Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm · CC BY-SA 3.0 · editedEhrenbreitstein Fortress
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Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is a 19th-century Prussian fortress on a rock 118 metres above the Rhine, opposite the Moselle mouth in Koblenz.
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W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Why go
- A hilltop fortress considered impregnable in the 19th century, supported by nearby forts.
- The nine-tonne, 4.66-metre Greif siege cannon, cast by Meister Simon in Frankfurt in 1524.
- Part of the UNESCO-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley since 2002.
Don't miss
- Flag towerThe tower contains the fortress’s highest and lowest points, an observation platform and an underground multimedia exhibition.Flag tower
- Interactive history routeFollow an interactive route tracing key moments in fortress history.Beside the main entrance
- Archaeological Museum interactive areaHandle objects usually kept behind glass.Archaeological Museum
- House of Indulgence wine barSample local wines.House of Indulgence
Know before you go
- Open daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
- Closed on 31 December.
- Tickets can be bought online through the fortress’s own website.
- Part of the “5,000 years of Ehrenbreitstein” exhibition is closed during construction work.
What's inside
- The Archaeological Museum’s permanent display traces regional human history from the Stone Age through the Middle Ages.
- Its archaeological exhibits include significant finds collected by the Koblenz branch of state archaeology since 1949.
- The House of Indulgence presents 2,000 years of wine culture across six Rhineland-Palatinate wine regions.
Tips for your visit
- The fortress lies on the Rheinsteig long-distance hiking trail.
Interesting facts3
-
The Prussian fortress was never attacked.
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress - Wikipedia -
1890
It could be defended by 1,200 soldiers and remained in service until 1890.
Forteresse d'Ehrenbreitstein - Wikipedia -
It guarded the Middle Rhine region, which French troops had repeatedly invaded.
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
The archbishops of Trier gradually expanded the medieval stronghold into a fortress.
- 4th millennium BCThe hill was first settled.
- 10th/9th century BCFortifications appeared on the hill.
- 250–450A late Roman fort stood on the southern spur.
- c. 1000Ehrenbert built a castle on the hill.
- 1139The castle was documented as property of the Archbishop of Trier.
Show all
- 16th centuryWork began to adapt the castle to withstand gunpowder weapons.
- 1688The fortress withstood a siege by King Louis XIV of France.
- 1759French troops took the fortress and held it for three years.
- 1799On 27 January, the garrison surrendered after a nearly year-long blockade, with food almost exhausted.
- 1801French forces destroyed the earlier fortress.
- 1817–1828Prussia built the new fortress.
- 1834The fortress was ready for service.
- 1922General Henry Tureman Allen prevented its planned destruction, citing its historic value.
- World War IIThe fortress safeguarded archives and cultural objects and housed three flak guns.
- 1952A youth hostel opened inside the fortress.
- 1956A museum opened inside the fortress.
- 2007–2011The fortress underwent restoration before featuring in the 2011 National Garden Show.
Photo spots
- Restaurant Casino terraceViews over Deutsches Eck and Koblenz.Restaurant Casino terrace On the map
- Cable car cabinPanoramic views over the Rhine from the glass cabins.Cable car crossing from Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer to the fortress On the map
Tours and audio guides
- Audio guide map
- Commentary at more than 40 locations · English, French and Dutch
How to get there
- Cable carTake the cable car from Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer at Deutsches Eck across the Rhine to the fortress plateau.
- 10 minOn footFrom Ehrenbreitstein station, walk about 10 minutes to the fortress lift at Vor dem Sauerwassertor, then take the lift to the fortress entrance.
- On footReach the fortress from the Rhine shore past Vorwerk Helfenstein, or from the northern plateau.
Accessibility
- Access across the grounds Ramps and lifts serve nearly all areas, including toilets.
- Fortress lift Provides barrier-free access.
- Access for blind and partially sighted visitors Braille, raised pictograms, tactile paving and seven three-dimensional models.
Sources: Ehrenbreitstein Fortress - Wikipedia · Ehrenbreitstein Fortress . Kulturerbe Mittelrhe… · Festung Ehrenbreitstein - Wikipedia · Forteresse d'Ehrenbreitstein - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026
Where
-, Koblenz
- Phone
- +49 261 66754000
Questions and answers
Can I buy tickets to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress online?
Yes, through the fortress’s own website.
What was kept at Ehrenbreitstein Fortress before it became a museum?
The fortress guarded the Holy Tunic from 1657 to 1794.
What is Schloss Philippsburg’s connection to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress?
Elector Philipp Christoph von Sötern built Schloss Philippsburg below the fortress from 1626 to 1629 and moved his residence there in 1629.
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