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").