ELTZ CASTLE, GERMANY

THE ELTZ FAMILY FIRST BUILT A HOUSE ON THIS SITE NEARLY 1,000 YEARS AGO.  THE LOCATION WAS A PRIME SPOT AND ALLOWED THE FAMILY TO CONTROL TRAFFIC BETWEEN FERTILE LANDS IN MAIFIELD AND THE MOSELLE RIVER.  IT WAS A VERY BUSY MID-EVIL TRADE ROUTE.  

THE CASTLE COMPLEX CONTAINS HOMES OF THREE BRANCHES OF THE ELTZ FAMILY.  THE FIRST TO BE FINISHED WAS 1472.  THE SECOND IN 1540 AND FINALLY THE LAST IN 1615.  EVEN TODAY THE CASTLE IS OWNED BY DESCENDANTS OF THE ELTZ FAMILY.  

DESPITE MANY WARS IN THE REGION, ELTZ CASTLE HAS SURVIVED INTACT.  THIS IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE CASTLE'S REMOTE LOCATION.  IT IS BECAUSE THE ELTZ FAMILY HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED WIDE-REACHING POLITICAL AND SOCIAL NETWORKS.  NO MATTER WHICH 
ARMY WAS IN THE REGION, THE ELTZ FAMILY MANAGED TO USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE PHOTOS INSIDE THE CASTLE ON THE TOUR.   WE SAW ABOUT 12 ROOMS; JUST A FRACTION OF THE CASTLE.   SINCE THE FAMILY HAS CONTINUED TO OWN IT OVER THE CENTURIES, THEY HAVE A FABULOUS COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL MID-EVIL FURNITURE.