Wartburg Castle

Wartburg Castle, Eisenach, Germany

I’ve decided to walk all the way up to Wartburg Castle.

I can see it high on a mountain, far away from where I am down in the town of Eisenach in the middle of Germany. Buses and cars go past me as I leave town and start the uphill section into a forest.

I’m sure some of the people passing are looking out the window and wondering why anyone would be so foolish.

But I don’t see this as a foolish endeavour. When the castle was first built in the 11^th century, this is how everyone would have approached it – up winding paths through the trees towards the summit.

The forests have changed very little in the millennium since Wartburg Castle was built. I like that the nearby urban areas have not encroached too far.

This great fortress has stood on the same spot for more than a thousand years, looking out over these same landscapes.

The first construction of the castle was in 1067 but changes over hundreds of years have left the complex like a museum, documenting the shifting culture of the region.

There are Romanesque structures, medieval touches like the drawbridge, half-timbered buildings from the 14^th century, and interior design from the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

Important residents of the castle have included St Elisabeth of Hungary, who was known for her charitable work, and Martin Luther, who translated the New Testament of the Bible into German in a small room over the course of just ten weeks.

They have all left their mark on the site.

Wartburg is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Germany.

Its significance as a World Heritage Site is, to a large degree, because of the architecture and the collections of styles within such a small compound. However, you can’t underestimate the importance of what was achieved by people here.

It may have been a small and rather bland room where Martin Luther did his translation, for example, but he started a religious movement that was to change the nature of European society.

Visiting Wartburg Castle

Although you can get up to the castle and see the outside of it for free, it’s only possible to go inside with regular guided tours.

Inside the castle, the evidence of styles of even more generations is on display. From beautiful golden mosaics, to magnificent frescoes, to the ornate decorations of the Festival Hall, the artwork tells the story of the castle’s history through the images and through its influences.

It really is not worth going to the castle and not taking the tour.

A visit to Wartburg Castle offers more than just one experience. It’s a combination of the architecture of the buildings, the art treasures inside, and the views across the wooded plains beneath.

There’s a good reason this is one of the most popular sites in the region.

Where is Wartburg Castle?

Wartburg Castle is located at:
Auf der Wartburg 1, 99817, Eisenach, Germany.
You can see it on a map here.

When is Wartburg Castle open?

The castle is open at the following times:
April – October: 0830 – 1700
November – March: 0900 – 1530

How much does it cost to visit Wartburg Castle?

You can only go into the castle as part of a guided tour.
A ticket for an adult is €9.
For students a ticket is €5.
You can also buy a family ticket for €21.

How do you get to Wartburg Castle?

To get to Wartburg Castle, catch the train to Eisenach and then take a bus up the hill… or walk through the forest for about 45 minutes like I did.

Where should you stay in Eisenach?

For a simple hotel at a good price, you can try Hotel Garni Hennesburg.
Set at the foot of Wartburg Mountain, I think Haus Hainstein has a lovely traditional feel.
And if you want to treat yourself, you can stay at the top of the mountain next to the castle at Romantik Hotel.

Top tip

If you decide to stay in Weimar as a base to visit Wartburg Castle, you’ll be able to see two other World Heritage Sites in the city – the Bauhaus movement and Classical Weimar.

More information

You can find out more information at the official website for Wartburg Castle.

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more info click here. You can see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites I’ve visited here.

Time Travel Turtle was supported by DB Bahn, the German National Tourist Board and Youth Hostels in Germany but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.