Eltz Castle is unique. It has remained unharmed by wars throughout its history. The same family has owned and cared for the castle since its construction up until the present day. Its architecture is unparalleled, and many of the original furnishings from the past eight centuries are still in place. The castle houses rustic suits of armor, swords, halberds, as well as magnificent courtly gold and silver artifacts. Eltz Castle towers high on a large rock nestled deep within a valley. It stands amidst the Eltz Forest, a nature reserve of serene beauty that offers numerous hiking trails and outdoor recreational areas for all age groups.
The section “The Castle” showcases and describes the highlights of this medieval fairy-tale castle. It provides information about the architecture and setting, as well as the plans and construction timeline of the “quintessential castle” (Georg Dehio). The section also offers a guided tour of the castle and treasury, historic depictions, and an overview of the Eltz Nature Reserve.
Enjoy your stay in our ancestral home.
The architecture of Eltz Castle is the main attraction. Its eight towers, soaring up to 35 meters high, along with its oriels, roofs, timber frame structures, and turrets make it the quintessential medieval castle.
What makes Eltz Castle truly iconic is its unrivaled location. Set amidst a forest, nestled deep within a valley, and far removed from any modern buildings, the castle is entirely surrounded by a natural paradise. This allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in a medieval dream.
The Gallery section provides views of the castle from all directions, showcasing its architectural splendor within the stunning natural setting.
Sections, Plans and Building History
Cross Section
General Plan of the Castle
The General Plan shows the floorplan of the castle complex with the different houses which were inhabited by the three branches of the family, the outer castle and the outer fortifications.
Further Information regarding – “The architectural chronicle of the castle” and “Nine centuries House of Eltz“– can be found in our History section.
The Treasury of Eltz Castle
The Eltz Castle Treasury comprises one of the most significant private collections, boasting over 500 exhibits spanning nine centuries (see also the picture gallery on this page).
The exhibition primarily features artworks created by renowned German goldsmiths and silversmiths, particularly from the cities of Augsburg and Nuremberg. Other items on display include precious glass, porcelain, extravagant jewelry, ceremonial and functional weapons, as well as a variety of other curiosities from more than 800 years of history.
The Gallery section showcases 15 of the over 500 exhibits housed within the castle’s treasury.
Important Information for all Visitors:
The numerous attractions in the Armoury and Treasury can be visited at any time during the castle’s operating hours. All exhibits are well-labeled for visitors.
There are no guided tours offered through this exhibition. However, the entrance ticket includes access to both the Armoury and Treasury.
For foreign visitors, a free brochure with English translations of the exhibit labels is provided at the museum entrance.
Historic Depictions of Eltz Castle
By the end of the Middle Ages, aristocratic families began favoring residences and palaces in towns over the old castles. This is why castles, including Eltz Castle, were only rarely depicted in art during this time, aside from perhaps appearing as evidence of an ancestral home in a genealogical table.
This changed with the onset of the Romantic period after 1800. Eltz Castle became the object of Romanticists’ dreams, and a visit to the castle was considered obligatory for painters and writers from across Europe. Visitors to Eltz Castle included the British painter William Turner and the French author Victor Hugo, among others.
After 1820, a proliferation of travel journals and graphic art featuring Eltz Castle were published and sold throughout Europe. One could draw parallels between this and the modern “Instagram boom.”
The Gallery section includes pictures of the castle from three different centuries.
A Castle set within a Natural Paradise
Surrounded by forests and located far from any roads or modern buildings, Eltz Castle epitomizes the fantasy of the untouched, unpopulated Middle Ages like no other historic structure in Germany.
More than 300 hectares of the Eltz Forest have been designated as a nature reserve under the Flora-Fauna-Habitat and Natura 2000 programs. This protected area encompasses the flood meadows of the Eltzbach Valley, as well as the forests on the steep slopes that once provided fuel for the castle. The forest has been declared an “Arboretum,” meaning it contains a particularly rich variety of rare indigenous and foreign tree species.
The Eltz Nature Reserve is home to a wide range of typical and rare animal and plant species found in aquatic, brushwood, and forest habitats.
This precious biotope can only survive if hikers, horse-riders and cyclists remain on the dedicated paths.
Please help us to preserve this natural paradise.
