Bundesbank bunker Cochem Germany

From 1964 to 1988, the bunker was used by the Bundesbank to store the replacement series BBk II. This use was abandoned in 1988 and all the stored money, which was never needed, was shredded. The bunker then stood empty. In 1994, the Cochemer Volksbank bought the bunker and set up lockers in one part for flood-proof storage of their customers' money. This use was also abandoned, and in 2014 a business couple from the neighbouring town bought the facility and restored it extensively to make it a museum. The two camouflage houses (used for training purposes for Bundesbank employees until 1993) were converted into a hotel while preserving the listed façade. The interior design is reminiscent of the sixties with loving details. In the basement of the hotel is an entrance to the bunker complex, which is now closed to guests.

Hochtief AG used approx. 3000 m³ of concrete in the 2 years of construction of the bunker facility from 1962-1964. The facility was built into the rock and erected approx. 30 m below ground.
The bunker, some of which had concrete walls up to four metres thick, was given various entrances:


• in the basement of the residential building at no. 7 Brauseleystraße,
• behind the residential buildings (accessible from the street "Am Wald"),
• emergency exit in the cooling structure for air dehumidification
• Emergency exit in the ventilation building

On the one hundred metre long corridor from the cellar of the residential building towards the main tunnel (it was also the accommodation for 90 civilians), there is an exit on the left that leads into one of two safe areas. In a 140-square-metre room, secured by a 50-centimetre-thick steel door weighing several tonnes and fitted with a combination lock, lattice boxes were installed. The second, even longer vault room, is located at the end of the 100-metre corridor, also on the left. A staircase leads to the accommodation and work rooms on the upper floor. Here were the supply and recreation rooms and a radio room. Adjacent to the radio room is the so-called cooling tower, including a staircase running around it. This 14-metre-high shaft with a more than 2-metre-thick concrete casing was once used to supply the construction site and as an emergency exit.
The security concept of the vault consisted of vibration sensors mounted at short intervals all over the walls, which then activated an alarm system.
Since 2011, the facility has been listed as a cultural monument in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The bunker complex can also be optimally reached on foot from the town and can be wonderfully included in hiking routes around Cochem. The Conder Höhe hikers' car park is an ideal starting point for exploring nature and history on an excursion.
The Bundesbank bunker is located at the Brauselay nature reserve. The nature reserve takes its name from the rock about 65 metres above the Moselle. Rare plants such as barberry, boxwood or steppe heath thrive here in the Mediterranean climate. The emerald lizard, creeping snakes and the endangered Apollo butterfly can also be discovered here.
The town of Cochem, with its romantic old town, the Reichsburg castle and a multitude of other sights, offers the opportunity to enjoy a holiday or a long weekend with many highlights, also in combination with a trip on the Moselle and a visit to a cosy winery.
In addition to the Moselsteig and Cochemer Ritterrunde (Knights' Round), the Mosel.Erlebnis.Route (Moselle.Experience.Route) offers many other wonderful hiking and excursion routes with different themes.