Nestled into the countryside and hidden from streetview is the storybook Burg Eltz. To start, visiting Burg Eltz takes a bit of planning. You'll want to either hire a tour company to drive you there from a bigger city like Frankfurt (about an hour drive), or rent a car. We went on a small tour and while it was really fun to hear the guide talk to us about the countryside and what we were seeing etc. I do think we could have handled the drive had we decided to rent a car. Once you arrive, if you are American and familiar with the National Parks here in the states, it's going to remind you a lot of US National Park Service parking lots. It's not a massive lot, but in general big enough for tourists and busses to offload people as they arrive. I'm not sure if it costs anything to park but my gut says it probably does as I think I saw some euros exchanged from our driver to the parking attendant. Once you are parked, you have two choices: to either walk directly to the castle along a street, or take the hiking path. I cannot stress how much I encourage everyone to take the hiking path. It's a very easy hike through meandering forest and once you can get the castle into view it's breathtaking. Kind of like how I imagine the castle from Beauty and the Beast to be hidden in the film, is how this is tucked away. It takes a while before it will come into view which adds to the general charm and mystique of the place. All of this being said, the road is great for the walk back if you don't want to hike uphill, there is a shuttle bus that will take you up the road if you are tired, and because of the shuttle and the fairly even path of the road, it makes this castle much more accessible to those who have mobility needs. While at the actual castle there are two lines for tours - one for a German speaking tour, and one for an English speaking tour. This is important to note because we were there on a German holiday and the German speaking line was over an hour wait, while the English speaking line was only about 20 minutes. So, make sure you inquire about which line you are in! The tour itself is very good. The tour guide we had clearly took his job very seriously and had a lot of interesting information to share. My biggest takeaways were that this is one of the most intact medieval castles in Europe, largely due to its remote location as it avoided many bombs that impacted other parts of the continent, and that it is still occupied by descendants of the original owners. Knowing that this is still in the family was really remarkable and added to the general uniqueness of this historic location. Overall, it was a gorgeous castle to visit, and as many others have noted it's well nestled into wine country, so make a day of it and sample some riesling at one of the nearby villages on your way back to the city! read more

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Wish I'd read more about the castle prior to the trip, because I was not expecting such a hike! The Burg Eltz castle is hidden deep in the hills, surrounded by miles of woods. Off of the street is a large, dirt parking lot with ample parking. From there is a trail head, that begins the hike to the castle. It's muddy, so bring good shoes... and probably water, too. Keep in mind that this castle doubles as somebody's home. It's pretty quiet, and many spots are blocked off from tourists. We paid for a guided tour, which ended up being a lot of fun! The little section we walked through was actually big. It's hard to imagine just how big the rest of the castle is. They, fortunately for me, hold tours in English. It was very educational and kept my interest. Not my favorite castle, not my favorite hike, but it was a good experience nonetheless! read more

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We took a private car to get here and the drive was beautiful! There is a parking fee. You have 2 options to get to the castle: 1. Walk down hill with lots of rocks or 2. take the shuttle, we walked! Beautiful castle inside and out! It's amazing how the family is on their 33rd generation! We took the shuttle back and it was $2 euros per person! read more

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What a cool and beautiful place! There are a couple things you should note for your visit: - The hike to and from the castle may be challenging for some but it is so worth it. It is a beautiful little hike. Downhill on the way there and uphill going back to the parking area. - For those not up for the hike there is a shuttle. (I think there is a small charge for the shuttle) - There is a small charge for parking so have a few euro's ready for that when you pull up. - The castle and the grounds are beautiful and they do the tour in English if your German is not that good. - Don't miss the treasury. This was a really cool extra that I'm glad we didn't skip. - We went to the smaller of the two cafes and had ice cream and snacks. For the American audience that may not be use to it, keep in mind that Germans still smoke liberally in outdoor areas. This is normal so if you don't want to be around that you may want to skip the outdoor cafes. read more

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Cool castle lots of neat artifacts in the museum part you can tour by yourself! Think crossbows and big hammers. Everything costs $ at these castles from the parking lot to the shuttle bus and the entry fee. Shuttle bus not worth it. Walk was hilly but not too bad. We thought about taking the bus uphill on the way back from car but it was already full. By the time we almost got to the top the bus was on its way back down so walking is faster than waiting for the bus to come back. Waited over half hour for English tour. They let huge bus tour go first. No photos allowed inside. read more

Burg Eltz - Castle from the road. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Wierschem, RP

Dog owners- Your pet is allowed outside of the castle. This was a fantastic place to explore around the outside and grab lunch with the pup! Parking was 2 euro. There's a shuttle bus (the pup was allowed on it), and it's 2 euro each way. We walked back to the parking... it really was not a bad walk. Overall, we didn't due the tour, but had a great time anyway! Googled the history to learn about the place. All in all a great little day! read more

Burg Eltz - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Wierschem, RP

In the heart of wine country, you'll find Burg Eltz. This famous castle used to be on the 500 Deutschmark & is still owned by the original family line The grounds are very well kept & the artifacts & relics you'll see inside are impressive - lots of armor, ceramics & weapons The tour lasts about 20 min & was very informative about how the family lived, the sieges they fought off & how the current family still maintains the expansive grounds What no one could tell us however was exactly why this castle was deemed so important that it graced the German currency for all those years.....would be an interesting tidbit to include on the tour Worth a visit! read more

