towards the Rhine, the other into the Neustadt. It was built in 1778–1786 by [[Clemens Wenceslaus of Saxony|Clemens Wenceslaus]], the last elector of Trier,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}} following a design by the French architect P.M. d'Ixnard. In 1833, the palace was used as a barracks, and became a terminal post for the [[Prussian semaphore system|optical telecommunications system]] that originated in Potsdam. Today, the elector's former palace is a museum.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} Among other exhibits, it contains some [[Gobelin]] tapestries. From it some gardens and promenades (Kaiserin Augusta Anlagen) stretch along the bank of the Rhine, and in them is a memorial to the poet [[Max von Schenkendorf]]. A statue to the empress Augusta, whose favorite residence was Koblenz, stands in the Luisenplatz.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}}

===William I monument===
The [[Teutonic Knights]] were given an area for their [[Deutschherrenhaus]] [[Bailiwick]] right at the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel, which became known as ''German Corner'' ([[Deutsches Eck]]).

In 1897, a monument to [[German Emperor]] [[William I of Germany]], mounted on a {{convert|14|m|4=-tall|adj=mid|sp=us}} horse, was inaugurated there by his grandson [[Wilhelm II of Germany|Wilhelm II]]. The architect was [[Bruno Schmitz]], who was responsible for a number of nationalistic German monuments and memorials. The ''German Corner'' is since associated with this monument, the (re) foundation of the German Empire and the German refusal of any French claims to the area, as described in the song "[[Die Wacht am Rhein]]" together with the "Wacht am Rhein" called "[[Niederwalddenkmal]]" some {{convert|60|km|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} upstream.

During World War II, the statue was destroyed by US artillery. The French occupation administration intended the complete destruction of the monument and wanted to replace it with a new one.

In 1953, Bundespräsident [[Theodor Heuss]] rededicated the monument to [[German reunification|German unity]], adding the signs of the remaining western federal states as well as the ones of the lost areas in the East. A [[Flag of Germany]] has flown there since. The [[Saarland]] was added four years later after the population had voted to join Germany.

In the 1980s, a film clip of the monument was often shown on late night TV when the national anthem was played to mark the end of the day, a practice which was discontinued when nonstop broadcasting became common. On October 3, 1990, the very day the former GDR states joined, their signs were added to the monument.

As German unity was considered complete and the areas under Polish administration were ceded to Poland, the monument lost its official active purpose, now only reminding of history. In 1993, the flag was replaced by a copy of the statue, donated by a local couple. The day chosen for the reinstatement of the statue, however, caused controversy as it coincided with [[Sedantag]] (Sedan Day) (September 2, 1870) a day of celebration remembering Germany's victory over France in the Battle of Sedan.<ref>Jefferies, Matthew, ''Imperial Culture in Germany, 1871–1918'' (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2003)</ref> The event was widely celebrated from the 1870s until the 1910s.

===Other sights===
In the more ancient part of Koblenz stand several buildings which have a historical interest. Prominent among these, near the point of confluence of the rivers, is the [[Basilica of St. Castor]] or ''Kastorkirche'', dedicated to [[Castor of Karden]], with four towers. The church was founded in 836 by [[Louis the Pious]], but the present [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] building was completed in 1208, the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] vaulted roof dating from 1498. In front of the church of Saint Castor stands a fountain, erected by the French in 1812, with an inscription to commemorate Napoleon's invasion of Russia. Not long after, Russian troops occupied Koblenz; and St. Priest, their commander, added in irony these words: "Vu et approuvé par nous, Commandant russe de la Ville de Coblence: Janvier 1er, 1814."{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}}

In this quarter of the city, too, is the ''Liebfrauenkirche'', a fine church (nave 1250, choir 1404–1431) with lofty late Romanesque towers; the castle of the electors of [[Trier]], erected in 1280, which now contains the municipal picture gallery; and the family house of the Metternichs, where [[Klemens Wenzel von Metternich|Prince Metternich]], the Austrian statesman, was born in 1773.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}} Also notable is the church of St. Florian, with a two towers façade from {{circa|1110|lk=no}}.

The former [[Jesuits|Jesuit]] College is a Baroque edifice by J.C. Sebastiani (1694–1698), which now serves as the current City Hall.

Near Koblenz is the [[Lahneck Castle]] near Lahnstein, open to visitors from 1 April to 31 October.

