COBLENZ, or KOBLENZ, ko'blents (corrupt ed from the Latin name Confluentia, or Conlluen tes, from confluere, to flow together, from con-, together + fluerc, to flow). The capital of the Prussian Rhine Province, about 57 miles south east of Cologne, beautifully situated at the junc tion of the Rhine and the Moselle, both of which are crossed here by bridges (Map: Prussia, B 3). It consists of the old town, along the Moselle, and the new town, farther up the Rhine. In the old town many of the streets are irregular, nar row, and dirty; but in the new, they are gen erally well built, moderately wide, and clean. Among the principal buildings are the Church of Saint Castor, founded early in the ninth cen tury. containing the tomb of Archbishop Ku no of Falkenstein ; the so-called Kaufhans, built in 1477 as a town-hall; the ancient Burg. erected by the Archbishop of Treves in 1276. recently restored by the town; and the large Electoral Palace, now a royal palace. completed in 1786.
On the extreme point of the city, at the junction of the rivers, stands the splendid equestrian statue of Emperor William L. erected by the province. Coblenz has numerous and excellent educational institutions, including a royal gym nasium, a teachers' seminary. and a conservatory of music. Its chief industry is the production of the sparkling Moselle wine. There are also manu factures of machinery, pianos, and lacquered wares. Coblenz. with its system of forts. includ ing on the opposite bank of the Rhine. constitutes a strong fortress. Population. in 1890, 32.664; in 1900. 45.146. Coblenz was known to the Romans as Contluentes. In 1018 it was conferred by Henry II upon the archbishops of Treves. After 1789 it was the headquarters of the French Emigres, and in 1794 it passed to France. In ISIS it was ceded to Prussia.