Burg Eltz

Om museet

The castle on the Elzbach, a side valley of the Moselle, was built on a trade route between the Moselle, the Maifeld and the Eifel. In 1157, Rudolf von Eltz became the first bearer of the name to appear, as a witness in a deed of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa; the Romanesque keep Platt-Eltz dates from this period. In 1268, three brothers divided the castle and its property among themselves. From then on, Eltz was a Ganerbenburg (a castle jointly held by several heirs), where the Kempenich, Rübenach and Rodendorf lines lived side by side, building their residential towers upward on the narrow rocky spur.

In the Eltz Feud, the lords of the castle had to submit in 1333 to Archbishop Baldwin of Trier, who had built the siege castle Trutzeltz opposite them; from then on, Eltz was held as a fief of Trier. Further residential buildings were added until the 17th century, so that the complex combines around 500 years of building history. It was spared destruction in war, including during the War of the Palatine Succession. In 1815, the Counts of Eltz acquired the Rübenach line's share and have been the sole owners ever since.

In the Romantic era, the castle became a place of longing for artists such as William Turner and Victor Hugo. Count Karl had it extensively secured and restored in the 19th century, and after a fire in 1920 the Kempenich houses were rebuilt. Eltz has been open as a museum since 1945, and in 1981 the treasury was added, with goldsmiths' and silversmiths' work, weapons and curiosities. From 1961 to 1995, the castle appeared on the 500 Deutsche Mark banknote. A general restoration has been under way since 2009; in 2018, Jakob Graf zu Eltz took over responsibility for the ancestral seat as the 34th generation.

Højdepunkter

• Guided tour of originally furnished rooms such as the Knights' Hall, the Banner Hall with its star-ribbed vault and the Rodendorf kitchen
• Painting “Madonna with Child and Grapes” by Lucas Cranach the Elder in the Rübenach Lower Hall
• Treasury with more than 500 exhibits, mainly Augsburg and Nuremberg goldsmiths' work
• Armory with suits of armor, halberds and muskets from the 14th to the 17th century
• Setting in the middle of the Eltz Forest nature reserve; featured on the 500 Deutsche Mark banknote from 1961 to 1995

Permanente udstillinger

• Burgführung – The 35- to 40-minute guided tour starts every 10 to 15 minutes in the upper castle courtyard and shows living quarters with furnishings, wall paintings and weapons spanning several centuries. In German, in English as needed; tour texts available as free leaflets in nine other languages.
• Schatzkammer – One of the most important private collections in the state, with gold and silver work, glass, porcelain, jewelry, ceremonial weapons and curiosities; can be visited freely without a guide (approx. 25–30 minutes), labels in German, accompanying leaflet in English.

Grundlagt

1945

Ejer

Gräflich Eltz'sche Kastellanei (Familie Graf zu Eltz)

Ledelse

Jakob Graf zu Eltz

Entrépriser & rabatter

The ticket covers the castle tour, inner courtyard and treasury; no online ticket sales, tickets at the ticket desk on site. Additional costs (cash only): daily parking fee €4 for cars/motorcycles, €8 for cars with trailers, motorhomes and coaches; shuttle bus from parking lot 1 to the castle €2 per person per ride.

Tilgængelighed

• Kørestolsvenlig: findes ikke
• Elevator: findes ikke
• Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
• Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
• Servicehunde tilladt: ingen oplysninger
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

As a medieval fortified residence, the castle is not accessible: the inner courtyard, castle tour and treasury can only be reached via numerous steps and stairwells, as can the castle taverns. Animals are not allowed inside; no exception for assistance dogs is mentioned. A paid shuttle bus runs from parking lot 1 to the castle.

Børn og familie

Kun delvist egnet til børn

• Familieomvisninger & workshops: findes ikke
• Interaktive stationer: findes ikke
• Barnevognsvenlig: findes ikke

The castle tour recommends the castle for children of preschool age at the earliest. No dedicated children's programs; exhibits may not be touched, and back carriers and large backpacks are not allowed in the museum rooms. Many steps and stairs, not accessible. Family ticket; children under 6 free.

Transport & parkering

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Restaurant: findes ikke
• Museumsbutik

Self-service food outlets (Burgschänken) in the outer bailey overlooking the Elzbach valley: snacks, drinks and cake. Castle shop with souvenirs, suits of armor, publications and children's items.

Arrangementer & udlejning

Så vidt vi ved, udlejer museet ikke lokaler til eksterne arrangementer.

The official website lists no rental, event or wedding offers; the castle is inhabited private property.

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