Koblenz - St. Kastor

The Romans founded this city 8BC under the name "Confluentes". Koblenz by now is situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence (sic!) with the Moselle.

The oldest church in Koblenz is the Basilica of St. Kastor, located next to the "Deutsches Eck". The first church here was built as part of a monastery 817-836 by Hetto, Archbishop of Trier, with the support of Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne. In 842 provisions of the division of the Frankish kingdom were negotiated here by representatives of Louis´ three sons Lothair I, Charles the Bald and Louis the German. This negotiation resulted in the Treaty of Verdun (843), which divided the Frankish Empire into three parts (West Francia, Middle Francia and East Francia).
Normans raided the area and destroyed the Carolingian church in 882. Rebuilding started soon after. The new church grew much larger over the next 200 years. In 1138 Konrad III was elected here by an assembly consisting only of friends and supporters. Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian and Edward III of England swore allegiance and friendship at St. Kastor in 1338.

The monastery existed upto 1802. At that time Koblenz was French. All building including the cloister got demolished. The church since then served the local parish. St. Kastor got renovated within the 19th century, but in 1944 St. Kastor was damaged by an air raid. Rebuilding started just after WWII, the restauration of the interior was finally completed in 1990.

The once flat, wooden ceiling got replaced by this wonderful gothic vaulting 1496-1499.