The city is close to the [[Bronze Age]] [[earthworks (archaeology)|earthworks]] at [[Goloring]], a possible [[Urnfield]] calendar constructed some 3,000 years ago.

The mild climate allows [[fig trees]], [[olive trees]], [[palm trees]] and other Mediterranean plants to grow in the area.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="170" caption="Sightings">
File:Kurfürstliches Schloss.JPG|Palace of the archbishop-electors of [[Archbishop-Electorate of Trier|Trier]]
File:Schloss Stolzenfels 01 Koblenz 2015.jpg|[[Stolzenfels Castle]]
File:US-Luftangriff Koblenz 19-09-1944.jpg|{{center|US Air Force bombing in 1944}}
File:Buga 2011 Koblenz - Rheinseilbahn 07-2010.jpg|{{center|Since 2010 the [[Koblenz cable car]] has been Germany's biggest aerial tramway.}}
</gallery>

== Incorporated villages ==
Formerly separate villages now incorporated into the jurisdiction of the city of Koblenz
{| class="wikitable"
! Date
! Village
! Area
!rowspan=10|
! Date
! Village
! Area
|-
| 1 July 1891 
| Neuendorf and Lützel 
| align="right" | {{convert|547|ha|sqmi|sigfig=2}}
| 7 June 1969 
| Kesselheim 
| align="right" | ?
|-
| 1 April 1902 
| Moselweiß 
| align="right" | {{convert|382|ha|sqmi|sigfig=2}}
| 7 June 1969 
| Kapellen-Stolzenfels 
| align="right" | ?
|-
| 1 October 1923
| Wallersheim 
| align="right" | {{convert|229|ha|sqmi|sigfig=2}}
| 7 November 1970 
| Arenberg-Immendorf 
| align="right" | ?
|-
| 1 July 1937 
| Asterstein (part of Pfaffendorf)
| align="right" | ?
| 7 November 1970
| [[Arzheim]] 
| align="right" | {{convert|487|ha|sqmi|sigfig=2}}
|-
| 1 July 1937
| Ehrenbreitstein 
| align="right" | {{convert|120|ha|sqmi|sigfig=2}}
| 7 November 1970 
| Bubenheim 
| align="right" | {{convert|314|ha|sqmi|sigfig=2}}
|-
| 1 July 1937
| Horchheim 
| align="right" | {{convert|772|ha|sqmi|sigfig=2}}
| 7 November 1970 
| Güls and Bisholder 
| align="right" | ?
|-
| 1 July 1937 
| Metternich 
| align="right" | {{convert|483|ha|sqmi|sigfig=2}}
| 7 November 1970 
| Lay 
| align="right" | ?
|-
| 1 July 1937 
| Niederberg 
| align="right" | {{convert|203|ha|sqmi|sigfig=2}}
| 7 November 1970 
| Rübenach 
| align="right" | ?
|-
| 1 July 1937
| Pfaffendorf (remaining) and Asterstein
| align="right" | {{convert|369|ha|sqmi|sigfig=2}}
|
|
|
|}

