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The Eltz Castle. Photo by Wolkenkratzer.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Eltz Castle

Nestled in the hills above the Moselle between Koblenz and Trier in Germany lies a medieval castle called Eltz Castle which was built in the Middle Ages.

Thirty-three generations of the Eltz family going as far back as the 11^th century have lived in the castle and even today it is still owned by a branch of the family.

The Eltz Castle is a castle belonging to a community of joint heirs and its therefore called Ganerbenburg. The Eltz Castle is enhanced with three separate complexes of buildings as the Eltz family comprised of three branches.

The top 10 fascinating facts about Eltz Castle include the following.

1. The Eltz Castle Was Built in the 11^th Century

Aerial image of the Eltz Castle. Photo by Carsten Steger.

Sitting a top a boulder in a hidden German valley, is a relic built in the 11^th century in the name of Eltz Castle. The Castle was constructed during the Stauffer dynasty which reigned over the land during the Middle Ages.

 Despite its strategic war placement, the epic Eltz Castle was not demolished during the war in Central Europe when majority of ancient castles were demolished.

2. The Eltz Castle Has Been Owned by The Same Family For 33 Generations

Since its was constructed in the 11^th century to date, the Eltz Castle has been owned for 33 generations by the same family. Since the year 1157, the castle has been in the ownership of the Eltz family.

The family was divided into there different groups in the 12^th century due to drama between three brothers. The groups were Eltz-Rodendorf, Eltz-Rubernack and Eltz-Kempenich.

Due to the fact that three families lived in it, the castle was nicknamed 鈥淕anerbenburg,鈥�.

3. The Castle was Given Its First Major Facelift In the 19^th Century

Karl Zu Eltz. Photo by Rijksmuseum.

Count Karl Zu Eltz gave the castle its major facelift in the 19^th century as from 1845 to 1888; a period of three years.

The facelift which ensured the tower underwent renovations to stay true to its authentic medieval style cost an equivalent of 15 million euros.

The next renovation was done between 2009 and 2012 during which the German government gave two million euros in form of a grant to finance the work.

During this renovation the ancient plaster was reinstated and the fire alarms, windows, restrooms and interior heating among others were refreshed.

4. The Knights Hall is Strewn with Jester Heads on The Walls

In medieval times, meetings of knights used to be held in the knight鈥檚 hall, The Knight鈥檚 hall walls are currently strewn with jester heads.

Since it was expected that Knights could joke about anything without being punished, the jester heads are assumed to symbolize free speech.

The jester heads were also aimed at warning people against inflating their egos since in medieval period, wisdom and foolishness were taken to be two sides of the same coin.

5. Famous Guests Have Stayed at The Eltz Castle

Victor Hugo. Photo by Nadar (Gaspard-F茅lix Tournachon).

Throughout its existence famous guests have stayed at the castle at one time or another. Victor Hugo who was a French poet and Emperor Fredrick II, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg have visited and stayed in the castle.

During the last 900 years other famous people who have stayed at the castle include William Turner who was an English painter and three German presidents namely Karl Carstens, Horst K枚hler, and Christian Wulff.

Rosalyn Carter and Bird Johnson who are two former United States first ladies have also visited and stayed at the castle.

6. The Last Siege on The Castle Was During The 1330s

Trutzeltz Castle Ruins. Photo by Wolkenkratzer.

 Before the year 1331 feud at the castle, the Lords and Knights of the Lords declared independence from the Archbishop of Trier. The declaration resulted in a feud as the Archbishop attempted to stamp his authority and reclaim the knights.

The feud lasted for five years as from 1331 to 1336 and resulted in the besieging of the Eltz Castle as well as other castles in the region. Its only after the knights gave up their freedom that the siege ended.

Another castle that was built above the Eltz Castle by Archbishop Baldwin called Trutzeltz Castle was demolished during the siege and its ruins can still be viewed today.

7. The Original Eltz Family Split into Three

The original Eltz family which constructed the castle split into three namely Eltz-Rodendorf, Eltz-Rubernack and Eltz-Kempenich due to family feuds in the 12^th century. The three families continued living in the castle Up till the 17^th century.

However, since the early 1800s the Eltz-Kempenich family has been the one occupying the castle. The homes of the other two families are open for public viewing.

8. The Castle and Surrounding Area Is a Great Tourist Attraction Site

The 鈥淓ltz Forest鈥� in which the castle is located serves as a great tourist attraction site due to its large size. Flora-Fauna-Habitat and Natura 2000 declared the Eltz forest an official nature reserve.

Numerous artifacts including gold, silver and porcelain once used by the Lords who lived there are displayed in the interior of the castle. The castle can therefore be considered as a large house museum.

Weapons and suits of armor are displayed in the armory in the castle. Between April and November, the castle is open to the public.

9. The Castle Features Up To 8 Storeys鈥� and Contains Over 100 Rooms

The family block of the structure makes up the main structure of the castle. Up to 8 storeys and over 100 rooms can be counted in the residential or family structure.

This implies that for many centuries over 100 family members of the Lords who owned the castle lived in it.

On the southside of the castle there was a village with relatively shabby houses. The castle鈥檚 servants and workers used to live in that village.

10. The Eltz Castle is Not the Only Castle That Was Not Destroyed

B眉rresheim Castle. Photo by Sidonie.

Built in the Middle Ages, the Eltz Castle isn鈥檛 the only castle in the region that was not destroyed. The other two castles in the Eifel region which were not destroyed include Burresheim Castle and the Lissingen Castle. 

Located on the left bank of the Rhine in the Rhineland -Palatinate state of Germany, B眉rresheim Castle and Lissingen Castle still stand as relics of medieval architecture.

While Lissingen Castle was protected by a river and a large moat, B眉rresheim Castle was built on a rock just like the Eltz Castle. All three castles are well- preserved from the time they were built in the middle ages to date.