Your Cochem City Experience

What would Cochem be without its landmarks – the towering Reichsburg! The former castle ruins owe their present appearance to the wealthy Berlin entrepreneur Louis Ravené, a connoisseur of art, who purchased them in 1868 and had them rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style whilst incorporating the historic structure – as a summer residence for his family. A fairytale estate that captivates with its many lovingly crafted details and ever-changing romantic vantage points – not to mention the beautiful view across the Moselle Valley.

At first glance, it appears to be a perfectly ordinary residential area: if you walk across the Moselle bridge from Cochem town centre and follow Bergstraße uphill, you would certainly never suspect that, nestled amongst the houses here, there is a formerly top-secret underground vault containing a reserve currency. The German government and the Bundesbank had set this up as a contingency measure. From 1964 to 1988, the Bundesbank bunker stored around 15 billion Deutschmarks of the emergency currency BBK II, which would have replaced the current currency within 14 days in the event of a crisis. With the end of the ‘Cold War’ and the introduction of the euro, this emergency currency became redundant. Or did it? In any case, the facility has since been converted into a documentation centre, which you can explore as part of a one-hour guided tour. If the walk seems too tiring, take the BunkerShuttle from Endertplatz.

St Martin’s Catholic Church in Cochem is an oasis of calm in the bustling town of Cochem. You’ll recognise it immediately by its onion-domed tower. Some parts of the building date back as far as the 15th century. But what makes it so special is the modern architecture of Dominikus Böhm, which is particularly striking inside. The impression of the space is perfectly complemented by the impressive modern stained-glass windows by the two renowned glass artists Graham Jones and Patrick Reyntien, dating from 2009 and 2012.

Dominikus Böhm was a celebrated German architect in the first half of the 20th century, who distinguished himself above all through his religious buildings. His numerous churches span a spectrum from the reform art of the early 20th century through Expressionism to the post-war reconstruction years.

You shouldn’t miss out on this classic tourist attraction: take a sightseeing boat to Beilstein. The village, with its historic centre, is like stepping back in time. Remains of the historic city walls, including the former city gates and towers, have been preserved, as has the medieval layout of the village with its central focal point: the market square with the tithe house and the former parish church.

A steep flight of steps leads up to the Baroque parish church of St Joseph and the former Carmelite monastery dating from the 17th century. A beautiful view awaits you here. Be sure to see the miraculous image of the Black Madonna in St Joseph’s, which is a magnet for many pilgrims.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat: Café Klapperburg, housed in a former village bakery that has been lovingly and meticulously renovated, fits in perfectly with Beilstein’s nostalgic atmosphere. The cakes and tarts are made in the café’s own patisserie.

Another beautiful historic village at the Mosel is Ediger-Eller. You can get there quickly by train from Cochem: simply take the regional train through the Kaiser Wilhelm Tunnel. 

Here you have a choice: head straight for a tour of the village, or tackle a sporting challenge first?

The latter would be a climb through Europe’s steepest vineyard. Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a unique view of the narrow Moselle loop and the ruins of Stuben Abbey. You can also drive to a nearby hiking car park.

To reach the wine-growing village of Ediger-Eller, turn left as you leave the station. Simply stroll through the historic village centre with its beautiful half-timbered houses. Here you’ll also find several good places to stop for a bite to eat.

The historic Springiersbacher Hof monastery estate, situated in the heart of Ediger’s old town centre, is home to the Borchert family’s restaurant and winery. Michael Borchert’s wines have already been recognised by the Eichelmann wine guide. The menu features dishes typical of the Moselle region as well as Mediterranean fare, all guided by the principles of the Slow Food movement.

If you’re after a more relaxed, lounge-style atmosphere, you’ll find Wajos’s ‘Wein & Genuss-Lounge’ on the banks of the Moselle in Eller. Alongside tapas, the menu includes pasta, burgers, tarte flambée and salads, all made with high-quality ingredients and available in a wide variety of options.

The Dax Winery in Ernst was honoured by the German Wine Institute in 2021 for its particularly beautiful and modern wine bar. It’s a wonderful setting for an in-depth wine tasting.