Cochem Travel Guide

The castle of Cochem was first mentioned in 1130. It was destroyed in 1689. In 1868 Jakob Louis Ravené purchased the ruins for 300 Gold Marks and rebuilt it to its present form. Since 1978 the castle has been owned by the town of Cochem. The contours of the neo-gothic building rise more than about 330 ft above the river Moselle on an outstanding hill. Guided tours are available from 9am - 5pm daily (may be different during winter).

Admission: Adults: 4.50 €, Children (6-17 years) 2.50 €, Family Ticket 12 €. A medieval-style dinner in Cochem Castle is offered and must be booked in advance. The price is 41.50 € per person.

Mustard miller Wolfgang Steffens produces various types of outstanding gourmet mustard according to choice, time-honored recipes and processes at one of the oldest mustard mills in Europe, established in 1810. Demonstrations and sampling.

Hours: open daily from 10am - 6pm. Tours are available at 11 am and 2, 3, and 4pm.

The Wine Museum in Senheim, 18km from Cochem, features one of the world's largest collections of vintners', coopers' and winemakers tools with more than 10,000 exhibits housed in a winery built in 1923. The VinArena, the outdoor area which forms part of the museum, provides lots of interesting information on viticulture, past and present. Visitors can also walk along the small terraces and narrow paths of the vineyards.

Hours: Open daily 10am - 4pm from Easter to November.

Admission: 3 € which includes a glass of wine.

Senheim Sculpture Park, 15 km from Cochem, is an open-air museum set in a tributary valley of the Moselle. Created in 1999 by four artists, the park now extends from the banks of the river up into the vineyards and contains artworks which add new, thought-provoking dimensions while bringing new life to the countryside and villages. The series of artworks is complemented by the granite sculpture of an artist who lived and worked in this region.

In the bustling old quarter of Cochem, the timber-framed houses, the market square with its baroque town hall and Martins-Brunnen, St. Martin's Church and the former Capuchin monastery (now an arts centre) have been well preserved and lovingly restored. Sections of the old town walls have also been well maintained, including the historical Enderttor, Mäusetor and Balduinstor town gates. The Cochem tourist office has maps and more information.

Ride via chair lift up to one of the most panoramic viewpoints over Cochem, the Pinner Kreuz. Besides open double chairs, there are also cabins that can be closed according to the weather conditions. After 360 meters at a speed of 0.8 meters per second you will reach the top station, 255 meters above sea level. Optional walking excursions from the top point are to a Leisure and Wildlife Park or main villiage of Klotten, where a ferry back to Cochem is available.

Hours: Open mid-March to mid-November; check website for specific hours.

Admission: Adults start at 4.30 € one-way, Children from 1.90 €.