Oberburg

It is known that the knights of Kobern carried the imperial eagle in their coat of arms since 923, because they were imperial knights and thus subordinate to the German kings and emperors. In a document of the archbishop Meginher in 1129 Ludovicus de Couverna is mentioned as the first knight and ministerial. It can be assumed that the upper castle was an appropriate residence for this office and existed long before 1129. Gerlach I of Cobern-Isenburg came into possession of the now obsolete castle complex through the marriage of the heiress daughter of the Kobern noble family. He was threatened with a dispute with the archbishop of Trier. As a result, he built the Neuerburg (or Niederburg) in 1190 and renewed the Altenburg complex. In 1195 the Altenburg together with the Niederburg is mentioned in a document for the first time. According to this, Gerlach I of Cobern-Isenburg had to cede both castles to Archbishop Johann, because he had built Niederburg against the archbishop's will. He receives both castles as a fief and becomes feudal lord of the Bishop of Trier. Today's complex, located directly next to the Matthias Chapel, consists mainly of the lavishly restored keep with adjoining restaurant and wine tavern. The remains of the walls and the mighty square keep still bear witness to the strength of the fortified structure built in the middle of the 12th century. The entire complex once encompassed a courtyard measuring 40 x 110 meters. The site was opened up by extensive archaeological excavations in 1988. Prehistoric remains (probably from the Iron Age) and remains of a Roman settlement were found on the castle hill. Several post pits or holes were also discovered, either from post houses or fortifications. The evaluation as a Celtic high castle - ideal at this exposed place - is obvious. Another hint to the Celts is given by a 3 km long trail to the Goloring, a Celtic cult site. Did the Celts already use this connection? A mystery that will probably remain hidden in the dark forever... In the Oberburg there are rooms of the registry office of the Rhine-Moselle municipality as well as the restaurant "Restaurant auf der Oberburg". www.oberburg-kobern-gondorf.de

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)