Mayen-Koblenz is a district (Kreis) in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Ahrweiler, Neuwied, Westerwaldkreis, district-free Koblenz, Rhein-Lahn, Rhein-Hunsrück, Cochem-Zell, and Vulkaneifel.
Contents
History
The district was created in 1973 when the two districts, Mayen and Koblenz, were merged.
The district has been 'twinned' with the Borough of Waverley in Surrey in southern England since 1982.
Geography
The two main rivers of the district are the Rhine and the Moselle, which join at the Deutsches Eck in Koblenz. In the west of the district are the Eifel mountains. These also include the large lake, the Laacher See, a volcanic caldera formed 12,000 years ago.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms combine the elements of the two precursor districts. The tree, a Maie, is taken from the Mayen district. The wavy line represents the two rivers Rhine and Moselle. The crown is a reference to the fact that in Rhens the Councils of Electors took place to choose the emperors and kings of the Holy Roman Empire.
Castles and palaces
The county has many castles and palaces:
Eltz Castle, probably the best known German castle
Trutzeltz Castle near Eltz Castle
Schloss Bürresheim
Genovevaburg in Mayen
Oberburg, Kobern in Kobern with the Romanesque St. Matthew's Chapel
Niederburg, Kobern in Kobern
Schloss Liebieg in Gondorf
Oberburg in Gondorf, family seat of the von der Leyen family
Thurant Castle above Alken (Mosel)
Ehrenburg near Brodenbach
Sayn Castle and Schloss Sayn in Bendorf-Sayn
Bischofstein Castle on the Moselle near Burgen
Wernerseck Castle near Ochtendung
Löwenburg and Philippsburg near Monreal
Virneburg Castle
Schloss Bassenheim in Bassenheim
Namedy Castle in Andernach
Andernach Castle in Andernach
Transport
Following railway lines are located partly in the Mayen-Koblenz district:
Linke Rheinstrecke
Rechte Rheinstrecke
Cross Eifel Railway
Engers-Au railway (between Engers and Siershahn also called Brexbacchtalbahn, currently no service, reactivation in planning)
Koblenz–Trier railway
Koblenz-Lützel - Mayen Ost railway (out of service)
Polch-Münstermaifeld railway (out of service)
Mayen-Koblenz district is a member of the transport association Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Mosel (VRM).