Would someone who really knows, please, be so kind as to give me clear and simple instructions on how to reach Burg Eltz without a car from Cochem on the Mosel. I am bringing a friend to Germany with me in September and we will be traveling exclusively by train. She wants to tour a castle and I believe Burg Eltz will be the best one for us. However, without a car it sounds complicated. Some places I read say we must hike through the forest for more than an hour and I don't believe she would be able to do that. A taxi is out of the question for economic reasons. Are there not any buses that go there? Please help if you can.

Here is one entry of many on googled forums about this.

Normal route from Koblenz would be train to Moselkern and than walk (~ 30 min). KD boat to Moselkern is also an option.

It's an nice and easy walk. Unlike the most other castles Eltz does not sit on the rocks towering above the Rhine/Moselle, but in a side valley of the Moselle.

http://www.burg-eltz.de/e_anfahrt_index.html

Also ask at your hotel if there are any local tours. A shame you cannot drive a car.. or feel the taxi will be prohibitive from the nearest train station as it is a lovely place.

I hope you can find a solution that suits your legs and pocket book.

Is there any reason you do not want to tour the Cochem castle?

I have done it - train to Moselkern then mini-bus or taxis that will be waiting or the gently but steadily uphill path thru a lovely forest to the famous castle!

no I think there are no public buses but private mini-buses if demand is high enough or share a taxi with other folks getting off train.

There is a bus that makes 6 trips to Burg Eltz on Saturdays and 4 trips on Sundays - it's called the Burgenbus (#330.) From Cochem you would take the train first to Hatzenport, and catch Bus 330 there. You can find itineraries starting from Cochem at the German Railways webpage below. Use "Cochem(Mosel)" as your start station, "Burg Eltz, Wierschem" as your destination:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

If you are traveling on a weekday, there's no public bus; take the train to Moselkern and walk from there. It is a fairly easy walk that my 74-year-old in-laws accomplished with no trouble. Instructions with photos for this walk are here:

http://www.bensbauernhof.com/burgeltzfrommoselkern.html

CORRECTION: I wrote...
"There is a bus that makes 6 trips to Burg Eltz on Saturdays and 4 trips on Sundays"

That should be FOUR trips on both Saturday and Sunday. Sorry.

Thank you all for the information. It sounds doable. I thought I read or heard somewhere it was a full hour walk through the forest to the Castle. I'm pretty sure my friend could hike 30 minutes.

And I was under the impression that the castle at Cochem was not really much to tour. I think Rick Steves says that it is best viewed from a distance.

Just to clarify... the 30 minute "hike" through the woods referred to in the bensbauernhof link above is a slight overestimation. But you must add to that the 2-2.5 km walk you must make from the station to the start of the walk through the woods. So... maybe 45 minutes each way for a leisurely walk.

Cochem's Reichsburg Castle isn't the greatest castle on earth but it's still interesting to walk through, and even if you don't take the tour, it's worth visiting for view over the town and river valley and for the birds of prey show; photos:

http://www.falknerei-reichsburg-coch...vorfuhrung.htm

We enjoyed the Cochem castle also.. and of course, Burg Eltz is just a great experience when you first get a glimpse when you are on the trail.

When we were there a mini bus was taking people from the parking lot to the castle round trip. This was n a weekend in the spring. GETTING to the parking lot from the train would be MTY concern. I hope Russ's detailed info helps you get there with few problems.

MY concern

There is a ruined castle perched high above Cochem that few people stumble on as well - you can actually drive up there - a great view for miles around,

Are you doing the Rhine as well - Marksburg Castle on the Rhine near Koblenz is about the only other authentic medieval castle still standing after zillions of others were knocked down by marauding armies thru the ages - many by Napoleon but Marksburg still stands sentinel over one of the busiest waterways in the world. Take a K-D boat there to a dock under the castle (or train to same place) and then swing up to the hill top castle effortlessly via a chair lift - or walk up of course.

http://www.marksburg.de/english/frame.htm

"Marksburg still stands sentinel over one of the busiest waterways in the world. Take a K-D boat there to a dock under the castle (or train to same place) and then swing up to the hill top castle effortlessly via a chair lift..."

Chair lift? At Marksburg? What chair lift?

russ - I thought when I was last there there was a chairlift or lift of some type? There is none I presume by your comment and you have to walk - well if so the walk is much much easier and shorter than the one to Burg Eltz.

http://www.marksburg.de/english/frame.htm>

a people mover now - like a zoo-one on wheels - well when I was last there - quite a while ago there was I swear some kind of chairlift but I must have mixed that up with some other castle. Thanks for the correcto!

Cochem's Reichsburg Castle isn't the greatest castle on earth but it's still interesting to walk through>

It is a gem of a medieval castle on the outside because it is Ersatz - built in the mid to late 1800s I believe to re-create the looks of a medieval castle - I too was underwhelmed by its interior. But swirling out of a vineyard-clad hill in the town center overlooking the placid Mosel.... so so cute and romantic! Especially at night when it is gloriously illminated.