Eltz Castle: Оne of the most famous fortresses in Germany owned by the Eltz family for over 800 years.The Eltz Castle is a medieval castle which is one of the most beautiful castles in Germany. Situated in the hills above the Mosel River, between Koblenz and Trier, it is one of the three remaining castles on the left bank of the Rhine in Rhineland-Palatine which still stands today.It is surrounded by the Elzbach River, and an amazing forest, the Eltz Forest which has been declared a nature reserve in 2000. The castle was constructed in the 12th century, and today it is still owned by the Eltz family.The fortress was an important feature of the empire by 1157, when a donation was made by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. In 1472, the Rubenach house, built in Gothic style, was completed. It is a remarkable structure, and one of its most beautiful parts is the Rubenach Lower Hall. The last part of the castle was finished in 1540, when the Rodendorf house, which contains the vaulted banner-room, was constructed.