Cochem

Sailing along the picturesque Mosselle River Valley on our way to the stunning Medieval town of Cochem, we suddenly realized that we were sailing backwards! Upon learning that an upcoming lock was shut down, our more than capable captain deftly put the ship in reverse (the river was too narrow at that point to turn around) and maneuvered back to a safe place to dock. The good news is that we got to see some of these stunning valley views twice. Our cruise director Simon shifted into high gear and immediately re-arranged our itinerary, called in the bus drivers who were having a day off, and got us to Cochem where local guides were waiting to share the magic of their town with us.

Cochem is one of the Moselle River’s most picturesque villages. We arrived just in time for the celebration of the “green wine” (a very young wine) which we enjoyed at Schlagkamp, a family-owned winery since 1602.

A very walkable town, Cochem prohibits cars on city streets between the hours of 10am-6pm. Street vendors offering delights of all kinds bring families and tourists out to enjoy the festivities.

Through the Medieval city gates into the Old Quarter, we walked past numerous half-timbered homes and businesses as well as the 15th-century St. Martin’s Church. Although the market square was relatively quiet during our visit, we were told that it will be a beehive of activity on market days, especially during the upcoming Christmas Markets.

Continuing our climb to the upper town, our efforts were rewarded with our first glimpse of Reichsburg Castle. Perched on a bluff overlooking the town, this magnificent building dates back to the 11th century. In 1689, the troops of Louis XIV razed it to the ground and lay in ruins until it was restored by a private owner. Now owned by the citizens of Cochem, it stands as a monument keeping careful watch over this beautiful place.

Although the resident population of Cochem is only around 5500 people, during the height of the tourist season that can grow to over a million. It is clear to us that the combination of history, beauty, hospitality, walkability, safety, fine wines, challenging hiking trails, and interesting points of interest make Cochem a very attractive place to visit.