Andernach is a town in the district of
Mayen-Koblenz, in
Rhineland-Palatinate,
Germany, of currently about 30,000 inhabitants. It is situated towards the end of the
Neuwied basin on the left bank of the
Rhine between the former tiny fishing village of Fornich in the north and the mouth of the small river Nette in the southeast, just north of
Koblenz, with its five external town districts: Kell, Miesenheim, Eich, Namedy, and Bad Tönisstein. A few hundred metres downstream of Andernach the Rhine valley narrows from both sides forming the northern part of the romantic
Middle Rhine stretch. Already in Roman times the place the narrow passage begins was named "Porta Antunnacensis" or
Andernachian Gate. It is formed by two hills, the
Krahnenberg (engl.
Crane hill) and the
Engwetter (
Narrow weather) on the right bank near the wine village
Leutesdorf (external town district of
Bad Hönningen). The crane hill is named after the old crane beneath his foot (see below); in earlier times (until 1650) the hill was named "Geiersberg" ("Vulture's hill").