Reichsburg Cochem Castle

On Saturday October 25th we headed to Cochem castle with our friends the Bonds.  I have been wanting to do this for awhile, and this was the family one.  They have one where they do not let children under the age of six go, but we decided to do this one for the kids and go to the family friendly one.  :-)

This was their main market square for their small town and it was a small market square, normally they are bigger.  Cochem was settled in 886.

We stopped for lunch in a little quaint restaurant on the square.

The crew in front of St Martin's Fountain.  We sure do have a handsome bunch!

So I saw these wonderful clubs in one of the souvenir stores and of course the kids had to have them!!!  Wes was with me, but Sarah didn't think it was a good idea.  I mean giving four children clubs, what could do wrong?!?

I really like this mailbox and would like one like it!!!

They are defending the area with this knight.

 

This wall pretty much tells the story of Cochem.  Cochem is surrounded by steep vineyards and quaint wine villages.  They etched special events with dates in the wall.

 

And of course we have to have ice cream while we are out.  Though AJ deviated from ice cream because there were these AWESOME HUGE cinnamon and sugar pretzels that were to die for.  As you can tell I had to have one too!!

The boys taking the lead as we headed up to the castle.

The Reichsburg Castle - it really is impressive to look at.   There is a secret passage way from Monastery to castle, but it was destroyed in the battle 1600.

I am king of the world!!!  Love this little man!!!

AJ giving Ms Sarah a hard attack standing on the railings with a huge drop on either side.  Me I asked him to stay there a little longer so I could take the picture.  :-)

A beautiful view of the valley from up on the mountain.

I asked my boys to stand together so I could take a picture and this is what I get.  Yes, I choose to live with them.  ;-)

The good side of them!!!

I really liked these - it is a knight fighting snakes on the railings.

AJ, the guardian of the castle!!  Look out to whoever tries to get past him.

I could see living up here - such a beautiful sight to see day in and day out.  Check out the trees changing colors, the bridge, the river - so much beauty!!!

I think AJ is on the wrong side of the cannon - but they were all having fun!

AJ is definitely into guarding the castle, he loves his new club!!!

Michael making sure the knight also has some help guarding the castle!

Where are our kids - up front of course.  They were so excited for this tour!!!

This guy was AWESOME!!!  He was so good with the kids, he was right on their level and made it so fun for them!!!

I am not sure what Michael is doing here, but he cracks me up!!!  Maybe he is welcoming all to the castle!!

Down in the dungeon with all the torture machines!

Michael was picked for this one, they put people in these when they are lazy and don't want to do anything.  So here you can't even get up to go pee or anything.  Michael was checking out the fake spider and wasn't so sure of it.  He decided that he wouldn't like to sit there for days and do nothing.

 

This was a torture device for those who look at themselves in the mirror too much.  They get to stand in this cage and it spins for all to see.

 

The first drunk tank - if somebody was too drunk they put them in and they stayed until they sobered up.  I wouldn't want to be the second person in there since you couldn't get out to pee or anything else.

 

This was an interesting one.  If a wine maker makes punch wine, which is where they add sugar and water to grape juice, they are put in the cage and then lowered them into the barrel of their punch wine.  They had to drink fast before they drowned.

 

The kids were always excited to hear the stories he told!  They are all huddled around him.

 

This is the witches tower.  It is called that because in the 1600 battle with the French, the castle was blown up with six huge explosions, everything was destroyed except this tower.  Hence called the witches tower.  There is a hole the witches were kept in and when it was time to find out if they were a witch or not, they would throw them over the castle wall.  If they survived, they were a witch, if they died, they were innocent.  The castle wasn't rebuilt again until 1866.

 

Story time in the King and Queen's bedroom.

 

A picture of the bedroom through the mirror in there.

 

There were a few pieces of furniture that I thought would look nice in my house, this was one of them.

 

These chairs were also really cool!

 

AJ was having a great time posing throughout the castle!

 

I thought this was so pretty, with the leaves and all.  I love the fall colors!!!

 

Next it was off to our medieval meal.  We weren't able to all sit together, but the boys were able to at least!

The boys ready to eat medieval style - with their hands.



 

AJ enjoying his chicken!!

 

 

Michael tearing into it!!  He didn't like the bread as much, but I thought it was yummy.

 

They had all these crests around the room.

 

Ari and I at dinner!

 

I thought these were too cute for the bathrooms.

 

As we were heading out of the castle, the kids saw a really cute dog.  When David came out he actually knew the guy, it is a small world.

 

They had a small bird show on the lower part of the castle, we weren't really close, but watched through the castle walls.

 

This is the helmed lion statue overlooking the Mosel.

 

Michael decided to try and take on Ms. Sarah, but I think that might have been a mistake because she can hang all on her own.

 

So then AJ decided to try and help his little brother.  We had a wonderful time at the castle and the kids really enjoyed it!!!  That is well worth it for me!