This is a castle we drove by when going to Burg Eltz from Trier, Germany. I couldn't find a name or date for this castle. We didn't go in it.
This is our trip to Burg Eltz, which is a castle north of Trier, Germany. We went in May of last year. Burg Etlz is first mentioned in a document dated in 1157 AD, and the document already calls it the old castle. It has been in the same family since it was built, more than 33 documented generations. Documentation is important here in Europe, as lands and houses/castles/palaces changed hands many times in wars/occupations. So 33 generations is amazing, almost unheard of, especially as it is located on the River Eltz, an ancient Roman trade route river. The largest Roman city of Trier, about an hour south, was established by Caesar Augustus Octavian (by 16 AD in an already existing town), who was Julius Caesar's nephew, who fought Mark Anthony, then ruled as emperor of Rome. Amazing history.
This castle still has original furniture, with a painted bed chamber with wooden beam ceilings from the 15th century and stain glass windows showing the coat of arms. They had over 20 working toilets that flushed using rain water collecting in large barrels on the roof. They have the family treasury with jewels, weapons, and suits of armor. There were tapestries, paintings, and murals from the 14-1600's. The kitchen was the most amazing for me (!) with a large slanted cutting board with a drain on the low end. You would pull a chain on the high end and water from a barrel on the roof would rinse it off. Thus, a working sink to wash meat and veggies! The wood burning oven was so huge, Toria and Aleya could stand in it. You can google the castle and see pictures on their website.
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