Wartburg Castle was the first German castle to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. I visited this historic castle, which towers high above Eisenach in Thuringia, in the summer. Wartburg Castle looks back on 1,000 years of German history. It was once the residence of the Landgraves of Thuringia. During this period, the landgrave’s headquarters flourished as a court of muses, where all the fine arts were cultivated, the songs of Walther von der Vogelweide were sung, and the poems of Wolfram von Eschenbach were written. This was the site of the legendary Singers’ War, commemorated by Moritz von Schwind’s fresco at Wartburg Castle and made world-famous by Richard Wagner’s opera “Tannhäuser.” Wartburg Castle was also the domain of Saint Elizabeth, whose charitable work was brought to life for me during a tour of two rooms in the palace. It was also a place of refuge for Martin Luther, who translated the New Testament there. The authentically designed Luther Room was a highlight of my visit. Here, I was shown Luther’s work in 1521 in his living and working quarters. This Luther Room is still a place of pilgrimage for thousands of people today. According to legend, Ludwig the Springer announced the founding of Wartburg Castle with the following words: “Wait! Mountain, you shall become my castle!” Wartburg Castle is not only the symbol of Thuringia, but also a historic site. In 1817, at the student Wartburg Festival, the bourgeois desire for a unified and free nation state was manifested for the first time on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Martin Luther’s posting of his theses and in memory of the Battle of Leipzig. I was immediately impressed when I saw the main building, the 12th-century palace, and was able to admire its banquet hall during a guided tour. After extensive restoration in the 19th century, it now serves as a unique backdrop for the Wartburg concerts in the summer months and numerous other events. The German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was also a popular guest at Wartburg Castle. He recommended creating an art collection, which was established almost 200 years ago with treasures from eight centuries. During my tour, I visited the rooms of Wartburg Castle and the museum with its famous paintings by Lucas Cranach, valuable tapestries, sculptures by Tilmann Riemenschneider, Renaissance handicrafts, and impressive furniture. I was speechless at how many visitors from all over the world visit this castle every day. Wartburg Castle still exerts a special attraction today and is open 365 days a year. It is also possible to get married at Wartburg Castle, as the Jägerzimmer (hunter’s room) is an official branch of the Eisenach registry office. It is located on the first floor of the hotel with a view of the courtyard and Wartburg Castle. Here, couples in love can say “I do” in a very romantic setting. What a wonderful idea to get married in a castle.
