In some parts of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, inheritance law required that the estate be divided among all successors.

In the case of Eltz, the family comprised three branches and the existing castle was enhanced with three separate complexes of buildings.

Several hundred years later, House of Eltz began work on the Platteltz, a Romanesque keep, which was built on the site of the old manor hall.

The siege of Eltz ended after two years when the free imperial knights agreed to accept the laws and sovereignty of Trier.

Started in 1470 by Philipp zu Eltz, the 10-story Greater Rodendorf House takes its name from the family's land holding in Lorraine.

The buildings include the Rübenach Lower Hall, living room, and the bedchamber with its opulently decorated walls.

However, the castle was saved from destruction because its lord as the time was Hans Anton zu Eltz-Üttingen who was also a senior officer in the Royal French Army of Louis XIV.

In 1797, when Count Hugo Philipp later turned out to have remained hidden in Mainz, he came back to reclaim his lands, goods and wealth.

Among other things, the vault of flags hall was secured after it was at risk of partially collapsing walls and the porch of the Kempenich section.

In the interior, heating and sanitary facilities, windows and fire alarm system were renewed, and also historic plaster was restored.

Exhibits include the treasury, which contains gold, silver and porcelain artifacts, and the armory which hosts historic weapons and suits of armor.

[4] The castle was used as the exterior for the fictional American military lunatic asylum in the 1979 William Peter Blatty movie, The Ninth Configuration, starring Stacy Keach.

[5] The opening sequences of Le Feu de Wotan, a Belgian bande dessinée (comic book) in the Yoko Tsuno series, take place in Eltz Castle.