Cochem: Reichsburg Castle, Old Town and Moselle Views

Reichsburg Castle and the Historic Town

Reichsburg Castle in Cochem has a thousand-year history and stands on a steep hill more than 100 metres above the Moselle. In the wider Cochem-Zell travel destination, the medieval imperial castle took on its Neo-Gothic appearance in the 19th century. Louis Ravené had it restored and rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style as part of the Romantic castle revival.

Visits to the interior include the Knights' Hall, the Hunting Room and the Kemenate, among other rooms. Public guided tours are offered in German and English; free translation texts are available in twelve languages. Check the current tour options before your visit. Sections of the town wall and fortifications have been preserved in the historic centre. Notable structures include Endert Gate, Balduin Gate and Martin Gate. The Capuchin monastery, built around 1630, now serves as a cultural centre and adds another site of local history to the medieval heritage.

Routes to Views and Outdoor Activities

Pinnerkreuz is a viewpoint on Pinnerberg offering views across the Moselle Valley. You can reach it by taking the Cochem chairlift or following a vineyard path uphill. This gives you two different routes to the same viewpoint. As the chairlift may operate seasonally, check its operating hours in advance. A route variant of approximately eight kilometres is listed for the Cochemer Ritterrunde. Weather or trail works may change route details; check the current route before setting out.

Another option for planning a trip is the moderately difficult Moselle Cycle Route between Zell (Mosel) and Cochem. It is 36.36 kilometres long; Cochem railway station is listed as a public transport access point. The approximate length of the Ritterrunde and the stated distance of the cycle route offer different scales for planning. Which route suits your plans depends on how you would like to spend your stay.

Guided Tours and Special Insights

The official Cochem town tour is a one-hour guided walk. It starts at Endertplatz, next to the bus station and Tourist Information. If you would rather discover the town on a guided walk, you can include this fixed starting point in your day's plans; check the current route in advance.

The Bundesbank Bunker can also be visited as a documentation centre: the visit takes place as part of a one-hour guided tour. There is no on-site parking at the bunker; the BunkerShuttle can be taken from Endertplatz. As visitor arrangements may change, check the latest information before travelling. The two one-hour experiences are quite different: the town tour takes you through Cochem, while the bunker tour offers an insight into the documentation centre.

Cochem's historic mustard mill offers another way to explore local traditions. On guided visits, you can learn how gourmet mustard is made according to traditional, original recipes. The mill complements the historic buildings with a taste of regional food culture. Check the tour arrangements before your visit.

Also in the wider Cochem-Zell travel destination

The wider Cochem-Zell travel destination also includes other nature and landscape attractions. Jungferweiher is an important breeding and resting area for many bird species, especially during spring and autumn migrations. The Geierlay suspension bridge is 360 metres long and stands 100 metres above the Mörsdorfer Bachtal, between Sosberg in the Cochem-Zell district and Mörsdorf in the Rhein-Hunsrück district. These examples offer different impressions from Cochem's castle, town walls and cultural attractions: birdwatching through the changing seasons in one place, and a bridge high above a stream valley in another.

For many tourist attractions in Cochem-Zell, a visitor guide published in July 2025 lists the relevant bus or train line. Check the specific connection for your travel date, as services may change. To get to Cochem, all Deutsche Bahn trains on the Koblenz–Trier Moselle line stop at Cochem station. Here too, it is worth checking the timetable before you travel.

Cochem as a Starting Point for Your Accommodation Search

If you want Reichsburg Castle, the old town, fortifications and cultural attractions to shape your stay, you can focus your search on accommodation in Cochem. Consider which experiences you would like to prioritise: a visit to the castle, a guided tour or a trip up to Pinnerkreuz. If your itinerary includes destinations in the wider Cochem-Zell travel destination, you can also plan suitable bus and train connections for your travel dates. This way, you can choose your destination based on the experiences that genuinely interest you.

Discover more destinations: Bruttig-Fankel, Ediger-Eller, Ellenz-Poltersdorf, Ernst, Faid, Senheim, Valwig, Mesenich, Klotten, Briedern, Bremm, Greimersburg, Sehl, Nehren, Beilstein, Dohr.

Back to the wider travel overview: Cochem-Zell.