Cochem

Some time must be spent in Cochem, on the north side of the Mosel River, about thirty miles from Koblenz. A baroque town hall, a monastery, fortifications dating from the early 1300s, and the castle, all make for an interesting visit. Since 1978 the castle, situated on a hill more than 300 feet above the river, has been owned by the town of Cochem.

From Trier, the Mosel River flows northeast towards Koblenz. Well now that’s not exactly correct, let’s try again: From Trier, the Mosel River flows north, south, east and west, and finally joins the Rhein at Koblenz. There, that’s better. The river flows 125 miles between these two cities; the most direct road is about eighty miles; and a crow would fly about sixty miles. It’s hard to imagine a more twisty large river, and it’s even more difficult to imagine one that is bordered with more beauty. In 1877 they opened the two-and-a-half mile Kaiser-Wilheim railroad tunnel, which eliminates about ten very twisty miles from the railway trip between Cochem and Eller.