Hear the legends and tales of Martin Luther and St. Elizabeth that are entwined with the history of this iconic German castle.
The Wartburg Castle is an impressive hilltop citadel overlooking the quaint town of Eisenach. Dating back to the Middle Ages, the structure is among the most popular sights in the region. Get a detailed understanding of the magnificent castle’s architecture and history on a tour of its buildings with an audio guide in English.
Enter via the immense portal and make your way through the castle to consider its immense history. This is the place where Martin Luther hid from the Inquisition in the early 16th century. Note that after the Holy Roman Emperor sentenced him to death, Luther grew a beard and changed his name to Squire George. Locate Luther’s study, where he meditated on the Bible.
Hear how St. Elizabeth, princess of Hungary, owned the castle in the 1200s. She was married at 14 and widowed six years later, having given birth to four children. Find out about the fascinating life of this saint, who devoted her life to the poor and supposedly performed miracles.
Watch your kids embark on a donkey ride up the hill to reach the castle in summer. Enter the Troubadours’ Hall and admire its arches and columns. Listen to stories of the famous poetry-reading competition that took place here for the pleasure of Count Hermann I of Thuringia. It is said the count wanted to execute the loser. Visit the impressive three-story Residence of the Counts palace in the complex.
Reach the intriguing battlements and look out at the stunning panorama before you. Snap photos of the forest and the town spread out at the base of the hill.
The castle complex opens daily from morning until evening and there is an entrance fee.
Wartburg Castle stands on a precipice in the southwestern outskirts of Eisenach. Drive to the parking lot at the foot of the hill and ride the shuttle to the top for a small fee. Make sure to see nearby sights, including the Reuter Wagner Museum, the Bachhaus Eisenach and the Lutherhaus Eisenach.
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