One of the most famous and most visited medieval sights is Eltz Castle (Germany). Where is this interesting place located? It is located on a seventy-meter cliff on the Elzbach River (a tributary of the Moselle), which surrounds it on three sides. Therefore, the castle stands in the midst of a stunning landscape: forest, mountains, peaceful West German towns and villages.
The castle is known for the fact that, unlike many other similar aristocratic fortresses, it never collapsed and was able to survive during all wars. Of course, many generations of owners often rebuilt it, but all the more interesting is its appearance and interior. Despite the fact that the castle is privately owned, it is a museum, and tourists are allowed there.
Elz Castle (Germany): how to get
The easiest way to do this is on your own and rented cars. The castle is located south of Koblenz, near the town of Münstermaifeld. On the A48 highway you need to go to the turn to Polkh. Then follow the road L113 to Münstermeifeld, and then follow the K37 to Versheim. There you have to leave the car and walk around the park for about fifteen minutes. A bus runs from the parking lot on weekends.
If you get by public transport from Koblenz, then this is best done with the train that runs along the Moselle. You are guaranteed stunning views. You can get off at the Moselkern or Carden stations. From them, marked hiking trails are laid to the castle. Get to the place on foot for about an hour.
History
Documents, like local legends, say that the castle of Eltz (Germany) was built in the twelfth century, during the reign of Frederick Barbarossa. He belonged to three brothers who lived in it with their families. Until the fourteenth century, the lords of this area were independent, but then the archbishop of Trier conquered the land, and they became his vassals.
During the Renaissance, most of the castle’s premises were built for the comfortable life of its owners. These are houses with richly decorated rooms and halls. Thus, from a military fortress, the castle turned into a picturesque palace. But over time, it has become dilapidated. One of its owners (Count Karl von Eltz) carefully restored it in the 19th century, having spent a huge amount of money on it. At our prices, it would be eight million euros. The current owner, who is a direct descendant of the aristocrats who have owned the castle for eight hundred years, has fully provided it for excursions.
Castle architecture
This masterpiece of medieval architecture was originally built as a defensive structure to guard the road between the Eifel Mountains and the Moselle River. As mentioned above, initially there were three brothers, each of whom gave rise to a separate family.
Eltz Castle (Germany) was built in such a way as to satisfy the tastes of every family. They expanded and decorated their homes as they liked, and in the end the palace acquired a completely bizarre appearance. Currently, he retained all of his architectural strata: from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, as well as internal content. That is why it is interesting to numerous tourists.
The courtyard of the castle is made in the Romanesque style. The remains of the palace and part of the living quarters (Platteltz house) belong to the same period. Eight towers up to forty meters high were built at different times. The castle is open for visits between April and October. Admission is paid, costs ten euros.
Ryubenachsky house
This complex of premises was built in the fifteenth century and is called the branch of the genus to which it belonged. The Ryubenach house has eight floors. Eltz Castle (Germany) inside is very richly decorated, and this can be seen by inspecting this part of it.
In the main hall of the house is an exhibition of real medieval and captured Turkish weapons on alert. She appeared here in the 19th century, when the romantic fashion of chivalry began. There are also early firearms: small guns, arquebuses. In the lower hall, the living rooms of wealthy German aristocrats were preserved in their original form: real fireplaces, carpets of Flemish work, paintings by old masters, including Lucas Cranach the Elder. The upper hall is a bedroom with sixteenth-century furniture with an old bed under an embroidered canopy and frescoed walls. Interestingly, a chapel is built in on one side of this bedroom, and a toilet is on the other.
Rodendorf House and Treasury
Eltz Castle (Germany) in this part is more ancient. Some buildings of this house were built in the thirteenth century, while others - at the end of the fifteenth. There are ten floors in total. The attention of tourists is attracted by a special electoral room. We are talking about the princes, electors, who could vote for the candidacy of the German emperor. Two representatives of the Eltz family were such electors, and here you can take a look at their portraits.
The large hall where the holidays were held, for which the whole family was going, is simply magnificent. Eltz Castle (Germany), inside of which it is forbidden to take photos, is decorated most luxuriously in this part. Carpets, weapons, feast items, carvings symbolizing family secrets, paintings, murals, chests - all these exhibits are very eloquent.
Also interesting is the bedroom, which is called the room of the princess. Here is the oldest bed in Germany. Legend has it that owner Agnes Eltz defended this castle from a rapist who wanted to force her to marry him. The hall of banners with a ribbed Gothic vault in a tiled stove is also amazing. Feasts and celebrations were also held here.
The real medieval kitchen with furniture of the fifteenth century is preserved in the Rodendorf house. And in the treasury of the castle you can see more than 500 items made of silver, gold and precious stones. This is the only place inside where you can take pictures.
Elz Castle (Germany): tourist reviews
Travelers recommend choosing a good day for the tour or stocking up with raincoat and good shoes. In bad weather, approaches to the castle can be slippery. Visitors call the medieval building itself wonderful, unusual and fabulous, similar to a Christmas carrot. You can only get inside with a guide, so there may be lines at the entrance. Those who wish to explore the castle are advised to arrive early.