Wartburg Castle
Eisenach, Germany
19.06.2018
The Wartburg is a castle located in Eisenach, Germany. It was built in the 11th century by the Thuringian count, Ludwig der Springer. The castle is situated on a 410-meter high hill and offers a breathtaking view over the town of Eisenach and the surrounding countryside. It is not only known for its stunning architecture, but also for its rich history and cultural significance.
The Wartburg has played a significant role in German history. In the 12th century, it became the residence of the Landgraves of Thuringia and was a center of cultural and political life during the Middle Ages. It was also the place where the renowned German writer, Martin Luther, translated the New Testament into German while being held captive in the castle in 1521.
The castle is also famous for its association with the legend of the medieval knight, Tannhäuser, who is said to have stayed at the Wartburg and inspired the famous opera by Richard Wagner. The castle's rich history and numerous stories have made it a popular tourist destination, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
The Wartburg is an impressive example of medieval architecture. It consists of several buildings, including the main castle, the Great Hall, and the Romanesque palace. The most famous part of the castle is the Elisabethkapelle (St. Elisabeth's Chapel), a beautiful Gothic chapel built in honor of St. Elisabeth of Hungary, who lived at the Wartburg in the 13th century.
Today, the Wartburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of German national identity. It has been well-preserved and is open to the public for guided tours, where visitors can learn about its history and admire its stunning architecture and artifacts.
Further Reading:
Wartburg Castle blends superbly into its forest surroundings and is in many ways 'the ideal castle'. Although it has retained some original sections from the feudal period, the form it acquired during the 19th-century reconstitution gives a good idea of what this fortress might have been at the height of its military and seigneurial power. It was during his exile at Wartburg Castle that Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German.
The Wartburg (German pronunciation: [ˈvaʁtbʊʁk]) is a castle originally built in the Middle Ages. It is situated on a precipice of 410 metres (1,350 ft) to the southwest of and overlooking the town of Eisenach, in the state of Thuringia, Germany. It was the home of St. Elisabeth of Hungary, the place where Martin Luther translated the New Testament of the Bible into German, the site of the Wartburg festival of 1817 and the supposed setting for the possibly legendary Sängerkrieg. It was an important inspiration for Ludwig II when he decided to build Neuschwanstein Castle.
Wartburg is the most visited tourist attraction in Thuringia after Weimar. Although the castle today still contains substantial original structures from the 12th through 15th centuries, much of the interior dates back only to the 19th century. In 1999, Wartburg Castle was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List because of its quintessential medieval architecture and its historical and religious significance.
