Wartburg Castle: 1,000 years of German history

As part of our tour of Germany's UNESCO World Heritage sites, we check out the beautiful 12th century Wartburg castle in Thuringia.

Wartburg Castle, which is almost 1,000 years old, is one of Germany's most well-known and best preserved castles. According to legend, it was founded in 1067, and its history can be traced back to the times of the Landgraves of Thuringia.

The surviving 12th century main castle building, a perfect example and a gem of late Romanesque architecture, still bears traces of its former glory. The building underwent restoration and redecoration in the 19th century when the medieval architecture was restored and supplemented in parts with historically informed new constructions. Visiting the extensive grounds today is like opening a book containing 900 years of history.

Courtly art from the Middle Ages, St. Elisabeth's life and work, Martin Luther's translation of the New Testament, the German student fraternities' festival and Wagner's romantic opera "Tannhäuser" all combine to make a visit to Wartburg Castle a fascinating and memorable experience. It is not only the archetypal castle, it is a monument to German history and culture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999.