Germany: Thuringian Chain-of-Towns Cycle Trail
Cycling through the country of Goethe, Luther and Bach
Seven of Germany's most beautiful cities lie like a string of beads along the Thuringia Chain-of-towns Cycle Trail (Radfernweg Thüringer Städtekette). These towns are Eisenach, Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar, Jena, Gera and Altenburg. In the gently sloping countryside in between you cycle past Baroque palaces and Medieval castles. And wherever you go, you are in the good company of Bach, Luther and Goethe.
Bridge across the Weisse Elster in Gera.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30534] Near the Late Gothic Marienkirche (St. Mary Church) in the town district 'Untermhaus' of Gera, the Weisse Elster is spanned by a historic steel bridge dating from 1863. It is a nice place for a pause when you are following the long distance cycle trail (Radfernweg) “Thüringer Städtekette”, a 225 km long route which connects seven of Thuringia's most beautiful towns. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30352] The Schützenhof is an old inn that occupies a secluded corner in the village of Mühlberg. The long distance cycle trail (Radfernweg) “Thüringer Städtekette” passes through Mühlberg on the route from Gotha to Erfurt. 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 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 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.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30311] The famous portrait of Luther was painted by Lucas Cranach the Elder around in 1529. His workshop produced many copies of the portrait. At the top we find Luther’s motto “in silencio et spe erit fortitudo vestra” (in silence and in hope shall your strength be). It can be seen in Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30317] Next to his birth house in Eisenach stands a sculpture of J.S. Bach, dating from 1884. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30320] A statue of Martin Luther can be found on the Karlsplatz in Eisenach. It was erected on May 4th 1896, the 375th anniversary of Luther’s arrival at the Wartburg, disguised as “Junker Jörg”. In the background we see the tower of the Nikolakirche. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Hermes in Baroque ballroom of Schloss Tenneberg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30329] The Baroque ballroom (Festsaal) in the west wing of Schloss Tenneberg dates from 1719 and was decorated with themes from classical mythology. Here we see the Greek god Hermes with his winged hat, one of four busts that personify the Four Elements. Schloss Tenneberg is a castle in the small town of Waltershausen, southwest of Gotha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30338] Looking down into the Hauptmarkt (main marketplace) of Gotha with on the left the town hall and in the foreground the Wasserkunst fountain. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30340] View along the Hünersdorfstrasse in Gotha towards the 16th century town hall. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30343] A visiting school class does a little performance on the stage of the Eckhof-Theater in Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha. The Eckhof-Theater, located in the West Tower of Friedenstein and built between 1681 and 1687, is one of the oldest theatres of Germany. It is the only theatre in the world with functioning stage machinery from the 17th century. Friedenstein Castle is an early Baroque palace built in the mid-17th century by Ernst I, Duke of Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg. 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 30542] Cycling from Gera to Ronneburg you can follow the cycling path in the 'Gessental' (Gessen Valley), which over some distance is lined with old truncated willows. The Gessental-path is part of the long distance cycle trail (Radfernweg) “Thüringer Städtekette”, a 225 km long route which connects seven of Thuringia's most beautiful towns. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30356] Cycling on the country roads near the village of Mühlberg you can enjoy the intense yellow of flowering coleseed. The long distance cycle trail (Radfernweg) “Thüringer Städtekette” passes through Mühlberg on the route from Gotha to Erfurt. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[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 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 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.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30316] The marketplace in Eisenach boasts a 16th century fountain (Marktbrunnen) with a statue of St. George, the patron saint of the city. Eisenach is the starting point for the long distance cycle trail (Radfernweg) “Thüringer Städtekette”, a 225 km long route which connects seven of Thuringia’s most beautiful towns. 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.
Courtyard of Schloss Tenneberg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30324] A “Schloss Café” occupies the gallery on the courtyard of Schloss Tenneberg, a Renaissance castle in the small town of Waltershausen, southwest of Gotha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Rainbow over the Thüringen plain.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30335] A large part of the state of Thuringia (Thüringen) consists of rolling plains, called the Thüringer Becken. It is a country of wheat and poppies. Photo Paul Smit.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30339] Hünersdorfstrasse in Gotha with on the right the tower of the 16th century town hall. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Schloss Friedenstein in Gotha.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30341] Friedenstein Castle is an early Baroque palace built in the mid-17th century by Ernest I, Duke of Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg. The dukes of Sachsen-Gotha-Altenburg were closely linked with the Royal Family of Great Britain through the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. 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.