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Be warned - Rick Steves flogs this joint HARD in his books so this castle gets very crowded with tour groups and backpacking Americans thinking they are tapping into a "secret castle". Despite being in the middle of nowhere (literally) Burg Eltz is very popular. It's deserved though - the setting is dreamy, the castle itself is fairy-tale perfect, the state of preservation is extraordinary and the tour guides are pretty great. Here are my tips if you visit: 1. GPS is needed. For real, it's in the middle of nowhere and some of the signs dump you at a trailhead about 2k from the castle. There is a lot (€1.50) much closer. 2. Don't bring kids under 5 - tours tend to focus on art, history and tapestries - younger kids will be bored. Tours are guided only and last 40-50 minutes. 3. From the lot, walk down and take the shuttle back (€2/pp). You'll see what I mean - its STEEP. Wear shoes with traction. 4. Get here early. We arrived on a weekday in April and it was quite busy. They pump 'em thru in groups of 30 - about 10 too many per group. The guides are great and do their best but 30 people is too many. 5. Spend some time in the treasury (included) and learn what it's like to be really, really rich Highly recommended if you can deal with the crowds. read more

Well worth the trip! You pay €2 to park. Shuttle is an option, but we reserved that for the return trip- it was all downhill walking to the castle. Shuttle is €2/person. Tour was very informative and the duration was perfect, in my opinion. Be prepared to pay cash! English tours are available and feel free to bring your dog! Lol read more

Burg Eltz - View from the walking path... - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Wierschem, RP

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A must see Castle!!! Simply breathtaking. I would highly recommend walking up to the castle and do a trip in the morning while the sun is still young. It only takes about 15 minutes through the woods. The walk path is pretty nice and calming. Once you turn on this curve about 500 meters from the castle entrance, you will find this amazing outlook of the castle. I've travelled all over Germany and this is one of the hidden gems of the country. There are two places in the castle where you can get food and eat. Very affordable and mostly quick fix foods - from fries to salads, and a couple of german local cooking. Of course there are tours of the castle - good price and worth going! read more

Burg Eltz - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Wierschem, RP

Travel on the Rhine or Mosel river and you'll quickly realize castles (Burgs) are abundant. Situated on private property Burg Eltz draws you in starting with a spectacular view walking down from the parking lot. If you don't want to walk the shuttle runs continuously and will get you down easily. The gift shop and ticket counter personnel are informative. The tour is good, though you're not supposed to take pictures inside. There is food and outdoor seating. Pretty much a great place to spend an afternoon. read more

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This was best castle on our vacation in Germany. And I can highly recommend it. Tours were offered in German and English. The staff was well educated in there material. The setting is just stunning. Thank you for the great tour! read more

Burg Eltz - Three families lived here and all had a different prospective - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Wierschem, RP

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Expect a pretty long walk from the parking lot to the actual castle itself. Once you see it for the first time you'll be amazed to see how much has gone into it to keep it fully restored and detailed for all those years. Tours available and a small gift shop inside the castle. read more

Fun, but a little bit too touristy for me. I am amazed Rick Steves likes this place so much read more

This is by far my favorite castle thus far. We hiked from Moselkern to this castle (a nice 90 minute hike through the woods), it felt like we stumbled upon this amazing gem buried in the woods. This castle has been in the same family for 33 generations, and the restoration shows the care this family has taken to preserve this treasure. This castle is well worth the visit!! read more

This is a cozy castle located down in a valley. The walk down is not bad, actually kind of pretty in the trees. We rode the shuttle back up to save time, which was 2€ each. This castle is furnished & has a couple unique things, like the fireplace in the kitchen. You are not allowed to take photos inside the castle, although everyone was sneaking taking photos throughout the tour. We observed the rules & figured we'd buy a book, which would support the maintenance of the castle. Turns out they don't even offer a book in English, & the only book they offer is more writing, than photos. What a disappointment to be finished with the tour & have no way to preserve those memories. So seriously, take photos inside if you want to have any. read more

I have been here a couple of years ago. The most beautiful castle in the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life. There is a shuttle bus from the parking lot that goes to the castle. But I recommend you walk to the castle via the main road. Because from there you have the most beautiful view of the castle. The tour we got was very good, and informatif. When we visited the castle it was 30 degrees Celsius. I was very happy that I was wearing flip-flops. Because down by the castle is a nice little river where we could cool down with our feet in the water. read more

The image of this castle was for many years on the Deutschmark. It's not in the tour books but to me it was the perfect outing. A beautiful walk, a real castle inhabited by the same family for 33 generations, good food, and no crowds. From there we drove to the Moselle and then the Rhine. read more

This tourist attraction set in the picturesque Rheinland should not be missed if not only for the fantastic photo opportunities. However Burg Eltz offers much more than this. If visiting by car you will find it easy to reach using sat nav and once you arrive there is plenty of parking. If you don't have a car then you may be restricted to arriving via an organised trip on a coach as it is quite isolated. English and Dutch spoken tours are offered on a regular basis throughout the day for foreign visitors. And a shuttle bus service is provided for those who do not wish to scale the steep road to and from the car park. The cafe near the entrance is also well worth a visit. read more

I am writing to both inform you of a recent my family experienced at Eltz Castle. I am a US Air Force Officer stationed in Germany, and as such am trying to take advantage of all Germany and Europe has to offer while I am here. My family and I were recently at Eltz castle, touted as one of the best castles in all of Europe, and purchased a tour there. However, in the 3rd room the tour guide decided my 2 children were too disruptive to allow us to continue. Now, when I say "disruptive" I do not mean loud crying, running around uncontrolled, or anything similar. My children were simple talking occasionally like 4 and 2 year olds will do. No warnings that children must be kept completely quite were given before hand, nor were they posted anywhere (to include your website or literature). I am not writing to complain, but this was a terrible experience that I hope no one else with small children experiences. Afterwards the staff told us they do not offer refunds. Luckily, we were able to get one by basically threatening tell everyone there with children of the experience we just had. I have no problem with a "quite room" policy, but parents need to be warned. I hope this helps others, safe travels. read more