Eltz Castle (Burg Eltz) is a medieval castle in Germany's Moselle valley, perched on a rock spur that the Elzbach stream wraps around on three sides, between Koblenz and Trier. Owned by the same Eltz family for over 800 years and never destroyed in war, it survives almost entirely in its original medieval form and is widely counted among Germany's most beautiful castles — famous enough to have appeared on the old 500 Deutsche Mark banknote. In 2026 it again opens seasonally from spring through early November, with the interior visitable by guided tour only. It makes a lovely half-day trip: you walk in through the forest until the fairytale silhouette suddenly appears.
The eight towers rising above the forest and rock spur — best seen from the '500 DM banknote viewpoint' along the approach path
The Ganerbenburg (shared castle) layout, with five residential houses (Platteltz, Kempenich, Rübenach, Rodendorf) built by different family branches over 500 years
The Treasury (Schatzkammer), holding more than 500 objects of gold- and silverwork and artifacts spanning nine centuries
The Rübenach Lower Hall with Lucas Cranach's 'Madonna with Child and Grapes,' and the Knights' Hall (Rittersaal) with its oak ceiling
Remarkably intact interiors, including the armoury and the Banner Hall with its Gothic net vaulting
Good to know
SeasonThe castle closes over winter. The season runs roughly from late March/April to 1 November, so if you visit in late autumn or early spring, confirm the exact 2026 opening dates before you set out.
RulesThe interior can only be seen on a guided tour, not on your own. There is no online pre-booking — tickets are bought on site — and parking and the shuttle are cash-only (euros), so bring some small cash.
SafetyReaching the castle involves a forest walk (about 2.5 km / 35 min from Moselkern station; even with the shuttle there is a short walk). There are inclines and slippery stretches, so wear comfortable, non-slip shoes and watch for mud after rain.
MannersDuring the guided tour, follow the guide and keep noise down. Photography may be restricted in some interior rooms, so check whether it is allowed before shooting.
SeasonSummer high season and weekend mornings get very busy with long waits. Aim for right after opening or a weekday, and plan around the last admission and last shuttle times.
CautionBuy tickets only at the castle's on-site box office. Third-party resale sites offering 'skip-the-line' entry may add markups or fail to guarantee actual admission, so it is safer to avoid them.
Practical info
Take a train on the Koblenz–Trier line to Moselkern station and walk about 35 minutes (2.5 km) through the Elzbach valley forest to the castle; by car, park at the Wierschem lot and take the shuttle bus (on weekends and holidays May–October a bus also runs from Hatzenport or Treis-Karden). The season is roughly late March to 1 November and the interior is guided-tour only; opening hours, fees, and shuttle operation can change, so please check the latest details on the official website.
On-site reviews📍 Verified on-site
No reviews yet. If you are here, be the first to leave one.
