Germany: Medieval Thüringen
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[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30295] The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30297] The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30299] The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30301] The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30303] The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
First courtyard of the Wartburg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30305] The first courtyard of the Wartburg is overseen by the Bailiff's lodge (Vogtei), in which the famous Luther Room is located. The oriel was attached in 1872 but originates from a 15th century structure in Nuremberg. The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
First courtyard of the Wartburg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30307] The first courtyard of the Wartburg, seen from the castle tower. The structure with the oriel is the Bailiff's lodge (Vogtei), in which the famous Luther Room is located. The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
First courtyard of the Wartburg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30309] The first courtyard of the Wartburg, seen from the castle tower. The structure with the oriel is the Bailiff's lodge (Vogtei), in which the famous Luther Room is located. The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
‘St Georges’s Church in Eisenach.”
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30319] The Georgenkirche in Eisenach is a Late Gothic church on the marketplace. Martin Luther was a choir boy at the Georgenkirche while he lived in Eisenach (1498-1501) and later preached here in 1521 on his journey to and from the imperial parliament in Worms. The church became Protestant and adaptations were accordingly made to the building, most notably the addition of tiered galleries. J.S. Bach was baptized at St. George's on March 23, 1685, and several members of the musically-gifted Bach family were organists here. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Wachsenburg Castle near the village of Holzhausen.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30348] Wachsenburg Castle was originally built in the 10th century but was extensively reconstructed in the 17th and 19th century. It is one of three medieval castles that are located on three isolated hill tops between Gotha and Arnstadt. The other two castles are Burg Gleichen and Mühlburg Castle. Legend has it that during a spring thunderstorm in 1231 all three strongholds were set to flames by the same lightning bolt. Since then they are known as “Drei Gleichen” (three resembling ones). Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30355] In Mühlberg a Gothic gate pierces the wall that surrounds the medieval fortified church (Wehrkirche) of Sankt Lukas. The long distance cycling path (Radfernweg) “Thüringer Städtekette” passes through Mühlberg on the route from Gotha to Erfurt. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30369] The Church of Our Lady in Arnstadt was built in the 12th and 13th century in a transitional Romanesque-Gothic style. Its interior houses a fine collection of medieval religious art. The timber-framed building on the right is known as the “Papiermühle” (Paper Mil) and was the residence of the local paper miller. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Gothic winged altar in Liebfrauenkirche in Arnstadt.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30371] The winged altar (Flügelaltar) in the choir of the Church of Our Lady in Arnstadt dates from 1498 and was probably made by the Regler Werkstatt in Erfurt. The lower part of the right panel shows scenes from the birth of Jesus, with (left) the three gift bringing Magi. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30296] The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30298] The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30300] The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30302] The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
First courtyard of the Wartburg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30304] The first courtyard of the Wartburg is overseen (on the right) by the Bailiff's lodge (Vogtei), in which the famous Luther Room is located. The oriel was attached in 1872 but originates from a 15th century structure in Nuremberg. On the left we see the Margarethengang. The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
First courtyard of the Wartburg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30306] The first courtyard of the Wartburg, seen from the castle tower. The structure with the oriel is the Bailiff's lodge (Vogtei), in which the famous Luther Room is located. The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
First courtyard of the Wartburg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30308] The first courtyard of the Wartburg, seen from the castle tower. The structure with the oriel is the Bailiff's lodge (Vogtei), in which the famous Luther Room is located. The Wartburg is a medieval castle situated on a hill south of the city of Eisenach. The castle's foundation was laid about 1067 by the Thuringian Count of Schauenburg, Ludwig der Springer. From May 1521 to March 1522, Martin Luther stayed at the castle under the name of Junker Jörg , after he had been taken there for his safety at the request of Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) following his excommunication by Pope Leo X. Photo Mick Palarczyk
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30310] The room in which Luther translated the First Testament into German is located in the Bailiff's lodge (Vogtei) of the Wartburg near Eisenach. On the wall hangs a portrait of Luther made by his friend Lucas Cranach the Elder. After Luther had been excommunicated in 1521, following his 95 theses against the catholic church, he was abducted. It was a clever move by Friedrich der Weise (Frederick the Wise) - Luther's protector - to have him kidnapped and then hidden in his own castle, disguised as Junker Jörg. Now everyone thought him to be dead. Luther's stay in the Wartburg has been of great significance for Germany. On Friedrich's advice (who remained catholic himself) Luther set himself to translating the First Testament into ordinary German. It helped keep away depression during the months he was isolated in his little room in the castle. The result wasn't just beneficial to the Reformation, but to the German language as well. Luther had listened to the man in the street to make sure that God's word would be understood. And in doing so he laid the foundation for the modern German language. Hundreds of tourists a day are being led around the Wartburg and get to see Luther's little room. As the story goes Luther once saw the devil, and in his fear threw the ink pot to its head. Unfortunately the resulting ink spot has disappeared, as too many fingers have touched it. In the course of the centuries Luther's desk disappeared as well, taken home by pilgrims, splinter by splinter, as a souvenir. The desk you see here was taken from the furniture at his parents' home. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Mühlburg Castle in the village of Mühlberg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30347] The medieval castle Mühlburg in the village of Mühlberg was first mentioned in 704 AD. It is one of three medieval castles that are located on three isolated hill tops between Gotha and Arnstadt. The other two castles are Burg Gleichen and Wachsenburg Castle. Legend has it that during a spring thunderstorm in 1231 all three strongholds were set to flames by the same lightning bolt. Since then they are known as “Drei Gleichen” (three resembling ones). Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Burg Gleichen near the village of Mühlberg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30349] The medieval castle Burg Gleichen was first mentioned in 1034. It is one of three medieval castles that are located on three isolated hill tops between Gotha and Arnstadt. The other two castles are Mühlburg Castle and Wachsenburg Castle. Legend has it that during a spring thunderstorm in 1231 all three strongholds were set to flames by the same lightning bolt. Since then they are known as “Drei Gleichen” (three resembling ones). The long distance cycle trail (Radfernweg) “Thüringer Städtekette”, a 225 km long route which connects seven of Thuringia’s most beautiful towns, provides good views of the three castles. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30360] The medieval tower of the St. Walpurgis-Kirche in Apfelstädt (southwest of Erfurt), can be seen from afar. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Gothic winged altar in Liebfrauenkirche in Arnstadt.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30370] The winged altar (Flügelaltar) in the choir of the Church of Our Lady in Arnstadt dates from 1498 and was probably made by the Regler Werkstatt in Erfurt. The central panel shows the coronation of Mary by God and Christ, although the actual crown is lost. The scene is flanked by St. Boniface (Bonifatius, with pierced book) and St. Lawrence (Laurentius). Photo Mick Palarczyk.