Reichsburg Cochem (Cochem Castle)

 castle, museum, interesting place, listed building / architectural heritage

This castle was erected around 1100, or the first half of the 12th century. It is situated at a hill over 100m above the Moselle. From it you have a clear view in all directions, so it was perfectly situated for defence.

Early in its history there was dispute about who would be the next palatinate count. This dispute was ended by king Konrad III in 1151 who occupied the castle and made it an imperial fiefdom.

When the troupes of King Louis XIV invaded the Rhine and the Moselle area in the war of succession of the Palatinate, Cochem castle, too, was occupied in 1688 and blown up on May 19th of 1689.

Being largely destroyed, the castle was bought by Louis Fréderic Jacques Ravené, a Berling businessman, who rebuild it on private funds. In 1978 the castle finally came to the possession of the city of Cochem.