Welcome to Niederburg and Oberburg Castle Ruins
The lower castle, built in the 12th century, rises slightly below the upper castle and Matthias Chapel amidst vineyards. The castle was the centre of early disputes between the Isenburg family and the Archbishop of Trier. The archbishop should actually have authorised the construction. But unfortunately he was not asked ...
Together with the upper castle, which is around 50 metres higher, and the Matthias Chapel, the lower castle forms a unique historical ensemble in an exposed location.
The ruins are open all year round and free to access.
No winter service on site.
Please inform yourself about current weather warnings before your visit.
Address
Nieder- und Oberburg Kobern
56330 Kobern-Gondorf
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The ruins are a historical site of the Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz (General Directorate for Cultural Heritage Rhineland‑Palatinate), www.gdke.rlp.de.
Regrettably, as it is a historic site, there is no disabled access to the ruins. Thank you for your understanding.
Located on a ridge above the Moselle village of Kobern are the ruins of the Niederburg and Oberburg castles.
Both castles were probably built at the end of the 12th century. It has not yet been possible to determine which of the two fortresses is the older one. Both become recognisable in the last decade of the 12th century as part of a dispute between Gerlach I von Isenburg-Kobern and the Archbishop of Trier over the ownership rights to both fortresses. The dispute over ownership of the castles dragged on until the middle of the 14th century, after which they were finally in the possession of the Archbishop of Trier. There is evidence of maintenance work on the lower castle until the middle of the 17th century. The upper castle was probably already gradually abandoned to decay in the 15th century. Both castles only became the property of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Administration in 1948 as French and then Prussian state property.
The lower castle is visible from afar thanks to its trapezoidal, three-storey keep from the late 12th century. The good condition of a privy at the keep is remarkable. Remains of buildings on the curtain wall and the remains of a multi-storey, late Gothic great hall convey an idea of the former beauty of the ruins.
The upper castle is located on an oval rocky plateau above the lower castle. Some of the ruins of its ring wall date back to Romanesque times. On the north side remains of the battlements and buildings are still recognisable.
As at the lower castle, a keep from the 12th century protected the castle complex from attackers. Between 1989 and 1991, a socalled keeper‘s house was built next to the keep on a site that was already occupied by a residential building in the Middle Ages. It now houses a restaurant.
Together with the St. Matthew’s Chapel, the two castles form a highly picturesque ensemble of buildings and landscapes.
Next to the Matthias Chapel.
Hotel-Restaurant Postono
Opening hours:
Thursday to Sunday 11:00 to 18:00
Easter to All Saints' Day (01.11.)
Phone +49 2607 8647
info(at)hotelpistono.de
Büro für Touristik und Kultur Kobern-Gondorf
Lennigstraße 12-14
56330 Kobern-Gondorf
Phone: +49 2607 1055
tourist(at)kobern-gondorf.de
www.kobern-gondorf.de