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto	
| location = Koblenz ([[Bendorf]]) (1991–2020 normals)	
| metric first = Y	
| single line = Y	
|collapsed = Y
|Jan high C = 5.2
|Feb high C = 6.7
|Mar high C = 11.7
|Apr high C = 16.6
|May high C = 20.3
|Jun high C = 23.4
|Jul high C = 25.2
|Aug high C = 25.5
|Sep high C = 20.6
|Oct high C = 15.1
|Nov high C = 9.3
|Dec high C = 5.2
| year high C =	15.2
|Jan mean C = 2.5
|Feb mean C = 3.4
|Mar mean C = 6.7
|Apr mean C = 10.7
|May mean C = 14.3
|Jun mean C = 17.3
|Jul mean C = 19.3
|Aug mean C = 19.0
|Sep mean C = 14.8
|Oct mean C = 10.6
|Nov mean C = 6.4
|Dec mean C = 2.7
|year mean C = 10.5
|Jan low C = -0.3
|Feb low C = 0.2
|Mar low C = 2.7
|Apr low C = 5.3
|May low C = 9.0
|Jun low C = 12.0
|Jul low C = 13.8
|Aug low C = 13.6
|Sep low C = 10.4
|Oct low C = 7.0
|Nov low C = 3.8
|Dec low C = 0.3
| year low C =6.3
| precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation mm = 41.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 34.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 44.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 36.1
|May precipitation mm = 59.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 65.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 75.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 62.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 62.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 49.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 52.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 52.8
| year precipitation mm =630.0
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm	
|Jan precipitation days = 15.1
|Feb precipitation days = 13.9
|Mar precipitation days = 16.0
|Apr precipitation days = 12.6
|May precipitation days = 14.4
|Jun precipitation days = 13.8
|Jul precipitation days = 15.7
|Aug precipitation days = 13.4
|Sep precipitation days = 13.4
|Oct precipitation days = 15.1
|Nov precipitation days = 17.5
|Dec precipitation days = 17.3
|year precipitation days = 177.6
|Jan sun = 52.2
|Feb sun = 68.0
|Mar sun = 118.8
|Apr sun = 177.6
|May sun = 195.1
|Jun sun = 202.3
|Jul sun = 192.2
|Aug sun = 197.4
|Sep sun = 137.9
|Oct sun = 94.7
|Nov sun = 42.9
|Dec sun = 40.0
|year sun = 1486.4
|Jan humidity = 82.9	
|Feb humidity = 80.5
|Mar humidity = 74.0
|Apr humidity = 69.4
|May humidity = 70.3
|Jun humidity = 70.6
|Jul humidity = 70.7
|Aug humidity = 70.9
|Sep humidity = 78.4
|Oct humidity = 82.1
|Nov humidity = 85.0
|Dec humidity = 85.4
| year humidity =76.8
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230914164425/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Bendorf_10515.csv
| archive-date = 14 September 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Bendorf_10515.csv
| title = Bendorf Climate Normals 1991–2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = 15 September 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Economy==
[[File:Königsbacher Brauerei Koblenz.jpg|thumb|200px|Königsbacher brewery]]
Koblenz is a principal seat of the Mosel and Rhenish wine trade, and also does a large business in the export of mineral waters.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=612}} Its manufactures include automotive parts (braking systems – [[TRW Automotive]], gas springs and hydraulic vibration dampers – [[Stabilus]]), aluminum coils ([[Aleris International, Inc.]]), pianos, paper, cardboard, machinery, boats, and barges. Since the 17th century, it has been home to the [[Königsbacher]] (now Koblenzer) brewery (the Old Brewery in Koblenz's historic center, and now a plant in Koblenz-Stolzenfels). It is an important regional transit hub.

The headquarters of the [[German Army Forces Command]] was located in the city until 2012. Its successor, the [[German Army Command]] (German: Kommando Heer, Kdo H) is based at the von-Hardenberg-Kaserne in Strausberg, Brandenburg.

The Bundeswehr's [[Joint Medical Service (Germany)|Joint Medical Service]] Headquarters was formed in 2012 as part of a larger reorganization of the Bundeswehr. It is based at the Falckenstein-Barracks (Falckenstein-Kaserne) and the Rhine-Barracks (Rhein-Kaserne) in Koblenz. It is the high command of the German Army Joint Medical Service. The Headquarters is also the Staff of the Inspector of the Joint Medical Service, [[Generaloberstabsarzt]] Dr. Ulrich Baumgaertner.

An [[Amazon.com|Amazon]] logistics hub located some {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} outside the city at the [[Autobahn]]kreuz Koblenz has been in operation since 19 September 2012.<ref>http://www.rhein-zeitung.de/regionales_artikel,-Bei-Amazon-in-Koblenz-arbeiten-bald-3000-Leute-_arid,494182.html (Rhein-Zeitung newspaper, in German language)</ref>

The international headquarters of [[Canyon Bicycles|Canyon Bicycles GmbH]] is also in Koblenz which is where it began in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |title=null |url=https://www.canyon.com/en-nl/jobs-bike-industry/how-canyon-began.html |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=www.canyon.com |language=en-nl}}</ref>

