The Wartburg Castle

The Wartburg Castle sits on a steep hill, overlooking the city of Eisenach. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved Romanesque castles in Germany. The only access to the Wartburg is a draw bridge.

Built in 1067, the Wartburg Castle presents over 900 years of German history. A museum on the castle grounds displays art treasures collected over centuries, including tapestries, medieval musical instruments, and precious silverware.
In 1999, the Wartburg Castle was added to the list of the UNESCO world heritages sites.

• The castle became the refuge for the German church reformer Martin Luther. Within the Wartburg's massive walls, he translated the Bible in only eleven weeks into German.
• The Wartburg used to be an important place of courtly culture: Medieval singing contests were held here.
• The Wartburg is one of Europe's oldest Romanesque buildings.

• Address: Auf der Wartburg 1, 99817 Eisenach
• Phone: 036 91/25 00

• Wartburg Castle can be reached by a walk up a steep hill (600 feet) or by a shuttle bus, that runs from the parking lot below the Wartburg up to the castle.
• Kids can ride a donkey up to the Wartburg (only in summer).

• March - October, 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• November - February, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• You can only visit the interior of the Wartburg as part of a guided tour
• Tours are available in English
• Highlight of the tour is the sparsely furnished, but impressive cell of Martin Luther. Keep an eye out for an ink spot on the wall; it is said that Luther threw an inkwell at the devil here.

• The Wartburg has an adjacent hotel with a very good restaurant.
• A traditional Christmas market is held here in winter, featuring historic crafts such as glassblowing and stonecutting.
• You have to pay €1 for a photo permission and €5 for a filming permission.
• Visit the Website of the Wartburg.