In the town of Cochem, in the Cochem-Zell district of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

 “America took me into her bosom when there was no longer a country worthy of the name, but in my heart I am German -– German in my soul.”-– Marlene Dietrich

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(in the Cochem-Zell district of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) Once a Celtic, then Roman, outpost on the Rhine, the charming town of Cochem is located in the heart of Germany’s Riesling wine region. The Moselle Valley spans parts of northeastern France, southwestern Germany and Luxembourg. The town of Cochem itself, situated 140 km (~87 mi.) from the borders with France and Luxembourg, sits on both sides of the Moselle River. (A bridge links the two halves of the town.)

+ Cochem was once an Imperial estate. It was pledged by King Adolf of Nassau in 1294 to the Archbishopric of Trier and remained Electoral-Trier territory until the French occupation began in 1794. In 1332, Cochem was granted town rights, and shortly thereafter, the town fortifications, which still stand today, were built. Between 1423 and 1425, the town was stricken with a Plague epidemic. In 1623, Elector Lothar von Metternich brought about the founding of a Capuchin monastery. In the Thirty Years' War, the town was besieged, but not conquered. Beginning in 1794, Cochem lay under French rule. In 1815, it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna.

+ Louis Fréderic Jacques Ravené bought the ruin of the former Imperial castle in 1866 and began its reconstruction. Only after a bridge was built across the Moselle at Cochem in 1927 were the two fishing villages of Cond and Sehl amalgamated with the town in the course of administrative reform in 1932. This bridge, called the "Skagerrak Bridge," was dedicated on 23 January 1927. In the Second World War, great parts of Cochem's Old Town were destroyed.

+ There are good reasons why tourists flock to Cochem by the hundreds of thousands every year; one is that it is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Located in the heart of the verdant Moselle Valley in Germany’s southwest, the pre medieval town is also a mecca for hikers seeking adventure in the neighboring towns of Eifel and Hunsrück, wine enthusiasts sampling the region’s many vineyards, and holidaymakers enjoying the spectacular landscapes.

+ Here, half-timbered houses are topped with slate roofs, and while strolling the winding streets you will notice quirky details like a merman carved into the side of the building. The jewel in Cochem’s crown, however, is its spectacular 12th century imperial castle, which sits atop a rocky hill overlooking the town. Brought to near total destruction by French troops in the 1600s, the epic landmark was more recently restored by a wealthy benefactor, who returned it to its former glory -- perhaps even better than before.

+ Since you cannot visit the Riesling region without sampling the goods, check out Family Winery Rademacher for a wine tasting and cellar tour. (You will learn about what it takes to create a delicious wine from the winemaker himself.)