Pegelhaus in Koblenz, Historical building on Rhine riverbank, Koblenz, Germany
The Pegelhaus in Koblenz is an octagonal building with an ornamental base and glass dome situated directly along the Rhine riverbank. Its distinctive roofline and exposed location make it an unmistakable feature of the waterfront promenade.
The structure was built between 1609 and 1611 under Elector Lothar von Metternich and initially served as a Rhine crane for loading cargo from boats. In the 19th century it was converted to measure water levels for river navigation.
The building gets its name from the water gauge installed at its entrance in 1887, which continues to record Rhine water levels for navigation purposes. Visitors can still observe how this historical measuring instrument functions during their visit.
The building is easily accessible from the riverbank promenade and can be viewed from the outside, with interior spaces now occupied by a restaurant. Historical flood markings on the side of the entrance become especially visible when water levels rise.
The water gauge operates on an unusual principle where the large hand indicates meters while the small hand shows centimeters. This system allows river captains to quickly read the exact water depth at a glance.
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