Imperial Castle Cochem Festival

The Reichsburg Cochem is one of the most famous castles on the Moselle. Situated on a rocky outcrop above the town, it shapes Cochem's silhouette and is a major tourist attraction. Once a year, on the first weekend of August, it transforms into a medieval market that fully embraces its historic ambiance: the inner courtyards, the ramparts, the outer bailey, and the keep are brought to life with market stalls, stages, encampments, and activity areas, making the immersion into another era a sensory experience for visitors.

The weekend begins on Saturday morning with a joint procession of all participants – knights, jugglers, musicians, craftspeople, noblewomen, servants, and maids – from Endertplatz in the town below up to the castle. The procession sets off at 10 AM, and this ascent itself is a spectacle that involves the entire town. Upon arrival at the castle, the festival opens with a short ceremony and the market opening.

Throughout the weekend, the highlights unfold: the group Fictum, from the renowned medieval scene, stages knight fights several times a day in the combat arena, featuring swords, spears, shields, and artfully choreographed fall sequences. Minstrels wander through the courtyards with bagpipes, hurdy-gurdies, shawms, and drums; jugglers, acrobats, and fire artists perform on the smaller stages. The craftspeople at the stalls demonstrate medieval techniques: blacksmithing, leatherwork, wool processing, woodturning, pottery, basket weaving, bow making. At the food stalls, bread, cheese, mead, beer, wine, and hearty stews are served from pots simmering over open fires. Families can find activity stations where children can try pottery, practice archery, or play medieval games.