Eltz

#187 Burg Eltz
near Wierschem, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
before 1157 and 1470 - 1540 plus later
This is NOT an official Lego site

Eltz Castle is one of Europe's most famous examples of a Ganerbenburg, a castle which is the direct result of the combined efforts of a community of joint owners and heirs. In this case the initial structures were a small group of houses surrounding a manor hall. The families were of the House of Eltz, so named for location of their lands centered on the raised, horseshoe-shaped plot bordered on three sides by the Elzbach River, a fairly minor tributary of the Moselle River in northwest Germany. Around 1157 the families, the Kempenichs, the Rübenachs and the Rodendorfs, fortified their holding with a stone keep, called the Donjon Platt-Eltz, which is the oldest part of the wonderful castle which grew to photogenic proportions over the next centuries. The early earthen palisades were replaced by stone walls and towers, and the individual stone "houses" grew taller and taller as the families expanded. The present day castle measures approximately 130 by 350 feet.

The only significant military conflict in Burg Eltz long history occurred between 1331 and 1136, when several lords and free knights of the region became fed up with the policies of the powerful Balduin [Baldwin] of Luxembourg, then the Elector and Prince-Archbishop of Trier. When Johann of Eltz joined the insurgents, Balduin bombarded his castle with the then state-of-the-art pot-de-fer, primitive cannon first described just five years earlier in European literature. The bombardment, from a small siege castle built on the hill just north of Burg Eltz [see Burg Trutzeltz ruin in upper left photo], lasted two years and ended with the lords and knights capitulating to the Archbishop. During the Palatinate War of Succession in 1688-89, Burg Eltz was saved from destruction when Hans Anton zu Eltz-Üttingen, a senior officer in the army of King Louis XIV, deleted his castle from the list of fortifications to be destroyed. The French confisticated the possessions of Count Hugo Philipp zu Eltz in 1794, including Burg Eltz, but in 1797 the Count returned from hiding the Mainz, and reclaimed the family's lands, goods and wealth. In 1815 he bought out the Houses of Rübenach and the Rodendorf, and the Kempenish branch still maintains ownership of Burg Eltz to this day.


The tunnel under Rodendorf [#17] into the inner courtyard...	...and looking up the several steps into the inner courtyard.	Looking back (north) from where you just entered.	And looking south toward the other end of the inner courtyard.	And looking straight up!!

Photos of the Lego Model Under Construction November 2023 to March 2024

Construction begins on November 13.	The first three days are devoted to laying out the entire castle, with the Eltz' house noted.	Small red plates designate where section splits are planned.	The days before the Thanksgiving holiday are spent landscaping the south end of the castle.	From the southwest, the path leading from the river Elzbach.


And the fortified ramp at the southeast corner.	Landscaping of this huge project continues in the two weeks after our Thanksgiving holiday.	By December 8 the rocky oval is filling in more every day.	The postern path now ends in a fortified staircase winding around the old donjon.	And the more photographed entrance is beginning to take shape.


By December 15 there's a bit more definition to the Valley Gate and Coach House.	And the Outer Gatehouse and Goldsmith's House have been built.	The broad view shows much more landscaping now completed, though minimal actual plants.	And the postern staircase around the old keep is mostly complete.	Finally, the other side of the Outer Gatehouse and Goldsmith's House.


As 2024 begins, lots of work has been completed: the Coach House is done...	...as is the sloping middle bailey from Coach House to Craftsmen's House.	There has also been some construction on lower walls of the inner castle.	Here is a close-up of the Craftsmen's House, completed on January 4.


By January 11 the entire perimeter of the inner castle is in place. The Rodendorf Houses are best seen.	The view from the southeast highlights the Kempenich Houses.	From the southwest, the focus will be on the old Donjon and garden.	And from the NNW, the Rübenach House will be nicely delineated.	Finally, a look at the view current visitors see as they approach the castle.


Here's the view looking back toward the main entrance.	As our February vacation nears, the Rodendorf House has risen another story.	There are both grass and a vegetable garden at the south end.	And major work on the creation of the donjon roof.	And the NNW view as of February 12. More in March!


Finally, pictures of progress as of March 17, St. Patrick's Day. Both the Kempenich and...	...Rodendorf Houses have risen another story.	And the Old Keep is finally complete, with chimneys extended a bit to match the tall roof.	And the Rübenach House needs just one more story before roofing begins,	Please see the completed model below.

Photos of the Lego Model Completed April 15, 2024

Here is the view from the NE (from which the castle was shelled.)	The ESE view with the Coach House and Rodendorf House in front.	From the SSE the featured house is Kempenich.	The SSW angle highlights the zigzag entrance to the complex from the river.


From the WSW perspective a bit of the courtyard can be appreciated.	The view from the west gives special attention to the donjon, and the path to the postern gate.	The northwest view emphasizes both the old keep and the Rübenach House.	Finally, the north general view shows off the main gate, merchants houses, and entrance tower.


This detail highlights the conver- gence of the main and river entrances.	And some fun during safe and quiet times.	This is the main gate into the inner castle.	Here is more detail of the river entrance, where most of the traffic and supplies arrived from.

Build Your Own
When I relooked at the plans and elevations I meticulously drew several years ago,
I realized the scale was just 0.67, not the 1.0 that works so well with Lego Group's
minifigures, so I'm building the middle and inner wards at 1.0, instead of the entire
castle. Therefore, no valid plan or elevations. Sorry.


A closer view from the WSW.	AN impressive view from the Elzbach.	A general view highlighting the north gate house.	And the view through that gate.	The inner Gatehouse [#5 on the castle plan below]


As of February 6, much work has been done on the old donjon..	...as well as on the Kempenich House.	Here is another view of the keep and unfinished garden.	And the NNW view again..	A lot of building is going on in the narrow courtyard area.


The north view of the old donjon.	The Kempenich entrance viewed from the terrace.	This is the narrow inner courtyard viewed from the WSW.	And a close-up of the tunnel outlet from the main gate.	And a final look at the courtyard from the ENE.


Top-down plan of Burg Eltz	The plan of the castle with key	Cross-section of the castle looking south