Moselle camping: beautiful but wet
After my K-pop trip to Amsterdam, I had two more summer trips planned. The first was a camping trip to the Moselle River. A beautiful region, full of greenery, vineyards, and castles along the meandering water. Only… we saw a little too much water this holiday for my liking.
It all started off so well. We pitched the tents under sunny skies, enjoyed a warm evening, and even woke up to another bright day. Perfect camping weather. We headed out straight away to the Geierlay suspension bridge. Spectacular views, a bit dizzying at times, and slightly nerve-wracking to walk across — but absolutely worth it.
Unfortunately, the weather then took a turn for the worse. Buckets of rain, and before long, one of the tents couldn’t take it anymore — water started dripping in. This meant an unexpected upgrade to a rustic hotel for part of our group. Camping in the rain can be charming, but soggy sleeping bags not so much.
Fortunately, the bad weather also yielded some atmospheric views. Our visit to Eltz Castle took on an almost Gothic feel thanks to the threatening clouds. I could easily picture Dracula there.
The tour inside was very comprehensive and interesting. Absolutely recommended. Only… when we stepped outside, another downpour was waiting.
The next day the weather cleared up a bit, so we headed to Cochem. A charming town, picturesque and easy to stroll through, but very touristy and therefore crowded. We had beautiful views of the castle from several vantage points, but this one, overlooking a cemetery, fit the Dracula theme we’d already established.
Cute place to wander, though it doesn’t take long to see most of it.
By then, another friend had joined us, which meant an extra tent, and we were able to leave the hotel. Only… that first evening, the waterproofing of our gear was immediately put to the test again. Luckily, everything stayed dry, but “cozy” isn’t exactly the word I’d use when you’re tucked into your sleeping bag by 9 pm just to escape the rain.
The weather forecast said it would stay mostly dry the next day. Perfect for our planned walk around the Nürburgring. It was a lovely walk in the greenery, and the constant hum of the motorcycles that were allowed on the track that day made it a unique experience.
Of course, just a kilometer from the end, we were hit by another downpour. After that, the floodgates closed briefly, only to open completely on the drive back to the campsite, where it poured incessantly. Luckily, the tents were still there—though it continued to rain on and off for the rest of the evening.
By that point, I was honestly done. Daytime exploring was fine, but sitting around a soaking wet tent in the cold at night, or going to bed extra early out of misery? Not my thing. So when someone in our group suggested heading home a day early, I didn’t hesitate for a second.
So the Moselle trip became one I’ll remember primarily as a battle against the rain. But thankfully, it also included some beautiful moments: the impressive Geierlay Bridge, the Gothic splendor of Eltz Castle, the charming town of Cochem, and—perhaps most importantly—the company. The region itself is absolutely worth a visit—but this time we were just unlucky with the weather.
Cheers,
Charlotte
