Friday, July 15, 2016

Burg Eltz




Burg Eltz is a castle in Germany in the hills above the north side of the Moselle River. The oldest part of it dates to the 9th century AD. It belongs to the Eltz family, and has been lived in by thirty three generations of that family since the 12th century. It is what is known in German as a Ganerbenburg or community of joint heirs. There are three houses that make up most of the castle. These are the Rubenach house, dating to 1472, the Rodendorf house, approximately 1500 and the Kempenich house, 1530. It is still occupied by Eltz family descendants who make part of it available to the public.  


Burg Eltz is situated on a rock outcropping and surrounded on three sides by the Elzbach River, a tributary of the Moselle. In the photo below you can see the Elzbach.






The castle was built on an old Roman trade route and provided protection for that as well as for goods and travelers along the Moselle. The photo below shows a view through a gun port to a fortification.





Below is another fortification at the base of the castle. Note the cannon balls.





The photos below are all inside the outer walls. This castle is very much like one expects from reading fairy tales and looking at movies of Disney princesses.









A very fun place to visit.

4 comments:

  1. Very nice,it is almost like being there Cheryl

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  2. Castle!! A real castle! Wonderful door/archway. And is that a Madonna and child painting on the wall above the windows? Brings back lovely memories of Germany.

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