St. Kastor Basilica

St. Kastor Basilica

St. Kastor Basilica is the oldest church in Koblenz, Germany. It faces the Deutsches Eck and features towering twin spires that rise into the sky, visible from afar. In 2002, St. Kastor Basilica was inscribed as part of the "Upper Middle Rhine Valley" on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

St. Kastor Basilica was first built between 817 and 836 under the patronage of Louis the Pious. The envoys of Louis the Pious’s sons conducted the 842 negotiations in this Romanesque church, constructed in 836, which eventually led to the signing of the Treaty of Verdun in 843, dividing the Frankish Empire. The current structure dates back to renovations carried out in the late 12th century. On July 30, 1991, Pope John Paul II elevated St. Kastor Church to the status of a minor basilica. German historical records describe the church as having a comprehensive Romanesque architectural style, with much of that heritage still preserved. The fountain in the church square is intriguing, with its peculiar inscriptions evoking the end of the Frankish era in Koblenz; in the church’s forecourt stands a pulley well from the Napoleonic period, definitely worth a look.

Basilica of St. Castor

Must-visit reason: The oldest church in Koblenz

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Germany[Germany]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Rhineland-Palatinate [Rhineland-Palatinate]

City where the attraction is located: Koblenz [Koblenz]