Kempenich Castle

Kempenich Castle is a hilltop castle in the municipality of Kempenich in the Eifel region.

The castle was first mentioned around the year 1200, but it is presumed to have existed as early as 1147. It belonged to the Lords of Kempenich until 1424. The castle and the associated Kempenich lordship were a fief of Kurtrier since the 13th century. In 1330, a feud over the castle broke out between two members of the Kempenich family. In 1424, the extinction of the Kempenich family led to further armed conflicts over the inheritance. Peter von Schöneck was married to the heiress and claimed the castle and lordship as inheritance against Kurtrier. After various pledges, Kempenich came into the possession of a line of the Lords of Eltz; in 1663, Hans Jakob von Eltz founded a new line, Eltz-Kempenich. In 1689, it was partially destroyed. The castle belonged to the Lords of Eltz-Kempenich until 1776, who partially rebuilt it. In 1822, it became a forester's house.

The remains of the walls of the former castle are now overgrown with bushes; the former moat is gradually silting up.