Schloss Eltershofen

Schloss Eltershofen stands in the Schwäbisch Hall district of Eltershofen. It began as a medieval water castle built by the local noble family in the 13th century. The site later passed through several Haller citizen families after the original owners died out in the 16th century. Today it remains in private hands, owned by the Counts of Westerholt since 1896.

The castle’s history includes a brief occupation during the 1525 Peasants’ War. The insurgents took the stronghold without resistance and forced its lord to join them. Within days the rebellion collapsed at Gottwollshausen, leaving the castle intact. Later owners added Renaissance pleasure-garden features in the 17th century. Two carved alliance coats of arms beside the entrance recall marriages in 1719 and 1744.

Visitors approach across a bridge over the moat to the walled courtyard. The rectangular terrace is framed by corner bastion-like loggias with stepped gables. The main building has two storeys under a French-style hipped roof topped by four small turrets. The central porch leads into a gate hall, with two rooms on either side still showing their original loopholed windows. Above, a raised platform carries a pair of pavilions offering views over the surrounding countryside.