Plan a trip to Cochem

The picturesque town is surrounded by steep hills of quartz, blue and red slate and luscious vineyards, which makes one wonder how were the vineyards cultivated on these steep slopes. For the more initiated it is understandable that the sun plays an important role here, reaching the roots of the vines and as a result producing top grapes. And so, there are dozens of wineries offering the best quality of wines.

There is a bridge that connects the two banks and it is actually a good starting point to explore the old city which is on the north side of the bridge, with its half-timbered houses, vineyards, the promenade along the river and without a doubt the “pièce de résistance” the Cochem Imperial Castle (Reichsburg).

The pedestrian area is full of life and a great place to wander through the small streets with the interesting buildings and find refuge in the baroque square with a fountain in the middle surrounded by cafes and restaurants and shops. Signs will lead you to the trail to hike up to the castle. If you arrived to Cochem by car you will have to leave it parked, however there is transportation with a minibus or taxi which you can take from the bus station, situated on the side of the bridge. Should you want to visit the castle and get to the terrace of the castle please note that this can be done only with an organized group and a small fee.  However, you can catch a “Kodak Moment” from the plaza and the view is even more breathtaking!
Note: The “Reichsburg-Shuttle” bus service is seasonal, it does not operate in the winter months (please check if this is of importance.)

Towering on a hilltop, high above the city, the richly decorated, Renaissance-Baroque style 11th-century-castle is filled with artistic treasures. One can also easily see the various transformations it has undergone since it was first built in 1000 AD up to the present day; like most castles and fortresses which saw destruction by aggressors throughout its history.
To get to the observation point called Aussicht, go back to the heart of the town to the street Bruckenstrasse, turn left to the opposite side of the bridge to get to the cable car station Sesselbahn. Again we have an awesome view of the Moselle River Valley and the Cochem Castle.

Shhh! If you would like to be in on one of the top-secrets in Germany, and only recently discovered, we can meet at 35 Ad Wald Street at the entrance to the Deutsche Bundesbank. During the Cold War period which was approximately from 1964-1988, the Germans built what looked like a fallout shelter, when in fact it was a monetary storage facility in case of a currency emergency! For example – potential inflation or what if the “enemy” flooded the country with counterfeit money?  The answer was to print a special series of the German Mark (BBk II) and put it in storage in the bunker- so they would be ready to pull the old marks out of circulation and replace them with the new marks - 15 billion German marks! An ordinary entrance to the building disguised the secret bunker and nobody suspected anything else.   
Note: Although no registration is necessary, the bunker can only be visited as part of a guided tour and please be aware of the fact that if you are coming by car - there is no parking available on site.

Different ways to see Cochem:  Down at the docks you can reserve a cruise along the Moselle, or if you enjoy biking then you can rent a bicycle and follow the paths along the river or have a relaxing tour on one of the small tourist trains located at the base of the bridge, near the central station of the city.