Thuringia

No place symbolises medieval Germany as powerfully as the Wartburg near Eisenach. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it unites the legends of Saint Elisabeth, the Singers’ Contest of the Minnesingers, and Martin Luther’s translation of the Bible within a single set of walls. The Wartburg is the most famous, but by no means the only castle jewel of Thuringia: along the Rennsteig, the historic ridge path through the Thuringian Forest, castle ruins are strung like pearls on a necklace — Burg Henneberg, Rabenscheid, and Veste Heldburg lend the landscape its unmistakable character.

In the Saale Valley between Saalfeld and Naumburg, Schloss und Festung Heidecksburg in Rudolstadt and the Leuchtenburg above the valley reflect the splendour of Thuringia’s small principalities. Gotha is home to Schloss Friedenstein, one of the most significant early Baroque residence palaces in Germany and one of the oldest theatre halls in the world still in use. Weimar, the centre of German Classicism, completes this picture with the Schloss am Ilmpark and the Park an der Ilm — a unique combination of architectural and garden culture.

Thuringia also possesses a rich castle landscape away from the tourist trails: the Kyffhäuser with its monumental imperial memorial, Burg Gleichen, Burg Gleichenstein, and the moated castle of Heldrungen all invite visitors to explore the history of the Holy Roman Empire at their own pace. The Thuringian Castle Trail connects many of these sites along a well-marked long-distance walking route, making the green heart of Germany a paradise for history-minded walkers.