Considered one of the prettiest towns along the Moselle River, Cochem is clustered with half-timbered houses and surrounded by steep mountains blanketed in vineyards. It’s watched over by an eclectic castle that combines architectural styles and is home to a hidden subterranean bunker established by the Deutsche Bundesbank during the Cold War.
Things to do in Cochem
Spend an afternoon strolling through the Altstadt, which is home to beautifully preserved half-timbered houses topped by locally-sourced slate tile roofs. Admire the town’s three medieval gates, including the Enderttor where Cochem’s prison was once housed, and relax in one of the alfresco cafes beside the Baroque-style Town Hall.
Dominating Cochem is the Reichsburg, a medieval toll castle that was transformed into a fairytale-like masterpiece combining Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. You can explore the castle on a guided tour to see its period furnishings, treasured tapestries and stained-glass windows, then soak up the stunning views across the Moselle Valley from the terrace restaurant.
One of Cochem’s most unique attractions is the Bundesbank Bunker, which is hidden beneath two nondescript residential houses in the town’s north-east. The subterranean bunker was established to protect West Germany’s financial interests during the Cold War and housed up to 15 billion Deutschmarks between 1964 and 1988. Join a guided tour to see the safe where the notes were once kept, with up to 100 people able to survive in the bunker in the event of a nuclear war.
Getting around Cochem
Cochem is around 40 minutes’ drive from Koblenz and 1.5 hours from Frankfurt Airport, with regular trains connecting from the Cochem railway station. Buses travel to towns and villages throughout the Moselle Valley, while the centre of Cochem is ideally explored on foot or by bicycle.