Burg Eltz

Those knowledgeable in the field call it the most beautiful German castle and the epitome of courtyard romanticism. To be sure, there's no accounting for tastes, but the fact remains that Burg Eltz makes a dazzling impression, being one of the few medieval fortresses that remained completely unscathed to date. Its conical towers seem to rise straight from the lush greenery of the Elzbach valley, and its elaborate Gothic ornamentation is definitely worth a strenuous walk up the hill. Funnily enough, the castle has a number of 15th century flushable toilets, as opposed to the glamorous Versailles that has none.