Wartburg Castle
Wartburg Castle brings the glory of "the German" palace. Surrounded by dense forests this palace complex was also voted as the most perfect castle in many ways. Although Wartburg today retains some of its original parts, it was carefully restored in the 19th century but you can still feel the atmosphere of the amazing power of the former medieval fortress.
Wartburg Castle was built amidst the mountains of Thuringia. Its construction is standing 410 meters from the southwest of Eisenach, and from its height is a beautiful view of the German city. It was built on a high cliff about 1000 years ago. One legend states that construction began in 1067, by order of Count Ludwig Springer. It lasted more than a hundred years, but the castle was finally completed in the 19th century.
The story tells how the count was intoxicated by the wild beauty of the mountain hill on which now stands Wartburg . The name Wartburg ultimately comes from the collaboration of the German word "lime" and "burg".
Among the historical figures who have marked Wartburg with its presence were Martin Luther, who spent long periods in exile beyond the walls of the fortress and Knight George who finished there in German translation the Bible. It is said that while writing in his cell, he had dark periods of depression and he pronounced the phrase: "war against the devil with ink".
After Martin Luther, in 1777 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe spent five weeks in Wartburg to complete his translation of Scripture. Goethe is known by the phrase "The Germans were people before Luther".
Today the castle Wartburg is a regional museum. The architecture of the palace is a unique mixture of different ages. You can detect moments of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance style. Because of its great importance for the German integration and unity, Wartburg has been listed as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1999.
The oldest part remaining from Wartburg Castle dates from the end of the 12th century, and today it is the left edge of the second yard where various concerts are held. When the restoration of the Wartburg was completed, several structures were added in the 19th century. The museum of Wartburg exposes objects dating from the 9th century of paintings, sculptures, weapons, furniture and carpets.
