Have you ever felt the weight of history beneath your feet? Here in Eltville am Rhein you can. This isn’t just any town. Eltville am Rhein is the oldest and largest town in the Rheingau region. It boasts a rich past stretching back to the New Stone Age. Evidence of Roman occupation and a Frankish burial ground tell a tale of continuous settlement.
The story of Eltville am Rhein truly begins with a king’s court. A Frankish royal court was established here. This became the foundation of the town we see today. The first documented mention of Eltville am Rhein appears in the Vita Bardonis. This 11th-century biography of Archbishop Bardo of Mainz references Altavilla a Latin name meaning high estate or high town. By this time the court belonged to the Archbishopric of Mainz. The parish church St Peter and Paul probably existed even earlier. It possibly dates back to the time of Archbishop Friedrich between 937 and 954.
In 1313 Eltville am Rhein was fortified with a wall. Construction of the Archbishop’s castle and the town walls began in 1329. On August 23 1332 Emperor Louis the Bavarian granted Eltville am Rhein its town charter. This came at the request of Archbishop Balduin of Trier who was then administrator of the Mainz Archbishopric. The completion of the Electoral Castle in 1347 made Eltville am Rhein one of the residences of the Mainz Archbishops until 1480. The town became a stage for conflicts between Pope and Emperor over the Mainz see. These culminated in the Mainzer Stiftsfehde. After the departure of the princely court Eltville am Rhein remained the main town of the Rheingau.
Today you can still witness echoes of this powerful past. Many historic aristocratic manors remain including the Stockheimer Hof once home to the Langwerth von Simmern family. Burg Crass and the Eltzer Hof belonging to the Counts of Eltz are equally impressive. The Electoral Castle itself suffered greatly in the Thirty Years’ War. Swedish troops destroyed it in 1635 leaving only the residential tower.
Even today Eltville am Rhein continues to thrive. It has earned the titles Wine Town Sparkling Wine Town and Rose Town. In 2020 it even added Sustainability Town to its list of honors. Eltville am Rhein’s wine and sparkling wine production is renowned. Its many wineries and wine taverns offer a taste of this legacy. The unique Eltville am Rhein wine cellar allows for comparisons of leading wineries. It is the only local wine cellar in the Rheingau and one of very few in Germany. Since 1988 Eltville am Rhein’s status as a Rose Town is acknowledged. The ‘Stadt Eltville’ rose a deep crimson bloom exemplifies the town’s dedication to horticulture.
As you stroll through Eltville am Rhein’s streets notice the half-timbered houses. These architectural gems date from the 16th and 18th centuries. They stand testament to Eltville am Rhein’s enduring character. A visit to Eltville am Rhein is a journey through time. It’s a story woven from centuries of history. A story best experienced firsthand.