Cochem is a village in the Mosel valley. The main attraction is the hilltop castle, which dates from the year 1000. The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1051 when Richeza, Ezzo's oldest daughter and former Queen of Poland, gave the castle to her nephew count palatine Henry I. In...

Cochem is a village in the Mosel valley. The main attraction is the hilltop castle, which dates from the year 1000. The castle was first mentioned in a document in 1051 when Richeza, Ezzo's oldest daughter and former Queen of Poland, gave the castle to her nephew count palatine Henry I. In 1294, king Adolf of Nassau pawned the castle and the city of Cochem as well as the surrounding imperial property of about 50 villages to Boemund I of Trier in order to pay for his coronation as German emperor. But neither Adolf nor his successor, King Albrecht I of Austria could redeem the pledge. For this reason the archbishops of Trier kept Cochem as a hereditary fiefdom until 1794. Under the reign of Archbishop Balduin (1307-1354) the old castle was enlarged and fortified. From 1419, the Lords of the castle were replaced by local magistrates.

in 1689 the town of Cochem was almost completely destroyed and it remained a ruin until 1868, when Berlin businessman Louis Ravené bought the land and rebuilt the castle.

The remains of the late gothic building were integrated into the castle, which was built in the neogothic style and corresponded to the romantic ideas of the 19th century. The castle was the Ravené family's summer residence.

Today the castle is still well-equipped with Renaissance and Baroque furniture, which was carefully collected by the Ravené family. Since 1978 the castle has been owned by the town. Cochem Castle, situated on an outstanding hill more than 100 metres above the river Moselle, is a popular tourist attraction - in summer it can get pretty crowded here.

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