Rhens: The King’s Chair and Half-Timbered Houses on the Rhine
Accommodation in Rhens
Rhens is a historic town on the Rhine between Boppard and Koblenz, located in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the old town, half-timbered houses and the town wall meet the King’s Chair, where preliminary meetings were held before the election of German kings. Themed tours and two different routes offer further ways to discover the town: a historic walk through the town centre and along the wall, and the Wolfsdelle Dream Trail, which starts in Rhens and climbs to the Rhine plateau. This gives you a choice of different focuses: local history, architecture and landscape.
The King’s Chair and Town Wall
From 1273, the prince-electors held preliminary meetings at the King’s Chair before electing German kings; in 1346, Charles IV was elected king there. The stone octagonal structure is shaped like an enlarged throne. Its location is also part of its history: in 1929, the King’s Chair was moved from the Nussbaumgarten outside Rhens to its present site on the Rhine heights.
The old town is surrounded by a largely preserved town wall with five gates: Kirchtor, Viehtor, Koblenzer Tor, Joseftor and Rheintor. The Scharfe Turm also stands by the wall. It formerly served as a watchtower and customs tower, and later as a prison and torture chamber. The gates, tower and King’s Chair offer different ways to discover the history of Rhens through its historic buildings.
Half-Timbered Houses, Church and Guided Tours
Numerous half-timbered houses shape the character of the old town. Their striking colours, carvings, tendrils, borders and inscriptions give each façade its own details; the Old Town Hall is considered a particularly fine example. The Church of St Dionysius in Rhens features late Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements, as well as notable ceiling paintings.
Themed tours in Rhens focus on the old town, local history or the cemetery. Town tours also explore the architecture of this small Rhenish half-timbered town, its winegrowing and wine culture, and its connection to the UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Middle Rhine. One tour focuses on the King’s Chair; a tour of the town wall centres on its towers, gates, moat and dungeon. You can choose the focus of your visit: architecture and wine, local history, or specific features of the town’s fortifications.
Town Walk or Wolfsdelle Dream Trail
The historic town walk is 1.6 kilometres long and passes through the historic town centre and along the town wall. The Wolfsdelle Dream Trail starts at the Old Town Hall, passes through the Viehtor gate and climbs to the Rhine plateau. It crosses an open landscape of scattered fruit trees and reaches the Kriesenkopf heights, offering panoramic views of the Rhine from Marksburg Castle to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.
The two routes offer different experiences: the town walk stays in the old town and by the town wall, while the Wolfsdelle trail focuses on the climb, the scattered fruit trees and views over the Rhine. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you mainly want to explore historic buildings and local history, or also include a route through the landscape.
Weekly Market and Holiday Apartment in Rhens
The Rhens weekly market is held by the historic town wall and offers views of St Theresia and St Dionysius churches. It invites you to browse, shop and linger. Market details may change, so it’s worth checking the latest information before your visit.
When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Rhens, your planned focus for the trip can help guide your choice. Would you mainly like to explore the old town, half-timbered houses and guided tours, or would you also like to include the Wolfsdelle trail and its landscape and panoramic views? The different sides of the town offer specific themes to help you choose your destination.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Boos, Herresbach, Kobern-Gondorf, Hatzenport, Weißenthurm, Weitersburg, Lasserg, Kirchwald.
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