Museum
CastleEltville am Rhein
Eltville Castle
The Electoral Castle Eltville is a town castle in Eltville am Rhein in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis and the landmark of the city.
In 1301, an older tower castle at the same location was destroyed in the Customs War. After the election of the Trier Archbishop Balduin von Luxemburg as Archbishop of Mainz by the Mainz Cathedral Chapter in 1328 and the simultaneous appointment of Heinrich von Virneburg by the Pope, Eltville became the bishop's residence due to this dual occupancy of the Mainz archiepiscopal see. Thus, the construction of the castle began in 1330 under Archbishop Balduin and was completed in 1345. Further construction measures followed until 1419, such as installations in the residential tower.
During the Thirty Years' War, the castle was destroyed by the Swedes in 1635. Only the residential tower remained and underwent a partial reconstruction in 1682.
In 1938, the existing castle grounds were restored. Further substance-preserving construction measures were carried out in the 1980s. The construction measures begun in 2008 are expected to continue for several more years.
Layout+
The castle has its access via a battlement and a moat bridge and features a 24-meter-high fortified residential tower. On the ground floor is the palas and below it the common room of the former castle servants. A 24-step spiral staircase leads down to the castle's dungeon.
Current Use+
The "Electoral Castle Eltville" houses a Gutenberg memorial with a historical collection on the art of printing as well as a "Gallery in the Tower" for art exhibitions and is the venue for many cultural events, such as the Burghofspiele Eltville until 2007. Furthermore, the castle is home to the local registry office.
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Kurf%C3%BCrstliche_Burg,_Eltville,_Southwest_view_20150225_1.jpg
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 50.0249, 8.1231