| Willkommen auf Burg Eltz! Eltz Castle is a medieval castle located in the hills above the Moselle River in western Germany. It was built in the 9th century on a hill above an important Roman trade route from the Moselle Valley and the Eifel Region. By the 12th century Eltz was an important part of the Holy Roman Empire under Frederick Barbarossa. Through 1470-1540 most of what can be seen of the castle today was built in several different phases making Eltz a Romanesque and Baroque castle. After the new construction, every room of Eltz castle could be heated; a grand accomplishment at the time for a castle so large. Both Eltz Castle and Lissingen Castle are the only castles on the left side of the Rhine that have never been destroyed or damaged. Eltz is unique in that it has been divided into several parts that belong to different families. When the bulk of the castle was being constructed, multiple lords of the Holy Roman Empire combined their funds to build. Up to eight stories, these eight towers reach heights between 100 and 130 feet and are divided equally into separate family parts. At its peak, about 100 members of the owners' families lived in the 100+ rooms. The surrounding Eltz forest is a nature reserve and the castle is open to visitors today. From 1965 to 1992 an engraving of Eltz Castle was used on the 500 Deutsche Mark note. Eltz is also the inspiration for the castle depicted in World of Tanks on several maps like Himmelsdork, Westfield, and Erlenburg. Vielen Dank für den Besuch! |
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