Wartburg Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wartburg Castle |
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Wartburg
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Wartburg in Eisenach
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| Former names | Wartberg |
| General information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Town or city | Eisenach |
| Country | Germany |
| Coordinates | 50°57′58″N 10°18′23″E / 50.9662°N 10.3065°E |
| Construction started | c. 1067 |
| Renovated | 19th and 20th centuries |
| Landlord | Wartburg Stiftung |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Criteria | Cultural: iii, vi |
| Inscription | 1999 (23rd Session) |
The Wartburg is an amazing old castle in Germany. It sits high up on a 1230-foot (410-meter) cliff near the town of Eisenach, in the state of Thuringia. In 1999, UNESCO added Wartburg Castle to the World Heritage List. They called it an "Outstanding Monument" from the time of feudalism in Central Europe. This means it has great cultural importance for everyone.
Contents
History of Wartburg Castle
How the Castle Began
The building of Wartburg Castle started around the year 1068. It was built by a count named Louis the Springer. He was a powerful leader in Thuringia. The castle was meant to protect the borders of his lands.
The name Wartburg comes from a story about its founder. When he first saw the hill, he supposedly said, "Warte, Berg -- du sollst mir eine Burg tragen!" This means, "Wait, mountain -- you shall carry a castle for me!" It's a clever play on words in German, as Berg means mountain and Burg means fortress or castle.
Home of the Landgraves
Wartburg Castle was the home of the Thuringian landgraves (local rulers) until 1440. Around 1207, a famous singing contest called the Sängerkrieg (Minstrels' Contest) took place here. Later, the famous composer Richard Wagner wrote an opera called Tannhäuser about this very contest.
Saint Elisabeth's Time
From 1211 to 1228, a young woman named St. Elisabeth of Hungary lived at Wartburg. She was sent there at age four to be raised and marry Ludwig IV of Thuringia. Elisabeth was known for her kindness and charitable work. After her husband died in 1227, she moved away. She passed away at just 24 years old and was later made a saint by the Catholic Church.
Martin Luther's Secret Stay
One of the most famous guests at Wartburg Castle was Martin Luther. He stayed there in secret from May 1521 to March 1522. This happened after Pope Leo X had removed him from the church. Luther had also refused to change his beliefs at the Diet of Worms.
During his time at Wartburg, Luther worked on an important project. He translated the New Testament part of the Bible into German. While it wasn't the very first German Bible, his translation became the most popular and widely used.
Fritz Erbe, a Prisoner
From 1540 until his death in 1548, a farmer named Fritz Erbe was held prisoner in the castle's dungeon. He was an Anabaptist, a group with different religious beliefs. He was imprisoned because he refused to give up his faith. After he died, he was buried near the castle's chapel.
The Wartburg Festival
On October 18, 1817, the first Wartburg festival took place. About 450 students gathered at the castle. They were celebrating Germany's victory over Napoleon from four years earlier. They also spoke out against old-fashioned ideas and called for Germany to become a united country. This event, and similar ones later, were very important steps towards the unification of Germany.
Exploring the Castle Buildings
Wartburg Castle has been fixed up and changed many times over the years. For example, from 1952 to 1966, the government restored it to look like it did in the 16th century.
The Palas (Great Hall)
The Palas is the oldest part of the castle buildings. It's built in the Romanesque style. This building includes the castle's chapel. It also has the Sängersaal (Hall of the Minstrels) and the Festsaal (Feast or Festival Hall). Both of these halls have beautiful paintings called frescoes by an artist named Moritz von Schwind.
Part of the Palas is the original castle structure from between 1157 and 1170.
Castle Entrance
The only way to get into the castle is through the castle gate, which is behind a drawbridge. This entrance has stayed exactly the same since it was built.
Other Important Buildings
- The Knights' House: This building is on the western side of the drawbridge. It was built in the 15th century. It was probably where the castle's servants and guards lived.
- The Towers: The castle has two main towers. The South Tower was built in 1318. The bergfried (a tall, strong tower) was finished in 1859.
Wartburg's Legacy and Importance
For hundreds of years, people from Germany and other countries have visited Wartburg Castle. They come because it's a very important place in German history. It also played a big role in the development of Christianity.
Because of its fame, several places have been named after Wartburg. This includes towns in the United States, especially those founded by Lutherans. Even a local brand of car, the Wartburg, was named after the castle. Wartburg College in Iowa, USA, is also named after it. This is because Martin Luther found safety there, and the college has ties to the region of Thuringia.
Images for kids
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View of Wartburg from the east
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Map of the Wartburg: (1) access ramp, (2) redoubt, (3) drawbridge, (4) Torhaus (barbican), (5) Ritterhaus, (6) Vogtei and first courtyard, (7) Margarethengang, (8) Dirnitzlaube, (9) inner gatehouse, (10) Neue Kemenate, (11) stairs, (12) Bergfried, (13) Palas, (14) Ritterbad,(15) Gadem, (16) second courtyard with cistern (17) Südturm, (18) southern curtain wall, (19) kitchen garden, (20) Commandant's garden, (21) Elisabethengang, (22) Hotel auf der Wartburg
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Schwind's Sängerkrieg fresco in the Sängersaal (1854)
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Wartburg, monk and nun, drawing by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1807)
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Wartburg around 1890–1900, seen from the south-west
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The South Tower
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Main gate seen from the first courtyard
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Wartburg para niños
