As I walked through the doors to Eltz Castle, I felt like I was stepping into a Disney movie. It reminded me of the castle in Sleeping Beauty and also Hogwarts from Harry Potter. I would love to have thrown on a ballgown and taken a picture in front of this castle…maybe next time!
Burg Eltz is definitely one of the most magical castles in all of Germany. It is also one of the best preserved castles in the world. It’s hidden deep in the forest, and you can even take a magical walk through the forest to reach the castle. The castle is over 850 years old and has been in the Eltz family for more than 30 generations.
The prime period of castle construction was from the 11th to the 13th century. It was constructed in a strategically important position along the most important trade route in the German Empire. Burg Eltz was also never destroyed or overtaken. You can read all about the castle’s history here!
Burg Eltz: What to Know Before You Go
The castle is only open from April 1-November 1. You can visit the castle any time of the year, but it is only open for tours during these months. I would love to come back in the winter. It is open for tours from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., seven days a week. I suggest getting there early before the tours start to have the castle all to yourself. There are German and English tours every 10-15 minutes and they last about 40 minutes as they take you through this magical castle.
The castle is hidden deep in the forest, and from the parking area you can either take a shuttle bus up to the castle or hike through the forest. There is also a small hike that goes along the same route as the shuttle bus, and I suggest that route on the way up to get some beautiful pictures along the way. I would then take the hike though the forest on the way back. The parking cost 2 euros and the shuttle bus also costs 2 euros each way.
Once you reach the castle, there is an admission fee to enter the castle and take the tour. Adults are 11 euro, children 7 euro, and the family card(2 adults and 2 or more children) 30 euro.
Exploring Burg Eltz
Once you enter the castle doors, you are ready to experience one of the most enchanting castles in Europe. You will take a walk around the castle to begin your tour. There are amazing views from the castle walls. You will then enter the inside walls of the castle as you wait for your tour to begin. The tour takes about 40 minutes. You are not allowed to take pictures inside the castle, but my favorite was the bed that was built in 1520. I also loved the beautiful windows and seating areas that opened up to the gorgeous views of the surrounding forest.
At the end of the tour, you can also explore the Burg Eltz Castle Treasury. Here you will find so many neat artifacts and antiques from the castle over the years. After exploring the castle, you can stop for a bite to eat. There are two restaurants where you can stop and relax and take in the views from the castle. We did not stop to eat but I have heard the food is delicious. There is also a cute little souvenir shop full of all kinds of medieval items to remember your time at the castle.
If you find yourself in Germany, you must visit this beautiful and enchanting castle for yourself. Take a step back in time, and enjoy learning about the history of this castle. I hope you find it as magical as I did!
