The amazing history of Eltz Castle in Germany, belonging to the same family for 33 generations. For more than 850 years, Eltz Castle in the German Moselle has been inhabited by the same family.

Burg Eltz, tucked away in the hills above the Moselle River in Rhineland-Palatinate, is the extraordinary castle that has been owned and lived in by the same family for 33 generations. Since its construction in the 12th century, the Eltz family has managed to keep the fortress through a combination of clever diplomacy and marriage alliances, making it one of the few castles in Germany that was never destroyed or captured in war. The current owner, Count Karl zu Eltz, represents the 33rd generation of the family. The castle is a "Ganerbenburg," meaning it was built to house several different branches of the family simultaneously, which explains its unique, multi-towered architectural style. Visiting Burg Eltz is like walking through a living history book; because it was never sacked, it contains original 15th-century furnishings, gold and silver artifacts, and murals that have survived for centuries. It remains a pinnacle of German heritage, symbolizing the incredible continuity and resilience of the European nobility over nearly a millennium of history.