Reichsburg Cochem

Reichsburg Cochem is a hilltop castle in Germany’s Mosel River Valley. It sits on a hill that over looks the city and the neighboring Mosel River. Several vineyards sit along the hillside of the castle and the river which grow the grapes to make the the Riesling wine that the area is famous for.

The castle was built in 1130 and in 1151, King Konrad III occupied the castle and declared it an "Imperial Castle". It was later destroyed by French troops in 1689 during the Nine Years' War and afterwards it sat in ruins for nearly two centuries. In 1868 it was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style by German businessman Louis Fredric Ravené.

During WWII, ownership of the castle was transferred to the German government and following WWII, it was then transferred to the West German government. In 1978, the city of Cochem bought the castle and it is now the main tourist attraction in the city. The castle is open for tours throughout the day and the views from the castle are breathtaking.