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Great Castles in Germany: Wartburg

At Wartburg Castle in Eisenach Martin Luther Translated the Bible

Jun 9, 2008

Medieval Wartburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Europe's most visited historic sights. It inspired Wagner's Tannhäuser and an iconic East German automobile.

Wartburg Castle sits on a 1230-foot (410 m) precipice in Eisenach, overlooking the town in Thuringia, at the former border between East and West Germany. Wartburg's reputation as the most quintessential of all German castles is due to the special interest of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and the Romantic artists. Their search for the origins of German culture led to an admiration of the medieval castle and its aura.

Legendary Singer's Contest in 1206

In the early 13th century Wartburg Castle was one of Europe's art centres. The Count of Thuringia invited Wolfram von Eschenbach, Walther von der Vogelweide and other singers to the Wartburg for a contest. The competitor with the poorest song was supposed to be punished by death. All poets strove to win the favour of the Duke with their compositions, except for the Austrian Heinrich von Ofterdingen. He performed a song of praise about his own lord, Duke Leopold of the Babenberger Court. Not surprisingly Ofterdingen was defeated.Luckily the merciful Countess came to his rescue.

Richard Wagner's world-famous opera Tannhäuser and the Singers' Contest at Wartburg is based on the legend.

Saint Elisabeth and the Miracle of the Roses

The 14-year-old Elisabeth of Hungary (1207-31) was married to the Earl of Thuringia. She made it her mission to help the poor in the spirit of St. Francis. She supported churches, hospitals and the elderly. One day she secretly took bread from the castle kitchen and hid it under her coat to take to the poor. When she was stopped and searched by her husbands guards, the bread had turned into roses. The walls of Elisabeth's Bower in the Wartburg are decorated with splendid glass mosaics showing scenes from her life.

Martin Luther at the Wartburg

It was here in 1521 that Martin Luther hid out after he was excommunicated. During his exile on the Wartburg he translated the New Testament from its original Greek into German within eleven weeks. He wanted the bible to be accessible for ordinary people. Luther’s study is one of the rooms that can be visited on the guided tour. An original first edition of this translation is on display.

Wartburgfest and German Unity

In 1817 student fraternities gathered here for the Wartburg Festival. Their call for an united state and democratic basic rights was the first public demonstration of the middle-class opposition in Germany. In 1832 a similar festival was held at Hambach Castle. The flag of the Jena students, with the colors "black, red, gold" eventually became the German flag.

Castle Museum and Concerts

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe suggested to use the castle as a museum. Today's museum displays the unique "Dürer Cupboard" a masterpiece of late Gothic furniture. The wood carver was inspired by woodcuts made by Albrecht Dürer and Lucas Cranach the Elder, whose paintings are exhibited here as well. Carved in the cupboard are scenes from ancient mythology up until the Christian motifs of Adam and Eve.

Music has always been a focal point on the Wartburg and the castle is used as a venue for a concert series of classical and modern music. Special concerts are hosted during the time of Advent , and for the last eight years the Wartburg held historically-themed Christmas Markets on December weekends.

Sights in Eisenach

Eisenach (population 45,000) has an idyllic market square with the late gothic town hall. One of the oldest town houses is the Lutherhaus, where the reformer lived between 1498 and 1501. The great composer Johann Sebastian Bach was born here, and worked as an organist in St.Georg church. An exhibit in the Bachhaus displays ancient musical instruments.

The Eisenach party conference in 1869 led to the foundation of the Social Democratic Worker's party.

Around 1900 the motor industry started out in Eisenach and the town received the name "city of automotive engineering". BMW produced its car "Dixi" here and during GDR (German Democratic Republic) times, the "Wartburg" was built in Eisenach. It was one of the few car models available in the GDR, where even party officials were waitlisted for several years before they could buy one. In 1990 the Wartburg plant was taken over by Opel. It also houses a museum chronicling the Eisenach automobile industry.

Eisenach is an hour's drive or a short train ride from Erfurt Airport.

Information on other Martin Luther sights in Germany.

The copyright of the article Great Castles in Germany: Wartburg in Germany Travel is owned by Christine Welter. Permission to republish Great Castles in Germany: Wartburg in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.