Near the Castor Church, in the large square, is the monument erected by the French to commemorate their invasion of Russia. To the inscription recording the object of raising the monument, the Russian General who in his turn invaded the Rhine provinces, added—
“Vu et approuvé par nous,
Commandant Russe de la Ville de Coblence.
“Janvier 1ère, 1814.”
The monument is a remarkably ugly lump of stone, which perhaps was meant for a fountain, but there is no water.
Very few historical associations belong to Coblence, and those that do are not particularly interesting, so we will turn back to the legends.
LEGEND OF MARIAHILF.[1]
Near the Moselle Bridge stood a chapel, piously dedicated to the Mother of God and her Son. Within the chapel were images of both Mother and Son.
Here resorted many pilgrims, especially those who suffered under bodily infirmities: among others came a certain man who was paralytic, and given over to death by his physicians. With great labour and trouble he contrived to totter into the chapel by the aid of his staff.