Elz Castle is one of the most beautiful and well-known palaces in Germany. Hidden in a dense forest near Koblenz, it has attracted crowds of curious tourists for almost a thousand years. I think it’s time to join them!
General information
Burg Elz Castle is located on a large rocky hill, surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Elzbach River. For over 800 years, it has been owned by the aristocracy of Elz and is still privately owned today. Throughout its long history, the castle has never been plundered or destroyed, and its medieval interiors have been beautifully preserved to this day. Moreover, this citadel managed to survive several world wars and the bloody French Revolution, which left its mark on many architectural monuments in Germany, but for some reason did not affect Elz.
It’s not just a matter of luck or miraculous powers, but rather the fact that the fortress is well-protected from external threats. Firstly, it is surrounded by a massive stone wall, and secondly, there are only two ways to enter the fortress. One is through the main gate, which is accessed by a long and narrow bridge, and the other is through the secondary gate located on the southeastern side.
Today, the palace is owned by the 33rd generation of the famous German dynasty. However, unlike his predecessors, the current owner, Count Karl von Elts-Kempenick, has chosen to move to the city and open his home to tourists. The palace now serves as a popular tourist attraction and is frequently used for filming historical movies.
Brief history
The medieval castle of Burg Elz in Germany has a long and interesting history. The first mentions of this place date back to 1157, making Elz one of the oldest citadels in the country. The construction of this historical site, which took hundreds of years, began with a powerful defensive fortress that guarded the trade route between two cities, Eifel and Moselle. However, by the mid-13th century, it was owned by three brothers, who divided the premises among themselves and lived in separate quarters. This was how the main branches of the Elz dynasty were established, each with its own separate chambers and coat of arms.
Over the next few years, the palace was actively expanded and transformed. This attracted the attention of local archbishops, who decided to use the palace for church purposes. The conflict between the priests and the castle’s inhabitants lasted for two years before a peace treaty was signed, addressing the concerns of both parties.
The building acquired its current appearance in 1540. Then a large-scale restoration of its interiors began, which required a truly huge investment (today this amount would amount to about 8 million euros). Since then, notable people, including the last King of Germany, Wilhelm II, have regularly stopped in Bur Elz.
Today, this fortress is one of the most important and most visited attractions in the country.
Castle architecture
Looking at the photos of Elz Castle inside and out, you will probably notice the somewhat disjointed appearance of this ancient structure. It looks like a lot of houses and towers located around a small courtyard. In total, there are 10 domes with different heights (from 30 to 40 m) and stylistics. This diversity is due to the incredibly long construction period – for almost 5 centuries, residential and utility rooms were regularly added to the main building, which changed the original appearance of Burg Elz beyond recognition.
The Rodendorf houses, located on the south side of the castle, are the most popular among tourists. Built between 1490 and 1540 and designed in the traditional Romanesque style, they feature bright balconies and snow-white columns made of Ufa marble.
The Kempenich buildings, which are the youngest part of the palace, also deserve attention. They stand on two basalt pillars, which are shaped like an octagon and connected by beautiful arches. On these pillars, you can find the historical inscription “Borgtorn Eltz 1604,” which indicates that the Burg Eltz was previously owned by a different family. Unfortunately, most of the Kempenich buildings are not open to the public, as they contain administrative and service facilities.
The third and perhaps the oldest part of Eltz is the Plattelez House, which consists of the ruins of a once-luxurious palace and a 6-story tower built in the 13th century. At the time of its construction, the Romanesque style was still popular, although it had to compete with the rapidly spreading Gothic style, and as a result, the house features elements of both styles.
All three parts of the Elz Castle in Germany have a full set of utility and living quarters, which were almost completely separate until a certain point. The lower floors of the building were used for kitchens, storerooms, and servants’ quarters, while the upper floors were occupied by the owners’ private rooms and a large banquet hall. It is said that in those days, the Burg Elz could accommodate over a hundred residents at once. As for the corridors and exits that led from the main rooms, they were only added after all three houses were owned by the same person.
What can you see inside?
Thanks to the famous pedantry of the German people, the interior of the Elz Castle in Germany remains almost the same as it was hundreds of years ago. Firstly, the modern interior of the castle accurately replicates the interior of a medieval dwelling. Secondly, contrary to the widespread practice, the furniture, paintings, and decorative elements present in the castle have not been replaced with cheap replicas. The wall frescoes, the carved ceiling, the wooden panels, the elegant tea tables, and the furniture sets dating back to the 15th century are all authentic.
The famous Armory Room, filled with original armor, chain mail, helmets, and other types of ancient military equipment, also deserves attention. Here, you can find a vast collection of medieval weapons, including pistols, axe-like weapons for dismounting horsemen, bronze and iron halberds, and other intriguing exhibits.
