Instead of big ugly Koblenz,>

Koblenz ugly?

Our eyes are very very different in describing something as ugly - Koblenz itself is often overlooked when talking about the Rhine or Mosel or even, unfairly I suggest by folks who have not poked around it very much, denigrated as being ugly.

Whilst I agree places like Cochem or the Rhine towns make more romantic bases Koblenz has its charms - like a really sweet riverside walk - along two rivers really, the Mosel and the Rhine and at the confluence of the rivers is Deutsches Eck - a Uber famous monument in Germany to German Uniti - an equestrian statue of Kaisere Wilhelm (I think it were he) once graced the whole plinith smack where two of Germany's iconic rivers - the 'Mother Mosel' and the 'Father Rhine' collide) - but just after the end of WW2 an American gunner on the opposite bank of the Mosel blasted the statue to bits - today's statue later replaced it.

And smack opposite Koblenz is the very imposing Fortress Einbreitsen (sp?) - looming high above town on the top of a cliff, built to lord over the confluence of two important waterways. Take a small pedestrian ferry over to the other side of the Rhine and then either walk up to its top thru tunnels hewn out of the cliffs or via cable way - wondrous views for miles around over the Mosel and Rhine from up top. (a youth hostel is also in a part of the old fortress)

Koblenz' Altstadt has lovingly been pieced back together so you have lots of restaurants, beer halls - just like any German city and the pedestrian shopping zone is very popular.

I in no way find Koblenz ugly - not as romantic as a smaller riverside town no but as German cities go certain average or above - spend a few hours in Koblenz IMO coming or going thru it. It is anything but IMO ugly!

Okay, PalenQ. Point taken. It's true I haven't spent time there beyond their unpleasant train station (where I waited for hours, hoping to retrieve my glasses - people behind the desk unhelpful). I have a dim view because of that experience, and views of the town from the train. I guess the point I was making is that the smaller towns might make for a more charming stay.

OP sorry again, I must be more careful

I support the guys above, but you are going to miss the world's largest wine festival in Bad Durkheim (in the Pfalz on route between Koblenz and Strasbourg), it ends on the 17th Sept and will have been running for 2 weeks by then. Since there is little else to do there (but drink) you could make it a night stop, the place parties from about 9am to about 3am but the hotel in the centre (an Accor I think) has treble glazing... 3am IN THE MORNING

but you are going to miss the world's largest wine festival in Bad Durkheim (in the Pfalz on route between Koblenz and Strasbourg), it ends on the 17th Sept and will have been running for 2 weeks by then.>>

oh, yes, i'd forgotten about it too, but do go, it's great fun! all these bands playing [including one in a barrel large enough to take an entire brass band] loads of wines to try -but be careful - they only come in 1/4 litre glasses - and the surreal sight of people taking the waters at the spa walking round wearing plastic macs!

WOW! Everyone has been so helpful! We realized that the Eagle's Nest Tour will be out of Salzburg and not Munich. We are working on the trip this weekend. It has been very time consuming trying to map this out on our own since our travel agent has not been much help to us at all in figuring this stuff out... It's hard to know how long to stay in places when you don't know the country, schedules, distances, etc... But, you know that you want to see certain things and still have time to breath, relax, enjoy it all and take it all in.

I will write back once we have made some final decisions!

Thanks again!

Eagel's Nest BTW is just a ordinary cafe these days - well I guess you can simulate Hitler looking thru binoculars from there at least - but to keep the place from becoming a mecca for neo-Nazis all traces and mentions of Hitler are lacking I believe.

Thanks for the info PalenQ. I have been told that the Hitler speak is lacking by others as well. Which is fine. We are interested in history even if it isn't pleasant. My brother-in-law has visited and said that he enjoyed his Eagle's Nest visit and that there were great views.

But, we are also planning on going to Neuschwanstein Castle and are told that it has awesome views as well.

That said, if we are going to have to choose btwn the two we will most likely go to Neuschwanstein.

I appreciate the suggestion!

Does anyone have a suggestion on which area to stay in while we visit the Rhine/ Mosel Rivers areas? We are going to tour around there for a few days and wasn't sure on where we should base ourselves while there.

Does anyone have a suggestion on which area to stay in while we visit the Rhine/ Mosel Rivers areas? We are going to tour around there for a few days and wasn't sure on where we should base ourselves while there.>

Cochem, on the Mosel to me is a perfect base - a neat wine town on one of the prettiest parts of the Mosel River - which runs in a deep gorge here - Cochem has a fairy-tale castle popping out of vineyards in its town center and a slew of neat family-run guesthouses - just a pleasant pleasant town - great train service if going by train to the Rhine Gorge and Mosel - Burg Eltz, one of Germany's most famous castles is just a few miles away - the K-D Rhine boats can be reached also in less than an hour (train to Rudesheim and take the boat to Koblenz - getting on and off - Koblenz is about 20 minutes or so from cochem by train.

Coach a picrure postcard town of your dreams!