Cochem, Germany – an old German town, located on the banks of the Moselle River. This place is famous for its famous Moselle wines and the castle-fortress Reichsburg, erected here back in the 11th century.
General information about the city
Cochem is a German city located on the Moselle River. The nearest major cities are Trier (77 km), Koblenz (53 km), Bonn (91 km), and Frankfurt am Main (150 km). The distance to the border with Luxembourg and Belgium is 110 km.
Cochem is part of the Rhineland-Palatinate state. The population is only 5,000 people (this is one of the smallest towns in Germany in terms of the number of people living there). The area of the city is 21.21 km². Cochem is divided into 4 urban districts.
There are absolutely no modern buildings in the city: it seems as if time has stopped here, and now it is the 16th-17th century. As before, the center of the town is the castle Reichsburg. However, if 400-500 years ago its main task was to defend the village, now it is to attract tourists to Kochem.
Reichsburg Castle in Cochem
Reichsburg Castle, which is also often referred to as a fortress, is the main and, in fact, the only attraction in this small town.
What is it?
The ancient Reichsburg Castle (founded in 1051) stands on the outskirts of the town of Kochem and is a powerful defensive structure. However, it is not a standard fortress: instead of bare stone walls, tourists can see luxurious interiors with frescoed walls, golden candelabras, expensive paintings, and fireplaces.
As for the castle’s exterior, it consists of numerous towers. The central tower, known as the Main Tower, has walls that are up to 1.80 meters thick and 5.40 meters long. The western side of the Main Tower is adorned with a statue of the guardian angel, Christoferus.
The main entrance is located in the southern part of the Imperial Castle of Kocham. This side is covered with ivy and looks much more elegant and lush than the others.
The territory of the fortress looks like this:
- The south-western part. Here is a courtyard with a well that is 50 meters deep.
- The eastern part. This is where the commandant’s house is located, and from here you can access the Castle via the passage above the Lion Gate.
- The northeastern part. There is another courtyard here, as well as a drawbridge over the moat.
A few meters away from the landmark, which stands on a 100-meter hill, you can find old vineyards and well-maintained fields.
Interestingly, in 1868, King Wilhelm I sold the Reichsburg Castle for a ridiculous sum of 300 thalers.
What to see inside
Since the main purpose of the fortress is to defend the city of Kohum from enemies, the castle’s interior design is closely related to the themes of war and hunting. There are six main halls:
- Chivalrous. This is the largest room in the fortress, with a semicircular ceiling supported by 12 massive columns. 2 paintings (by Rubens and Titian) hang in the center of the hall, and on the sides there are exhibits brought from Japan (vases, chest), France (porcelain collection) and England (chairs and chairs).
- The Great Dining Room is the central room in the Imperial Castle. It was used for hosting distinguished guests and for dining by the owners of the house. The walls, ceiling and furniture in this room are made of wood, and the main attraction is a large carved buffet, which is more than 5 meters high. It contains a large collection of Delft porcelain, and on top of it sits a double-headed eagle.
- The Hunting Room. This room contains hunting trophies, including stuffed birds, antlers of deer and moose, and bearskins. The highlight of this room is the stained glass windows, which display the coats of arms of the counts and kings who once lived in this fortress.
- The Armory. This hall, with its wooden paneled walls, houses a dozen suits of armor, about 30 shields, and more than 40 types of weapons. Interestingly, according to museum staff, it cost 45 cows to equip a single warrior for a campaign.
- The Gothic or women’s room was the warmest room in the castle, as it had a constant fire. The walls and furniture were decorated with intarsia (three-dimensional mosaics made of wood, ivory, and tortoiseshell). The centerpiece of this room was a fireplace brought from Delft.
- A room in the Romanesque style. The most mysterious and symbolic room in the fortress. The walls and ceiling are decorated with 12 signs of the Zodiac, the stone slabs from the furnace are decorated with the princes of Israel, and the center of the ceiling is decorated with metaphorical images of Courage, Wisdom, Justice, and Balance.
