The Moselle Valley is one of Germany’s most popular holiday destinations. However, you don’t need lots of time to catch a glimpse of this region’s magic. In just one day you can visit two of the valley’s absolute highlights: the charming town of Cochem and fairytale castle Burg Eltz.
Cochem and Burg Eltz are two of the Moselle’s Valley most famous destinations. They are only a thirty minute-drive away from each other and you can definitely visit them both in one day. However, we didn’t do that. We paused in Cochem on our way to the Rhine Valley, only arriving in the afternoon, because we drove all the way there from our home base in Belgium. On the way back, we visited Burg Eltz and had dinner in Cochem, after having already visited another castle in the Rhine Valley that day. So: if you have a full day in the region, you can easily combine these fabulous places … or you could keep them in mind as convenient and beautiful stops on the road to the Rhine Valley, which is a great destination for a longer stay too.
Burg Eltz
Hidden in the woods lies Burg Eltz. A castle that looks as if it was plucked out of a Disney movie. Burg Eltz is about 900 years old and still owned by the family that shares its name. The palace counts eight towers, that were occupied by several branches of the Eltz family for years. Nowadays, no one lives in Burg Eltz anymore, but both the interior and exterior are beautifully maintained … and the location of the castle is simply stunning.
How to get there?
Burg Eltz is built quite secluded in the forest. As a result, I think most people drive here by car. However, the website includes other means of transport to get there too. If you go by car, you pay a couple of euros for the parking lot. There are other park places in the surroundings, but these are further away from the castle, so you’ll need to walk further to reach the Burg.
From the parking lot of Burg Eltz, you can either take a shuttle bus or hike a short distance to the castle. There are apparently two paths that take you there, but we only spotted one. The one we didn’t notice is about 800 metres long, but apparently rather steep. It is the only way suited for strollers though.
We took the longer, yet flatter route of 1,2 kilometres to Burg Eltz. This way takes you through a forest that will make you feel as if you immersed into Snow White … and then you haven’t even caught sight of the castle yet! If you take this way to Burg Eltz, you’ll spot the breathtaking castle after a bend in the road. The sights from here are really amazing.
Visiting Burg Eltz
An adult ticket to Burg Eltz costs 14 euros and can only be purchased on site. The castle is open from 9.00 to 17.30. Keep in mind that this is a very popular place to visit and that there might be a queue to enter. We went there during high season in the late afternoon and had to wait a bit at the entrance, although I believe this was mostly because the number of visitors was limited due to the COVID measures.
The ticket includes a guided tour inside the castle and entrance to the treasury, which you can explore on your own. It is filled to the brim with special items that were once used by the Burg’s inhabitants. Going inside the castle is only possible with a guide. The tour takes about 35 to 40 minutes and a new one starts every 10 to 15 minutes. The website states these tours are only organised in English upon request, but when we visited there was an English guide working as well. We just had to wait a bit longer at the pretty courtyard before it started. The German tours followed each other up rather quickly. When buying your ticket at the entrance, you can also get a printed version of the tour’s information in your mother tongue.
The interior of the castle is beautiful and pretty special. Burg Eltz was mainly used for living, and only once a part of a violent conflict. This is resembled in the rooms. You’ll be amazed by the number of centuries-old artifacts the family can still showcase in the castle to this day. The tour isn’t that long and you don’t visit that many rooms, but it is definitely worth it as the castle is so well-maintained. You really discover how it must have felt to live here ages ago, and you’ll learn some interesting and funny facts about Burg Eltz and the family that inhabited the place for so long.
Cochem
Cochem is one of the Moselle area’s prettiest villages and rightfully so. It is quintessential German, has a beautiful old town, a castle on a hill overlooking it, and tons of options for food and drinks. The village can be reached by car and there are several (paid) parking lots close to the city centre.
There is more to do in Cochem than what I list here: think boat rides on the Moselle, a chair lift to a viewpoint over town … The things included below, are the highlights we managed to tick off during our half day visit.
The Moselle
You can’t go to Cochem without enjoying the views of the river flowing through it. The Moselle is undoubtedly an essential part of Cochem’s attractiveness. The river promenade is lovely, lined with the typical quaint, half-timbered houses. Aside from a stroll along the river banks, it’s also a great idea to cross the Skagerak bridge. It is close to the centre of the village and offers a great view on the old town, the colourful riverside buildings and the Reichsburg that dominates Cochem’s skyline.
The Old Town
Cochem’s old town (Altstadt) consists of many beautiful streets and cosy small squares lined with colourful, timber framed houses. Make sure to stop at the picturesque Market Square, that houses the Town Hall and the Saint Martin’s fountain. It is a great place to have a rest and enjoy a drink. The square is close to Saint Martin’s church. Its tower is a real eyecatcher.
While wandering the streets of the old town – which is a must – you might pass one of the three medieval city gates that still stand. The biggest one, the Enderttor is located in the city centre and was built in 1332.
Reichsburg
Without a doubt Cochem’s star attraction: the Reichsburg. This castle, with its remarkable mosaic on the biggest tower, is a must visit when you’re in town. The original stronghold was built around 1100, but was mostly destroyed at the end of the 17th century. It was rebuilt two centuries later and now still stands tall over Cochem.
You can reach the Reichsburg by foot from the town centre. It’s a rather steep path, but if necessary you can also take a shuttle bus up the hill. You can buy entry tickets once you’ve reached the castle. We only visited the courtyards, which costs 3 euros. If you also want to do a guided tour of the Reichsburg’s interior, you’ll pay 7 euros as an adult. The castle is open from 10.00 to 18.00, but the last admission is at 17.00. More information about the guided tours and special ways to visit the Reichsburg can be found on the castle’s website.
As we only visited the courtyards, I cannot judge the guided tours or the interior … However, I can say that the exterior parts were definitely worth their money. The courtyards and the castle itself are well-maintained and a delight to behold. There are several signs put up with more info about the castle’s history and what life here was like.
When you’re done admiring the Reichsburg’s courtyards, make sure to stop by the cannon on your way out. From the walls surrounding this old weapon you have an amazing view over Cochem and the Moselle. This section of the Reichsburg lies behind the castle gate, but before the ticket office. So you could just walk up here for the wonderful vistas, without having to pay for a visit.
Looking for more travel inspiration for Germany? Check out my itinerary for a fun week in the Black Forest.