Senheim - Löf 27 June

We have only one aim today, and that is to find Burg Eltz, or Eltz Castle. When Carl gets an idea into his head then there is no way to distract him. Somebody, he cannot remember who, either Egon, Dan or Ola, told him that there is a castle on the Mosel that has never been conquered for the 850 years it has existed. But Carl is not exactly sure where it is, and that is why we do not really know wherever we will stop.

Once again we pass through the charming towns. This one with a castle, but not Burg Eltz.

This is Cochem where we might have stayed, but the water level is way over the pontoons

So we have ended up in a little village called Löf. One little jetty with a few local boats, right in the village.

And have to find a way to Burg Eltz. Carl has been researching and eventually located Burg Eltz somewhere between Cochem and Löf. A small village with a petrol station and surprisingly 3 very good hotels. We enquired at the Hotel Traube where the friendly manager suggested that we go by train or taxi. Decided on taxi and a very informative taxi driver drove us the 15 km to the parking area near to Burg Eltz.

See how chuffed he is. The master castle finder.

The castle has been owned by the family Eltz for 30 generations. They took their family name from the Eltz river which winds its way around the castle.

The reason it has never been conquered is probably due to two reasons

- it is located in such remote location without any real strategic relevance 

- through clever diplomacy of the Eltz family heads. 

Leslie has to admit that this was really worth it. What a fantastic building on a most beautiful environment. It is one of the only castles in Europe which has not been conquered, plundered or burnt to the ground. All the different additional building styles through the years have been preserved. We walked 6 km back to a Moselkern all along the Eltz River, a tributary of the Mosel. 

The sign post with directions from the castle. Note the Camino sign. 

Back at the Mosel in the small village Moselkern we find the high water marks from the past. Only 23 years ago was the highest ever recorded flood in Moselkern.

The 1993 flood must have been about 8 meter higher than the high water we are experiencing on the Mosel. 

We took a train back to Löf, about 6 minutes and cheaper than the taxi.