Niederburg Kobern

Kobern-Gondorf, Germany

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Niederburg Kobern, also called Niedernburg, Unterburg, or Neue Burg, is a hill castle ruin situated above the municipality of Kobern-Gondorf in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

Built in the 12th century on a ridge projecting toward the Moselle River, it sits about 150 meters above the village and about 50 meters lower than the nearby Oberburg Kobern castle. The castle features an almond-shaped layout with a three-story 20-meter high bergfried (keep) that has a high entrance 10 meters above ground and a partly preserved late Gothic palace. Defensive structures include a ring wall with zwinger and a neck ditch.

Niederburg was constructed without official building permission from the Archbishop of Trier, leading to a siege and subsequent transfer of ownership in 1195. It sustained significant damage in the late 17th century during the Palatinate War of Succession by French troops but has undergone restoration efforts.

The ruins offer stunning views of the village and the Moselle valley, and the site is accessible year-round via hiking trails, making it a popular destination for visitors interested in medieval architecture and scenic landscapes.