Eltz castle: 850-years long journey throughout the centuries

by Dan Bradford · November 22, 2017

Eltz castle is located in Germany. It holds the honorable title of one of the best preserved medieval castles. It is nestled in the forest, on a 70-meter cliff, and is surrounded on three sides by the Elzbach river.

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It was built supposedly back in the XI century to protect an important Roman trade route between rich farmlands and their markets

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At the beginning of the 12th century, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa presented the castle to his vassal Rudolf von Eltz. His descendants (already in the 33rd generation!) still own the castle today. In the 13th century the castle was divided among three brothers who became the ancestors of the three branches of the Eltz genus. For several centuries three families peacefully lived in a large but a single house.

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From XV till XVII century the castle was being rebuilt. Each family created something of their own. First, the Rübenach and Rodendorf were erected, and then the Kempenich houses, which were finished about 1530. The castle has eight towers and a fortifying wall around.

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Throughout its history Eltz castle only once participated in military operations. For five years it was besieged by the troops of the Archbishop of Trier, who won that conflict.

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At the beginning of the XIX century, Hugo Kempenich became the sole owner of the castle. In 1845 he started a large-scale restoration , thanks to which the appearance of the castle that we see now is preserved.