===Transport===

====Roads====
To the west of the town is the [[autobahn]] [[Bundesautobahn 61|A 61]], connecting Ludwigshafen and Mönchengladbach, to the north is the east–west running [[Bundesautobahn 48|A 48]], connecting the [[Bundesautobahn 1|A&nbsp;1]], Saarbrücken-Cologne, with the [[Bundesautobahn 3|A&nbsp;3]], Frankfurt-Cologne. The city is also on various [[Bundesstraße|federal highways]] [[Bundesstraße 9|9]], [[Bundesstraße 42|42]], [[Bundesstraße 49|49]], [[Bundesstraße 416|416]], [[Bundesstraße 258|258]] and [[Bundesstraße 327|327]]. The [[Glockenberg Tunnel]] connects the [[Pfaffendorf Bridge]] to the B&nbsp;42.
The following bridges cross:

* the Rhine: [[Bendorf Bridge|Bendorf Autobahn Bridge]], [[Pfaffendorf Bridge]], [[Horchheim Rail Bridge]], [[South Bridge (Koblenz)|South Bridge]]
* the Moselle: [[Balduin Bridge]], [[Mosel Rail Bridge]], [[Europe Bridge (Koblenz)|Europe Bridge]], [[Koblenz Barrage]], [[Kurt-Schumacher Bridge (Koblenz)|Kurt-Schumacher Bridge]], [[Güls Rail Bridge]]

====Railways====
''[[Koblenz Hauptbahnhof|Koblenz Hbf]]'' is an [[Intercity-Express]] stop on the [[West Rhine Railway]] between [[Bonn Hauptbahnhof|Bonn]] and [[Mainz Hauptbahnhof|Mainz]] and is also served by trains on the [[East Rhine Railway]] [[Wiesbaden Hauptbahnhof|Wiesbaden]]–[[Köln Hauptbahnhof|Cologne]]. Koblenz is the beginning of the [[Koblenz–Trier railway|Moselle line]] to [[Trier Hauptbahnhof|Trier]] (and connecting to [[Luxembourg railway station|Luxemburg]] and [[Saarbrücken Hauptbahnhof|Saarbrücken]]) and the [[Lahntal railway]] to [[Limburg (Lahn) station|Limburg]] and [[Gießen station|Gießen]]. The other stations in Koblenz are [[Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein station|Koblenz-Ehrenbreitstein]], Koblenz-Güls, [[Koblenz-Lützel station|Koblenz-Lützel]], Koblenz-Moselweiß and [[Koblenz Stadtmitte station|Koblenz Stadtmitte]], which opened on 14&nbsp;April 2011.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="200" caption="Maps">
File:KoblenzFromTheISS.jpg|Koblenz, as seen from the [[International Space Station]]
File:Mayen Koblenz.jpg|Map of the Koblenz region
File:Bruecken koblenz.png|Road map
File:Koblenz Bahnanlagen.gif|Map of railways in greater Koblenz
</gallery>

==Education==
The campus of [[University of Koblenz]] is located in the city. The [[Koblenz University of Applied Sciences]] ([[German language|German]]: ''Hochschule Koblenz'') is also located in the city.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}
Koblenz is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Partnerstädte der Stadt Koblenz|url=https://www.koblenz.de/leben-in-koblenz/kultur/partnerstaedte/|website=koblenz.de|publisher=Koblenz|language=de|access-date=2021-02-16}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nevers]], France (1963)
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey]], United Kingdom (1969)
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[Norwich]], United Kingdom (1978)
*{{flagicon|NLD}} [[Maastricht]], Netherlands (1981)
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Novara]], Italy (1991)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], United States (1992)
*{{flagicon|ISR}} [[Petah Tikva]], Israel (2000)
*{{flagicon|CRO}} [[Varaždin]], Croatia (2007)
{{div col end}}

==Popular culture==
[[File:III0067 01.JPG|thumb|150px|right|{{center|Headdress with ''arrow of virtue'' and its little cap; 1847}}]]
The children's toy [[yo-yo]] was nicknamed ''de Coblenz (Koblenz)'' in 18th-century France, referring to the large number of noble French émigrées then living in the city.<ref name="yo yo ">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalyoyo.org/museum/generalhistory.htm |title=Untitled Document |access-date=2010-01-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513174344/http://www.nationalyoyo.org/museum/generalhistory.htm |archive-date=2008-05-13 }} National Yo-Yo Museum, California</ref>

The ''arrow of virtue'' (Tugendpfeil) is a large gold or silver hairpin from the female headdress of Koblenz and the left bank of the Rhine until the beginning of the 20th century.<ref>Karl Baedeker. ''Les Bords du Rhin. Manuel du voyageur.'' 5th French Edition, Koblenz, 1862, p.219.</ref> It was traditionally worn by young Catholic girls between puberty and marriage.

