On the hills above Lay is the great drill-ground of Coblence; here the large body of forces collected in Ehrenbreitstein and Coblence are manœuvred. From these heights, too, a remarkable view of the windings of both Rhine and Moselle may be seen. Stoltzenfels and Lahneck appear in the distance. Coblence, with long lines of trees approaching it from all quarters, is just underneath the end of this promontory of rock; the stone bridge of the Moselle and the boat-bridge of the Rhine are observed; and the strong fortress of Ehrenbreitstein is on the opposite side of the Rhine.
Just opposite to Güls the Hunsruck mountains recede inland from the Moselle, and our glad river flows now through a plain. Her course is nearly finished, her journey is almost accomplished; soon she will unite her pure spirit and her being with the lordly Rhine. But one other city standing on her banks has yet to be described; one other chapter is required to finish the life of our sweet river.
CHAPTER XXII.
Coblence is situated at the extremity of a level plain watered by the Moselle and Rhine. It is placed in the angle formed by the junction of those two rivers. Immediately opposite to the town is the strong fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, which has the reputation of being impregnable: it is much doubted whether this fortress would be found as strong as it is represented to be, now the art of gunnery has been so much improved; yet it would certainly be a formidable obstacle to an attacking army. Coblence itself is strongly fortified, and, together with Ehrenbreitstein, is garrisoned by about 4000 men. Every year troops are gathered from other garrisons to the neighbourhood of Coblence, where they encamp and rehearse all sorts of field evolutions.
During the earliest period of the Roman Empire a castle was built by the Romans at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. This fortress fell into the hands of the Franks towards the end of the fifth century. Gradually a town arose round the fortress, till the space between the rivers was filled; then two suburbs were built, one called Thal Coblenz, or Coblence in the Valley—this was on the right bank of the Rhine; the other, on the left bank of the Moselle, was called Klein (little) Coblenz.
After a time the town passed into the possession of the Electors of Trèves, and they built a palace and fortified it.