In recognition of its status as one of the world's oldest and most magnificent cultural landscapes, UNESCO has included the Middle Rhine Valley in its list of World Cultural Heritage sites. There are stunning views of the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers at Deutsches Eck (German Corner) from the 118-metre high Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. A trip along the Rhine Legends Route is guaranteed to be an amazing journey. Sayn Palace is a paradise for nature lovers and amateur photographers.Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
Koblenz is situated at Deutsches Eck (German Corner), the point where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. One of the town's famous landmarks is the imposing Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on the right bank of the Rhine. It was constructed in its current form between 1817 and 1828 and is the largest preserved fortress in Europe. It was previously considered to be the strongest fortress in Germany and consequently impregnable. 1,000 soldiers and 80 cannons were stationed here at times of war. However its origins date well back to the Middle Ages. Today the fortress is home to the Regional Museum, the Rhine Museum, a youth hostel and two restaurants. Concerts are also held regularly in the inner courtyard.Rhine Legends Route
The region around the Rhine, Moselle, Lahn and Nahe rivers is famous for its many sagas, myths and legends, which are still capable of captivating the imagination today. The Rhine Legends Route stretches for 586 kilometres from Düsseldorf to Mainz exploring the most well-known and beautiful myths and legends such as the treasure of the Nibelungs, the Loreley, the Bingen "mouse tower", the "Laach Lily", the Drachenfels ruins, the legend of Siegfried and the story of the elves of Cologne.Sayn Palace and Castle
The 800 year old ancestral castle of the princes of Sayn-Wittgenstein towers above the village of Sayn near Bendorf on the Rhine. The castle houses the Rhenish Ironworking Museum, which has a fascinating collection of artworks made from cast iron, as well as royal salons and a chapel. The grounds of the castle cover seven hectares, contain some rare trees and were designed in the style of an English country garden. There is also a falconry centre which provides demonstrations of birds of prey. However, the top attraction is the exotic butterfly garden where you can marvel at hundreds of tropical butterflies in large, temperature-controlled glasshouses.