| Location | Schlossstraße 36, 56812 Cochem, Germany (Google Map Location) |
| Open for Visitors | Yes |
| Owned by | Cochem City |
| Official Website | Cochem Castle |
| Rooms Available | No |
Located near the town of Cochem in Germany’s Cochem-Zell District, Cochem Palace is a magnificent 19th-century neo-Gothic structure. The Castle stands on top of a hill at 330 feet above the River Moselle. Cochem Castle’s historical origins date back to the 10th and 11th centuries. The Castle was the family seat of the Palatinate Count. It remained connected to the Palatinate nobility for a long time, even though its ownership would change multiple times over the centuries.
Visitors can also dine at an authentic medieval feast during a visit to the Castle grounds. Complete with waiters and waitresses dressed in period costumes, local culinary delicacies, and jesters for entertainment, the Knight’s Meal provides an exciting experience for the guests.
Cochem Castle History
The origins of Cochem Castle lie in the 10th and 11th centuries. It is estimated that the Castle was built around the year 1000 by the Palatinate Count Ezzo. The first historical document that records the existence of Cochem Castle dates back to 1051, when the former Queen of Poland and Ezzo’s oldest daughter, Richeza, transferred the property to her nephew, the Palatinate Count Henry I.
In 1151, King Konrad III captured Cochem Castle and made it an Imperial Castle. Following this, King Adolf of Nassau, who owned the Castle and several villages surrounding Cochem, faced a grim financial situation and pawned these properties to Boermund I of Trier. Adolf failed to repay the amount lent by the Archbishops of Trier and had to forfeit the Castle in 1294 to them.
During the reign of Archbishop Balduin (1307-1354) in the early 14th century, Cochem Castle was enlarged and fortified. The Castle was connected to the nearby town by massive walls, and a toll barrier was installed across the River Moselle. The Archbishops of Trier continued to hold the Castle as an imperial fiefdom until 1794.
King Louis XIV captured Cochem Castle during the Nine Years’ War. France occupied the Rhine and Moselle region and occupied Cochem Castle in 1688. The Castle was almost entirely destroyed in 1689, along with nearly the entirety of Cochem town. The Castle remained in ruins and was neglected for another two hundred years.
In 1868, Mr Louis Ravené, a Berlin-based businessman, purchased the property and began rebuilding it. The Ravené family owned a highly successful brass and bell foundry. It was common during the 19th century for wealthy German families belonging to the nobility or the business class to purchase Medieval Castles to refurbish and convert them into summer vacation homes.
The Prussian King Wilhelm I authorized the sale of Cochem Castle to the Ravenés on the condition that they maintain and reconstruct it according to historical standards. The new Castle was inaugurated in 1877 and was partially opened to the public. In 1978, the Town of Cochem took over the ownership of Cochem Castle, with Reichsburg Cochem Ltd. in charge of administration.
Architecture
Cochem Castle is situated at the height of 330 feet above the River Moselle on a hill, providing a picturesque view of the surrounding landscapes and Cochem town. The initial structure that stood at the site of the Castle dated back to the 11th century and had a massive square keep topped by a slate roof.
The Romanesque keep had walls that were up to 12 feet thick. The Castle was enlarged and fortified in the 14th century by Archbishop Balduin of Trier, who constructed massive walls connecting Cochem Castle to the nearby town. A chain was also installed below the Castle to form a toll barrier across the River Moselle.
King Louis XIV almost completely destroyed the original structure of Cochem Castle. The Ravenés sought to restore the Castle to its former glory and use it as a private summer residence. The Castle was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style, popular in Germany during the 19th century.
The Castle’s interior was decorated with Renaissance and Baroque furniture collected by the Ravené family over the years. The interiors also feature intricately painted ceilings and walls designed by Prof. Ernst Ewald from Berlin and other fine works by local artists. At the centre of the Castle stands a four-story Romanesque tower with 12 feet thick walls. The Castle’s elaborate Neo-Gothic halls are one of the main attractions of Cochem Castle, with Rittersaal or Knight’s Hall being the grandest among them.
You can also visit Eltz Castle, just 40km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cochem Castle?
Cochem Castle is located close to the town of Cochem biggest town in the Cochem-Zell district in Germany. The Castle is situated at the top of a hill overlooking the River Moselle.
Who lived in Cochem Castle?
Cochem Castle was the family seat of the Palatinate Counts in the 11th century. It was captured by King Konrad III in 1151 and later became the property of the Archbishops of Trier. King Louis XIV captured the Castle and almost completely destroyed it in 1689 and lay in ruins until 1868 when the Ravené family purchased it and converted it into their vacation residence.
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