Electoral Castle in Eltville: Kurfürstliche Burg

Electoral Castle in Eltville: Kurfürstliche Burg

Located in the Rheingau wine region, on the Rhein River, is the enchanting Electoral Castle which looks like it is right out of a fairytale! Surrounded by wine vineyards, timbered framed houses, rose gardens and slow moving boats going up and down the river, the 14th century Electoral Castle is a delight for your senses.

 

History

Eltville is the oldest town in the Rheingau region, receiving its’ town status in 1332. The castle was built in 1330 by Balduin von Trier, and completed in 1350 by Heinrich von Virneburg. The castle gets its name from from 14th and 15th century when the archbishops and electors of Mainz lived there. During the Holy Roman Empire, the princes who had the right to elect the German kings were called ‘Electors’.

 

In 1635, the entire castle, except for the tower, was destroyed by Swedish troops. The tower that I walked up has a Gutenberg memorial inside which pays tribute to the famous inventor of movable type for the printing press and letterpress printing. The famous inventor was officially honored here in 1465, the only time during his life. Still today visitors of this breathtaking castle get to learn firsthand about Gutenbergs’ accomplishments.



 

Visiting the Castle

I truly enjoyed my day walking about the castle grounds and it is one of the most beautiful castles I have been to in Europe. You first arrive in the courtyard and in the middle is a picturesque well. My daughter asked for a penny and made a wish! The courtyard was inviting and also cool in temperature even though it was over 100 degrees outside.

 

Then I walked into the Gift Shop and Tourist-Information which is at the base of the tower. The room of the gift shop used to be the recreation room for the castle servants. The shop offers a very nice selection of souvenirs, books, prints, gifts, wine samples and more. There you buy your 3 euro ticket to walk up the castle tower. The staircase is a winding stone staircase and along the way they have rooms with displays inside. I appreciated these rooms because I got to catch my breath at each room!

 

The 360 lookout room on top was a remarkable experience with a fantastic view. On one side you see the beautiful vineyard hills and the other a view of the Rhein River. The old lookout posts where the men would stand and look out the thin windows ready to shoot their arrows at any invaders still were intact. I liked to look out and try to feel how they would feel looking at the very same scenery but many many years ago.

 

Outer Courtyard and Rose Garden

After leaving the tower, I headed to the rose garden. I had to go into a wooden covered bridge so well preserved, it looks frozen in time. The garden was so gorgeous that pictured hardly do it justice. The sea of flowers with intoxicating smelling roses made me feel like I stumbled upon an area from my favorite childhood book, ‘The Secret Garden’.

  

Would you like your very own castle for a day?

I was so surprised to learn that you can rent the castle for any private events such as weddings and family celebrations. There are halls for rent and also the rose garden is available to rent. Sounds like making a fairytale party come true! Contact the tourist-information for more details: touristik@eltville.de

Hours and Admission
Opening hours of the inner and outer courtyard and rose garden:

October through March: Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

April through September: Daily 9:30 a.m. – 7:00 pm

Free admission.



Opening hours of the Tourist-Information and Gift Shop in the castle tower April through October:

Mon, Tue, Thur 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. (closed in the morning)

Friday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sunday, Holidays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.



November through March:

Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. (closed in the morning)

Saturday, Sunday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.



Place to Eat: Gelbes Haus

Right before you enter the castle grounds, there is a beautiful restaurant called the Gelbes Haus, the Yellow House. They are also a traditional wine bar and serve seasonal local dishes. The picturesque building from the 17th century has a covered terrace which is situated right above the vineyard overlooking the Rhein. What a romantic setting to have dinner after exploring the incredible Electoral Castle! 

Castle Address: Burgstraße 1, 65343 Eltville am Rhein, Germany



About the author: Gemma is a mom, a veteran and an Army civilian living in Wiesbaden, Germany. With New Jersey roots, she is enjoying her extended European vacation.