Eltz Castle

A guided tour of Eltz Castle

This castle is genuinely worth seeing, and a guided tour is the way to do it. Find out more about this unique fairy-tale castle of the Middle Ages and lose yourself in that world for a while. Marvel at the treasures in the treasury and admire an architecture that set the standard in its day. With more than 500 exhibits from nine centuries, the treasury holds one of the most important collections in Rhineland-Palatinate.

This is exactly how you picture a real medieval castle even today: countless oriels, pointed roofs, thick defensive walls and tall towers, a place where people once found shelter and a home. In the Middle Ages the castle also guarded important trade routes through the Moselle-Maifeld-Eifel region.

It is not only the castle itself that takes your breath away, but its setting. Walk in along the trail, or take a short circuit around the castle, and you will see just how picturesque and unusual its position is, tucked into the woods of the Eifel. It is a rewarding and unforgettable visit, and one we warmly recommend.

A building straight out of a picture book and “the epitome of a knight’s castle”: that is how the imposing Eltz Castle presents itself in the Eifel. Its tall towers and its many oriels with pointed roofs impress thousands of visitors every year and are the highlight of any walk. The castle stands on what was once a strategically important trade route, high above the Eltzbach, a tributary of the Moselle. It was first mentioned in 1157, in a deed of donation by Frederick Barbarossa, and has belonged to the noble Eltz family ever since. Its unmistakable silhouette on a rocky spur graced the German 500 DM note before the euro was introduced.

How to visit the castle

The castle is open daily from 1 April to 1 November, from 9:30. The last admission at the castle gate is at 17:00. Inside you will find places to eat serving hot dishes and cake, and the castle shop sells souvenirs such as a crossbow, suits of armour, knights’ swords and other keepsakes of your visit. Young knights — and perhaps some slightly older ones — are sure to find something they like.

As one of the few buildings of its kind, it came through the centuries without ever being destroyed and survives largely in its original state — a true fairy-tale castle.

Around Eltz Castle: the Eifel

The volcanic Eifel is one of the most varied holiday regions in Germany. As a certified UNESCO Global Geopark, it gives young and old alike fascinating insights into the earth’s history. An excellent network of well-kept walking trails has the right route for every taste and every level of fitness. The idyllic Waldsee Rieden, with its comfortable holiday homes, makes an ideal base for rewarding trips to Eltz Castle and to other highlights of the Eifel. Here you can spend a relaxed holiday in “Dream Holiday Home Susi”, “Dream Holiday Home Annika” and “Dream Holiday Home Tommy”, each awarded five stars by the DTV, the German Tourist Association. With your family you enjoy the peace of the lake and the comfort of the home you have booked. E-bikes and canoes can be hired on site as well, if you would like to explore the area.

Other places to visit nearby

Beyond the castle itself, the area has plenty more to see: the Laacher See with the famous Maria Laach Abbey, and the mecca of motor racing fans, the Nürburgring. The Moselle and the Rhine are close by, with boat trips to Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues, Trier and Koblenz. And in enchanting half-timbered villages you can celebrate traditional wine festivals with the hospitable locals.

If you would like a little more variety, other rewarding destinations are only a short drive away. They include the fairy-tale Bürresheim Castle, Cochem Castle on the Moselle and the half-timbered town of Monreal, familiar to fans of several television series. A shopping stroll through the lanes of Mayen and Koblenz is well worth it too.

For a fantastic view over the Eifel landscape, head for the Hohe Acht, the highest mountain in the Eifel. Why not combine a trip like that with a visit to the Eifel maars? These are extinct volcanoes whose craters have filled with water over thousands of years. In some of the craters you may even swim in summer — an unforgettable experience. The Andernach geyser, the tallest cold-water geyser on earth, is worth a visit too. If you would rather walk through woods and open country, pick one of the many Traumpfade, the premium walking trails with their striking viewpoints and special features. Would you like somewhere quiet and comfortable to stay and still be close to the towns and their sights? An individual holiday at the Waldsee Rieden gives you both.

The castle stands in the municipality of Wierschem, in the district of Mayen-Koblenz, not far from the B416 near the Moselle. The nearest motorway is the A48.

Eltzer Burgpanorama is the name of an award-winning walking trail that leads through the valley of the Eltzbach and across the Maifeld plateau around the castle.