Cochem Local Customs

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Once you have bought your tickets (which start about every 15 minutes), you wait until your time is called. The castle cannot be visited unguided, nor can you walk round alone.
However, you are free to photograph everything inside the castle during the tour, which is really nice.

The guide first asks for all nationalities of the group and you can get a tour explanation on paper in a huge number of languages, including Russian, Chinese, Japanese, etc. The guide will speak German (photo 1). Once this has all been arranged, he explains in short the history of the castle (photo 1 again). He points out the huge image of the patron saint of travelers, Saint Christoffel on the tower (photo 2 and 3). When you walk on, you find that the hill top on which the castl stands is flat, and that within the walls there are also separate buildings (photo 4 and 5).

Address: Schlossstr 36, 56812 Cochem
Directions: Take a shuttle bus from the parking lot near the train station or do the steep climb (about 15 minutes) on foot. If by car: drive west along the Mosel, then turn right into Schlossstrasse. But beware: only about 20 places for parking!

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The first room that you visit is the dining room in Renaissance style. There's a huge fireplace (photo 1), a long table and an enormous cabinet full of Dutch Delft blue dishes and plates (photo 2). The ceiling is wonderfully decorated with the double eagle, a symbol for Germany (photo 4). On entering the dining room I saw a typical Dutch clock just outside the door.
There are 3 doors in this room. One of the doors has a surprise... but I won't spoil it for you by telling the guide's story and posting the photo! It has all to do with symmetry ...

Address: Schlossstr 36, 56812 Cochem
Directions: Take a shuttle bus from the parking lot near the train station or do the steep climb (about 15 minutes) on foot. If by car: drive west along the Mosel, then turn right into Schlossstrasse. But beware: only about 20 places for parking!

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Although this room is noted for its gothic ceiling, I forgot to make a photo of it!
That was because I was charmed with the fireplace, decorated with Delf Blue tiles (photo 1). The central stage in this room is taken by a table with wonderful wood/ivory inlay. This room is where the ladies would spend their time. Sitting in the alcove (photo 2) and enjoy the view outside high above the Mosel river.

Address: Schlossstr 36, 56812 Cochem
Directions: Take a shuttle bus from the parking lot near the train station or do the steep climb (about 15 minutes) on foot. If by car: drive west along the Mosel, then turn right into Schlossstrasse. But beware: only about 20 places for parking!

In the Roman room, noted for its ceiling construction and wall covering, there is a little surprise. A secret door... beware that you're not left behind!

Address: Schlossstr 36, 56812 Cochem
Directions: Take a shuttle bus from the parking lot near the train station or do the steep climb (about 15 minutes) on foot. If by car: drive west along the Mosel, then turn right into Schlossstrasse. But beware: only about 20 places for parking!

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Reason that I did not make more photos in the Roman room is that I was already charmed by the next room (I'm no good at following guided tours, I tend to wander off...). The lamp on the ceiling is a mermaid (Mesuline) who in the Middle Ages was supposed to ward off evil.
Through this room there was a tower with very nice staircase. We descended this to the next room.

Address: Schlossstr 36, 56812 Cochem
Directions: Take a shuttle bus from the parking lot near the train station or do the steep climb (about 15 minutes) on foot. If by car: drive west along the Mosel, then turn right into Schlossstrasse. But beware: only about 20 places for parking!

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Hunting trophies of animals from the region Eifel and Hunsrück (photo 1). There's a 70's (yes, 1970s!) feeling to this room. In the 1970s it was fashion to have windows with these round glass bits.
But in the 16th/17th century it was also fashionable to use the bottoms of glass bottles (Butzenscheiben) to decorate the windows along with stained windows (see photo 2, the yellow round glass circles). The tin pots (photo 2) contained the daily ration of wine that was assigned to everyone. Per monk 5 litres per day, per nun only 3 litre! Mind, alcohol percentage of wine was much lower in those days, about 5%.
Photo 3 shows the intricate lock on one of the doors in this room. Note that the iron work is made so that you can always find the actual lock in the dark (no electricity then!). Simply run your key along the line of iron and it drops automatically into the lock.
There was a little room next to the hunting room where I found this charming lamp carrier hanging from the ceiling (photo 4).

Address: Schlossstr 36, 56812 Cochem
Directions: Take a shuttle bus from the parking lot near the train station or do the steep climb (about 15 minutes) on foot. If by car: drive west along the Mosel, then turn right into Schlossstrasse. But beware: only about 20 places for parking!

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On entering the largest room of the castle, we feel a bit impressed but of course the Water Music of Händel that accompanies our entry does help that awe along.
You will find fine paintings here from the school of Titian and a copy of Rubens' painting the kidnapping of the Sabine Virgins. The fireplace (5th photo) has two lions on either side with closed helmets. They look like frogs :-)

Address: Schlossstr 36, 56812 Cochem
Directions: Take a shuttle bus from the parking lot near the train station or do the steep climb (about 15 minutes) on foot. If by car: drive west along the Mosel, then turn right into Schlossstrasse. But beware: only about 20 places for parking!

The Reichsburg was destroyed by the French in 1689, like many castles along the Mosel. This was to protect the French interests along the border of France, under the French king Louis XIV. Nearly 200 years later, in 1869, a citizen of Berlin, Louis Ravené, bought the castle and restored it in neo-gothic style. The interior was adapted to the living comfort of that time. Even toilets were installed! Since 1978 the city of Cochem has ownership of the castle.

Address: Schlossstr 36, 56812 Cochem
Directions: Take a shuttle bus from the parking lot near the train station or do the steep climb (about 15 minutes) on foot. If by car: drive west along the Mosel, then turn right into Schlossstrasse. But beware: only about 20 places for parking!