This Family Has Owned the Same Castle for Over 800 Years
Eltz Castle sits in the Eltzbach Valley near Wierschem in western Germany. For about 850 years, it has stayed under the same family’s ownership, passing through 34 generations without interruption. The continuity alone makes it an anomaly among Europe’s old estates.
Many once-grand properties fell to wars, changing politics, or financial collapse. Eltz Castle avoided that fate through careful management and a clear sense of preservation. Its history shows how steady judgment, not luck or legend, can keep a legacy alive. Built as a medieval stronghold, the castle still stands in remarkable condition and remains in the hands of the family that first raised its walls.
Built To Last
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Rolf Kranz
The first written record of Eltz Castle dates to 1157, though it may have existed earlier. Its builders chose a rocky ridge surrounded by the Eltz River, whose near-complete loop made it a natural defense point. The nearby Rhine and Moselle trade routes brought wealth and influence to the family, who used the site for both protection and commerce.
Many European castles were destroyed or abandoned, yet Eltz survived. It withstood the Thirty Years’ War and later escaped damage during World War II. Its survival can be credited to diplomacy and the family’s neutrality during the violent power struggles that shaped neighboring lands.
During the Middle Ages, inheritance often divided estates. The Eltz family created an unusual solution to this. Instead of splitting the land, the three branches—Kempenich, Rubenach, and Rodendorf—shared the castle itself. Each branch built its own residential section and maintained shared spaces under a cooperative agreement called a Ganerbenschaft.
This arrangement lasted for centuries, and the results are visible today. The courtyard reflects 500 years of architectural evolution, with Gothic, Romanesque, and Renaissance details existing side by side. In 1815, the Kempenich line became the sole owner after acquiring the other branches’ holdings, restoring unity to the castle.
Inside The Walls
Eltz Castle contains about 80 rooms, roughly half equipped with fireplaces. Visitors touring the public areas move through furnished chambers that still hold centuries-old furniture, tapestries, and artwork. The castle’s treasury includes over 500 artifacts, including weapons, jewelry, and fine silverwork produced by German craftsmen in cities such as Augsburg and Nuremberg.
Small innovations show how advanced the home was for its time. Its medieval toilets used vertical stone chutes for drainage; rainwater from the roof provided natural flushing. The private chapel extends outward from the building so that no one would be positioned above the altar.
Family Custodians
Ownership has passed from one generation to the next without interruption. Count Johann-Jakob zu Eltz now represents the 34th generation to manage the estate. His parents assumed responsibility in the early 2000s, continuing the tradition of keeping the castle open to visitors—a practice the family began in the 1820s to help fund its upkeep.
The castle stands within the Eltz Forest, a 300-hectare protected reserve that shelters diverse plants and wildlife. Tourism and preservation work in tandem here to support both the structure and its surrounding landscape. Visitors see a castle that remains in working order after nearly nine centuries of continuous care.