Cochem, District capital in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Cochem is a district capital on the Moselle in Rhineland-Palatinate, spreading across wooded slopes and vineyards. The townscape is shaped by a castle perched on a rock outcrop, while a compact old town with narrow lanes sits along the riverbank.
The settlement was first recorded in 866 and received town rights in 1332. A plague epidemic struck in 1423, while the present castle was rebuilt after 1868 on the ruins of a medieval structure.
The name comes from a Latin term for a settlement, and today the old town displays half-timbered houses with colorful facades along narrow lanes. Visitors find wine taverns and small shops that residents use in their daily routines.
The town is connected to larger German cities by Regionalbahn, Regional-Express and InterCity train services. Visitors can best explore the old town on foot and should wear sturdy shoes for the climb up to the castle.
The railway station from 1900 to 1902 shows a Renaissance Revival building style. This is one of the smallest district capitals in Germany measured by population.
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