Germany: the Thuringian Chain-of-Towns
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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.
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 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 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 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 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 30314] The Festsaal in the Wartburg has a pseudo-medieval interior which dates from 1867. 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. 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 30321] 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”. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30334] The post mill near the village of Ballstädt (north of Gotha) dates from 1834. It stood originally at Hoheneggelsen (Niedersachsen) and was moved to its present location in 1933. 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.
Bust in Baroque ballroom of Schloss Tenneberg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30328] The Baroque ballroom (Festsaal) in the west wing of Schloss Tenneberg dates from 1719. Here we see one of four busts that personify the seasons. Schloss Tenneberg is a castle in the small town of Waltershausen, southwest of Gotha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Cittern player at historical market in Thuringia.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30566] During the summer months medieval historical markets are organized at some of the castles that abound in Thuringia. Here we see minstrel and puppeteer Schabernackrakeel playing his cittern. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30547] From the 'Hausmannsturm' (Hausmanns Tower) of the 'Stadtschloss' (town palace) in Altenburg you have a fine view of the inner city. 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 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 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.
[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.
Elisabeth-Kemenate in the Wartburg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30312] The Elisabeth-Kemenate in the Wartburg is decorated with mosaics (1902-1906) showing scenes from the life of Saint Elisabeth (1207-1231). She was a princess of the Kingdom of Hungary and was brought to the court of the rulers of Thuringia, to become betrothed to Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia. After his death she left the Wartburg and dedicated her life to charity and caring for the sick. 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. 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.
Luther trick-or-treating in Eisenach
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30322] A monument to Martin Luther can be found on the Karlsplatz in Eisenach. A relief on the socle shows a young Luther in Eisenach as part of a group of “Kurrendesänger”, schoolboys who sang religious songs for money, going from house to house. The monument was erected on May 4th 1896, the 375th anniversary of Luther’s arrival at the Wartburg, disguised as “Junker Jörg”. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30336] The post mill near the village of Tüngeda (northwest of Gotha) dates from 1840 and was built to mill corn. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Baroque ballroom of Schloss Tenneberg.
[GERMANY.THUERINGEN 30326] The Baroque ballroom (Festsaal) in the west wing of Schloss Tenneberg dates from 1719 and was decorated by the painter Johann Heinrich Ritter. Schloss Tenneberg is a castle in the small town of Waltershausen, southwest of Gotha. Photo Mick Palarczyk.