Weekend to Cochem – Germany

The idea to spend a weekend in Cochem, Germany, came about spontaneously after we returned from our vacation in Croatia. We hadn’t planned to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary by going to Cochem, as usually a dinner at a restaurant is enough. In fact, for our first anniversary, we also celebrated with a trip to Texel. After that, we’d just mark our anniversaries with a nice dinner. But since this was our 5th and it felt special, we agreed on a “weekendje weg,” a Dutch term for a weekend getaway to somewhere where we could stay overnight.

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Initially, we considered going to Hamburg. However, after thinking it through, we canceled that plan. Hamburg is a large city, and visiting it for just a weekend didn’t seem enough. Maybe another time, if we do a road trip toward Denmark and the surrounding areas. Besides, going to Hamburg would mean more time on the road (about a 5-hour drive without stops from where we live) than actually exploring the city. After asking for suggestions in a group, Beth suggested the town of Cochem. I immediately liked it after looking up some information—a small, beautiful town with a castle and riverboat tours. Our family really enjoys visiting places with castles, and we also love amphitheaters.

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We set off on Friday afternoon. It had been raining heavily in the Netherlands since early morning, and it was still pouring when we left. We hoped the rain wouldn’t follow us all the way to Cochem. You see, the rain in the Netherlands can sometimes feel like a curse, as if it follows you everywhere you go on vacation! Unfortunately, our hopes weren’t answered. The rain was relentless all the way from the Netherlands to Cochem, with added lightning and thunder. It was pretty intense on the highway. My husband had to drive slowly because visibility was so poor. What should have been a 3.5-hour drive turned into an 8-hour journey due to two stops, the heavy rain, and traffic. Quite the adventure! But fortunately (there’s always a silver lining), the atmosphere inside the car remained calm, so despite the long journey, no one was stressed. Everyone stayed cheerful.

 

The next day, the weather in Cochem was relatively clear, though the morning was still a bit cloudy with light rain. Our first destination was the castle. Our hotel wasn’t far from it, so the walk up was manageable—about 30 minutes, though uphill. The climb was a bit challenging, leaving us slightly out of breath, maybe not just because of the weight we were carrying but also the weight of our sins, which made it even harder!

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Cochem Castle was built in the 12th century and has undergone several renovations, so the castle you see today isn’t the original structure. There are two ways to reach the castle: one is a stair path, and the other is a regular uphill path that passes by vineyards (on the roadside, not on the climbing trail). To explore the castle interior, you need to join a guided tour, which is available in various languages. We opted for the Dutch-language tour.

 

The tour isn’t free—I forget the exact amount, but I believe it was around €6 per person. The tour lasted about 45 minutes. While inside, I didn’t take many pictures, as I was too engrossed in the guide’s explanations, especially since it was in Dutch. Even when the guide speaks English with a particular accent, it can sometimes be a bit tricky to follow, so with Dutch, I had to pay close attention. The guide had a Brabant accent, so I really focused, yet I still managed to have a funny misunderstanding that my husband and I still laugh about.

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Here’s the story: At one point, the guide was explaining about a lamp shaped like a sea god. I briefly looked away, so I missed part of the explanation. Then the guide asked everyone to hold the person next to them, forming a chain. The guide herself was holding the lamp. I vaguely heard her say something, which I didn’t quite catch. Everyone started closing their eyes, and I assumed we were supposed to feel an electric current from the lamp. I waited and felt nothing (my husband was holding my arm, and I was holding the arm of an older gentleman next to me).

 

After everyone opened their eyes, I turned to my husband and asked, “Where’s the electric current? I didn’t feel anything.” He looked confused and said, “What electric current?” Now I was confused, too. “Weren’t we supposed to feel an electric current? And why was the guide holding the lamp?” My husband then started laughing quietly (since the tour wasn’t over), “No, we were supposed to make a wish, like a prayer. The sea god lamp is said to bring good luck. So you didn’t wish for anything?” Haha, we both started laughing. Oh dear, me, thinking we were meant to feel electricity when we were actually supposed to make a wish!

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After the castle, we headed back down to the town. Since it’s a very small town, you can easily explore it in a day. Despite the many tourists, it didn’t feel overly crowded. The busyness was still enjoyable. Walking through the old town’s alleys was delightful, admiring the historic buildings, the church, hearing the church bells ring every 15 minutes, and relaxing while munching on pretzels. We also took a river tour on a large boat.

 

The river tour lasted about an hour, giving us a view of Cochem from a different perspective. Not just the town center but also the outskirts. During the tour, there was a guide explaining the historical buildings we passed. Cochem is split into two parts by the Moselle River. You can cross to the other side of Cochem via a bridge, so taking a boat isn’t necessary, but if you want to enjoy the boat experience, it’s worth a try.

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I really enjoy visiting small towns like Cochem. It reminds me of Monschau—small but charming. Even though there were many tourists (probably because it’s summer), it didn’t feel crowded. We strolled around at a relaxed pace, and everything was within walking distance. In the afternoon, we even spent an hour at a playground by the Moselle River.

 

The next day, after breakfast, we headed back to the Netherlands. The return trip went smoothly—no traffic, clear weather, and we stopped once for lunch. The total journey home took 5 hours. And that was the end of our weekend getaway. Since this road trip went well, hopefully, our next one will be just as smooth. Where to next? Stay tuned for the story!

4 comments

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