GEROLSTEIN

'Gerolstein' is a municipality and health resort in western Germany. It is part of the district of Daun, in the state Rhineland-Palatinate. Gerolstein is the seat of the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' ("collective municipality") Gerolstein.
It is attractively situated on the river Kyll, in the Eifel mountains, approximately 350 meters above the sea. Gerolstein is connected by rail with Cologne and Trier. The castle of Gerolstein, known locally as Burg Gerhardstein, was built in 1115 and now in ruins, affords a fine view of the Kyll valley. Gerolstein is celebrated for its lithia waters, which are bottled by Gerolsteiner Brunnen, sponsor of road bicycle racing's Team Gerolsteiner. The population of the town as of 2006 is 7,581.

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Fictional country

Fictional country

'Gerolstein' is also the name of a fictional country in Central Europe, a subject of Jacques Offenbach's ''opéra bouffe'' ''la Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein'' (The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein).