To the right, the square Romanesque keep of Oberburg, with the Matthias Kapelle in the background. The tower was closed to visitors, but was well populated by swallows!
Below, the Matthias Kapelle up close.
The view of Kobern from the Oberburg, as well as the Mosel itself, is well worth the trip. This is a nice castle to visit if you just want solitude and a chance to dream. It's also a great castle to visit if you have children, just to let them rush about and play. However, there are no guardrails or other safety devices, so it will be necessary to watch children closely.
Below is a detail of the picture at left, showing the area south near the Kobern bridge. Just to the right, on a low rock outcrop, is the Niederburg.
Below is a photo of the vineyard slopes, showing how steep these hills truly are.
Lower right, a photo of the rails used by the carts to carry the grapes down to the base of the hills for collection. But despite such aides, it is still necessary for people to physically work the terraced slopes... which is no easy task.
Bottom right, a photo of one of the carts used to carry grapes from the slopes. This photo was taken near Cochem. There's one seat (to the right) and a platform on the back where large baskets can be placed. Riding the cart is much like riding a rollercoaster as it climbs the steep incline before the drop!
A close up of the cart shows how it works. A motor drives a sprocket at the base, which pulls against teeth on the rail. This pulls the cart along, both up... and down. One would assume there is an emergency brake system in case of a serious malfunction!
