Designed both to impress and entertain and not just as a simple, austere fortress, Kochi is one of the most distinguished and best preserved castles of the country. Built at the very start of the 17C and rebuilt in the 18C, it stands on a hill, its thick walls and arrow slits making clear its defensive purpose. The quarters of the resident lord were located in the upper part of the building. The keep with its upturned roofs is the only surviving vestige and commands panoramic views over the city.