Beilstein, Municipality in Moselle Valley, Germany
Beilstein is a small municipality situated on the right bank of the Moselle River in the Cochem-Zell district of Rhineland-Palatinate. The village sits compactly along the water's edge, with the ruins of Metternich Castle rising prominently above its roofline.
The settlement received town privileges in 1309 from King Henry VII under the rule of an influential noble family that had controlled the region since 1268. This royal grant shaped its early development as a river trading center.
The monastery church in the center contains a Spanish Black Madonna sculpture that draws visitors interested in religious art and pilgrimage traditions. Local residents see this statue as an important part of their village's spiritual identity.
The village is small and easily walkable, with most points of interest within short distances of each other. The terrain is hilly, especially toward the castle ruins above, so sturdy shoes are helpful for comfortable exploration.
The settlement preserves a distinctive street layout from the 17th and 18th centuries that shapes the village core to this day. Walking through the narrow lanes reveals this historical structure directly.
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