In addition to the above-mentioned halls and rooms, the castle of Kohma (Germany) had a small kitchen, as well as a cellar where barrels of Moselle wine are still stored today.
You cannot enter the castle without a guide, so if you are traveling to the fortress with a group of more than 20 people, you must inform the museum staff of your arrival in advance.
If the group is significantly smaller, you can come without an appointment: every hour (from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), a guide conducts a guided tour of the castle.
Working hours: 09:00 – 17:00
Location: Schlossstr. 36, 56812, Cochem
Cost of visit (euro):
| Adults | 6 |
|---|---|
| Children | 3 |
| Group of 12 people (per person) | 5 |
| Students over 18 years of age | 5 |
| Family card (2 children + 2 adults) | 16 |
Tickets are purchased at the castle ticket office.
Official website: https://reichsburg-cochem.de
What else to see in Cochem
In addition to the Reichsburg Castle in Cochem, you can see and visit:
Market Square and the Town Hall (Rathaus)
Like any other European city, Cochem has a beautiful market square, where a farmer’s market is held on weekdays and young people gather on weekends. The square is not very large, but tourists believe it is just as good as those in neighboring German cities.
The main ancient sights are located here (of course, with the exception of the castle) and the Town Hall, which is a symbol of the city’s Magdeburg rights and self-governance. The Town Hall in Cochem is small and almost invisible behind the facades of neighboring buildings. It now houses a museum that can be visited for free.
Location: Am Marktplatz, 56812, Cochem, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Mustard Mill (Historische Senfmuehle)
The mustard mill is a small museum shop on the Market Square of the city, where you can try and purchase your favorite varieties of mustard, as well as Moselle wine. Tourists recommend buying mustard seeds here, as they can be used to create your own mustard variety.
If you still don’t know what souvenir to bring to your family and friends from Kohame, be sure to visit this shop.
Location: Endertstr. 18, 56812, Cochem
Opening hours: 10:00 – 18:00
St Martin’s Church (Catholic Church of St Martin)
The Catholic Church of St. Martin is located on the seafront of Cochem, and welcomes visitors to the town. The oldest part of the church, built in the 15th century, has survived to this day. The rest of the buildings adjacent to the church were destroyed in 1945.
This Kohame attraction is not very beautiful or unusual, but it fits into the cityscape very well. The interior of the church is also quite modest, with ivory-colored walls, snow-white vaults, and wooden beams on the ceiling. The windows are adorned with colorful stained glass, and there are wooden sculptures of saints at the entrance. However, tourists say that the church adds to the city’s charm and makes it more complete.
Location: Moselpromenade 8, 56812, Cochem, Germany
Working hours: 09:00 – 16:00
Public transport links
It is easy to get to the sights of Kohum in Germany. In addition to the tours organized by travel companies, public transportation regularly runs to Kohum. The best way to get to Kohum is from:
- Trier (55 km). You can take a bus. Board at Polch station. The journey takes 1 hour.
- Koblenz (53 km). The best option is by train. The station is Koblenz Hauptbahnhof. Travel time is 1 hour.
- Bonn (91 km). You can get there by train. You need to take the train at Cochem station. The journey time is 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- Frankfurt am Main (150 km). A more comfortable and faster way is by train. The station is Frankfurt(Main)Hbf. Travel time is 2 hours.
Tickets can be purchased either at railway station ticket offices or (for buses) on the official websites of the carriers.
Useful tips
- Cochem is one of the few German cities that can be reached by river (for example, from Koblenz).
- If you plan to spend more than one day in the city of Cochem in Germany, book your accommodation in advance. There are only a few hotels and guesthouses in the area, and they tend to be fully booked.
- There is no nightlife in the city, so outdoor enthusiasts may find it boring.
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast. Since Cochem is located on the Moselle River, there are occasional floods.
Cochem, Germany, is one of those small but beautiful and cozy European towns that make you want to stay longer.
