Wirtshaus an der Lahn, Historical inn with customs tower in Lahnstein, Germany
The Wirtshaus an der Lahn is an inn on the bank of the Lahn river in Lahnstein, with a stone ground floor, timber-framed upper stories, and a round tower standing close beside it. The building sits right at the point where the Lahn meets the Rhine.
The round tower beside the inn was built in 1348 by the Electors of Trier to serve as a toll station on the river, controlling boat traffic passing through. The inn itself grew up later at this crossing point, which had long been used by traders and travelers moving along the Rhine.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited this establishment during a boat journey with Lavater and Basedow, stopping for lunch on July 18, 1774.
The inn takes in overnight guests and rents out bicycles, including electric ones, which makes it easy to explore the trails running along the Lahn. Its position right on the water makes it a convenient starting point for walks or rides into the valley.
The round tower was built with a pointed stone base designed to deflect ice floes pushed by winter floods, even though there was never a proper harbor here. This detail shows how seriously river hazards were taken when the tower was planned.
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