Kempenich Castle

Kempenich Castle, a hilltop castle in the Eifel region, was first documented around 1200; historians trace its origins back to 1147. Located in Rhineland-Palatinate, it was owned by the Lords of Kempenich until 1424. From the 13th century onwards, the castle and its associated dominion were a fief of Kurtrier. In 1330, a feud broke out between members of the Kempenich family over control of the castle. When the Kempenich family died out in 1424, new armed conflicts erupted over the inheritance. Peter von Schöneck, who was married to the heiress, claimed the castle and dominion against Kurtrier. Subsequently, Kempenich changed hands through various pledges and eventually came into the possession of a line of the Lords of Eltz.