Right above it, in the upper hall, there is a toilet that was unique for its time. Initially, it was not separated by a wooden panel, which was installed only in the 18th century. Rainwater was used to drain the sewage, which was collected in a tank installed under the roof.
The walls of the chambers are hung with antique carpets depicting ostriches, leopards, cobras, camels, and other exotic animals. Other artifacts include a fireplace that was installed by the first owners of Burg Elz, a clock that was purchased in 1500, and a mermaid-shaped lamp that was added around the same time. However, the centerpiece of the living rooms is a tall medieval bed with a Gothic canopy.
However, the windows in most of the rooms were replaced during the reconstruction, although most visitors are unaware of this. The craftsmen who worked on restoring the castle did their best to preserve their original appearance. To achieve this, they even mastered medieval techniques for making stained glass, blowing glass, and assembling the pieces.
However, perhaps the main highlight of this place, which can be seen in all the photos and descriptions of Elz Castle in Germany, is the so-called Treasury. This room houses over 500 unique masterpieces of world art and precious relics from the 12th to the 19th centuries. Many of these items are adorned with silver inlays and intricate patterns crafted from pure gold.
Practical information
Burg Eltz Castle, located at Burg-Eltz-Straße 1, 56294 Münstermaifeld.
It is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. However, you can only enter the building from April 1 to November 1. During the rest of the year, you can only view the building from the outside.
The cost of the tour and entrance tickets to the Treasury:
- Adult – 10€;
- Family (2 adults + 2 children) – 28€;
- Students and visitors with disabilities (with a student ID and certificate) – 6.50€;
- Adult group (more than 20 people) – 9€ per person.
You can find out more details on the official website: https://www.burg-eltz.de/en/..
How to get there from Prague?
If you don’t know how to get to Elz Castle in Germany, you can use one of the following methods.
Method 1. By day train
- At Autobusová St. Wilsonova, which is part of the main railway station Praha hl.n., take the Czech Railways (ČD) train to Nürnberg ZOB. The journey time is 3 hours and 52 minutes. The fare ranges from 35 to 55 euros.
- Walk to Nürnberg Hbf station (just under 300 m).
- Take the Ice train from Deutsche Bahn. The journey takes 3 hours and 40 minutes. The ticket price ranges from 60 to 90 euros.
- Exit at Koblenz Hbf station.
- Catch a taxi to Burg Elz Castle and in about 40 min. you find yourself on the spot. Taxi services will cost€100-120.
Method 2. By night train
- At Autobusová St. Wilsonova, take the Czech Railways (ČD) night train to Frankfurt(M)Hbf Stuttgarter Str. The journey takes 7 hours and 35 minutes. The ticket costs between 80 and 120 euros.
- Walk to Frankfurt (Main) Hbf station (about 500 m).
- Take the Ice train from Deutsche Bahn to Mainz Hbf. The journey takes 30 minutes. The ticket price is between 13 and 20 euros.
- Change to the Rb26 Trans Regio train and travel to Boppard Hauptbahnhof. The journey takes 1 h 10 min. The fare is between 13 and 25€.
- Take a taxi to the castle. The taxi driver’s services will cost 65-85€. The distance is 33 km.
Method 3. By bus
- At Prague ÚAN Florenc station, take bus 23, which belongs to the company FlixBus, and get to Leipzig central station. It will take 3 h. 35 min. The ticket price is about 20€.
- Take bus 780 and go to Polch. Travel time – 6 h. 20 min. Fare – about 40€.
- Take a taxi to Burg Elz Castle. The distance between these points is only 18 km. The fare will cost 35-50€.
Method 4. By car
The distance between Prague and Elz Castle is 660 km. It will take at least 6 hours to reach your destination.
Useful tips
Before visiting Elz Castle in Germany, read the recommendations of tourists who have already visited the castle:
- The road to one of the country’s most famous landmarks is hilly, so you should wear appropriate shoes;
- You can only enter the interior with a guide. If you don’t want to wait in line, arrive early.
- On your way to Elz, you should visit the observation decks, which offer beautiful views of the surrounding area, and go down to the river, which is connected to the castle by a large stone staircase;
- It is forbidden to take photos inside the fortress; photos of the Elz Castle can only be taken outside.
- The best time to visit this place is in early autumn (September, October), when there are fewer tourists than in the summer months. However, keep in mind that if you arrive at the fortress in the early autumn morning, the fog that covers the mountain may prevent you from enjoying the scenery.
- Castle tours are only available in English and German, so either get an audio guide or explore the sights of Burg Elz on your own;
Those who are unsure about their physical fitness should use the paid tourist shuttle; - There is a nice restaurant in Elz, where you can relax after long walks.
Elz Castle in Germany is a place worth visiting, at least to enjoy its medieval spirit and genuine, fairy-tale atmosphere.
