Southwest of Koblenz is the Reichsburg Cochem, a beautiful stronghold that is a must for every castle fan.
It is generally assumed that Cochem Castle was built around 1030 under Count Palatine Ezzo, son and successor of Count Palatine Hermann Pusillius.
The castle was first mentioned in documents in 1051, when Richeza, eldest daughter of Count Palatine Ezzo and former Queen of Poland, transferred the castle to her nephew, Count Palatine Henry I, that year.
Even after the Ezzones lost the title of Count Palatine, Cochem remained connected to the Count Palatine.
King Conrad III put an end to a later dispute over the title of Count Palatine in 1151 by occupying Cochem Castle with castle men and finally taking it under his control as a settled imperial fiefdom.
This meant that Cochem Castle became an imperial castle during the Staufer period.
Now imperial ministerials - with the title of burgrave - were appointed to manage the castle and imperial property.
When troops of the French King Louis
After the entire city was occupied by French troops in March 1689, the castle was set on fire and blown up in 1688.
That year, almost the entire city of Cochem fell victim to the destruction of the French troops.
A ruin until 1868, the castle was bought by the merchant Louis Ravené for 300 gold marks - he had it rebuilt (according to his ideas).
The restored castle became the property of the German Reich through sale in 1942 and has been owned by the city of Cochem since 1978.