==Notable people==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|+Largest groups of foreign residents
|-
! scope="col" | Nationality
! scope="col" | Population (2017)
|-
|{{flag|Turkey}} || 1,505
|-
|{{flag|Poland}} || 1,278
|-
|{{flag|Bulgaria}} || 996
|-
|{{flag|Romania}} || 780
|-
|{{flag|Ukraine}} || 627
|-
|{{flag|Italy}} || 613
|-
|{{flag|Russia}} || 600
|-
|{{flag|Syria}} || 595
|}
*[[Thomas Anders]] (born 1963), singer, the lead singer of duo [[Modern Talking]]
*[[Cathinka Buchwieser]] (1789–1828), operatic soprano and actress
*[[Christian Collovà]] (born 1972), Italian rally driver
*[[Milo Emil Halbheer]] (1910–1978), artist
*[[Valéry Giscard d'Estaing]] (1926–2020), president of France from 1974 to 1981
*[[Otto Griebling]] (1896–1972), circus clown who performed with the [[Ringling Brothers]]
*[[Betty Hall (politician)|Betty Hall]] (1921–2018), American politician
*[[Karl Haniel]] (1877–1944), civil servant and entrepreneur
*[[Ottilie von Hansemann]] (1840–1919), women rights activist
*[[Bodo Illgner]] (born 1967), soccer player
*[[Philip Krautkremer]] (1844-1922), American farmer and politician<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=12220|title=Krautkremer, Philip - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present|website=www.lrl.mn.gov}}</ref>
*[[Max von Laue]] (1879–1960), physicist, won Nobel Prize in Physics in 1914
*[[Tobias Lütke]] (born 1981), billionaire entrepreneur, founder and CEO of [[Shopify]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/plus/tobi-luetke-der-shopify-gruender-expandiert-nach-deutschland-a-00000000-0002-0001-0000-000159308844|title = (S+) Tobi Lütke: Der Shopify-Gründer expandiert nach Deutschland|newspaper = Der Spiegel|date = 7 September 2018|last1 = Mingels|first1 = Guido}}</ref>
*[[John A. Mais]] (1888–1961), racing driver
*[[Klemens von Metternich]] (1773–1859), Austrian diplomat, chancellor, and foreign minister, architect of the [[Congress of Vienna]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle=Metternich-Winneburg, Clemens Wenzel Lothar |volume=23|last=Phillips |first=Walter Alison  |author-link=Walter Alison Phillips |pages=301-307|short=1}}</ref>
*[[Johannes Peter Müller]] (1801–1858), [[physiologist]], [[comparative anatomy|comparative anatomist]], [[ichthyology|ichthyologist]], and [[herpetology|herpetologist]].<ref>{{cite EB9 |wstitle = Johannes Müller |volume= XVII | page= |short= 1}}</ref>

==References==
*{{EB1911|wstitle=Coblenz|volume=6|pages=612–613}}

===Notes===
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Koblenz#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Koblenz}}

==External links==
{{commons|Koblenz}}
{{wikivoyage|Koblenz}}
* {{Official website|https://www.koblenz.de/}} {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www.stadtpanoramen.de/en/koblenz/koblenz.html Koblenz City Panoramas] – Panoramic views and virtual tours
* [https://www.koblenz.de/stadtplan/k62_stadtplan_startseite_englisch.html Official Town map of Koblenz] (needs Java and JavaScript)
*[http://icarus.umkc.edu/sandbox/perseus/pecs/page.37.a.php Richard Stillwell, ed. ''Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites'', 1976:] "Ad Confluentes (Koblenz), Germany
* [http://koblenz24.com/ Online Magazin Koblenz]

{{Cities in Germany}}
{{Electoral Rhenish Circle}}
{{Germany districts rhineland-palatinate}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Koblenz| ]]
[[Category:0s BC establishments in the Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st century BC]]
[[Category:Cities in Rhineland-Palatinate]]
[[Category:Urban districts of Rhineland-Palatinate]]
[[Category:Districts of the Rhine Province]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Rhine]]
[[Category:French Revolution]]
[[Category:Electorate of Trier]]