Coblenz, or KOBLENZ, a city of Rhenish Prussia, 56 miles SSE. of Cologne by rail, is beautifully situated at the junction of the Rhine and the Moselle, the former of which is here crossed by a bridge of boats, and the latter by a fine stone bridge, built originally in 1344. Both rivers are also spanned by railway bridges. Coblenz is very strongly fortified with a wall and a series of detached forts, including the almost impregnable castle of Ehrenbreitstein (q.v.), on the opposite side of the Rhine. In the old town, many of the streets are irregular, narrow, and dirty; but the new town, which is situated nearer the Rhine, is handsomely built, spacious, and clean. Among the principal buildings are the church of St Castor, the oldest Christian church in the Rhine district, founded in 836, though dating in its present form from the 12th century; the Kanfhaus (1479); the Protestant Florins Kirche (12th century); the church of Our Lady (1250-1431); and the old Jesuit College, now a gymnasium. The extensive palace was built in 1778-86 by the last Elector of Trèves, and restored in 1845. The old archiepiscopal palace is now a factory. The favourable position of the place secures it an active commerce in wine, corn, mineral waters, &c. It manufactures champagne (about 1,000,000 bottles annually, exported chiefly to England), cigars, jappanned goods, and furniture. Pop. (1875) 29,290; (1890) 32,664. Coblenz (Fr. Coblence) was known to the Romans as Confluentes. From 1018 till 1796 it belonged to
Trèves. In 1798 it was made the capital of the new French department, Rhine and Moselle, and by the treaty of 1815 was given to Prussia.