Wartburg Castle
Adults per person EUR 13 · Children age 7-18 EUR 5 · Reduced price* EUR 9
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About
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What's on here
Why go
- The Palas, built between 1157 and 1170, is considered the best-preserved non-church Romanesque building north of the Alps.
- Martin Luther translated the New Testament from ancient Greek into German here in ten weeks.
- St Elisabeth of Hungary lived at Wartburg and became known for caring for the poor and sick.
Plan your visit
Prices
From the venue's website · checked 27 Sep 2026
Don't miss
- Palas wooden ceilingsSome rooms retain wooden beam ceilings dating to the Palas’s construction.Palas
- Elisabeth-Kemenate mosaicsThe mosaics depict Elisabeth’s life and were added between 1902 and 1906.Elisabeth-Kemenate
- Sängerkrieg frescoesMoritz von Schwind painted frescoes depicting the legendary singers’ contest.Sängersaal
- LutherstubeLuther’s former room in the Vogtei displays paintings by Lucas Cranach.Vogtei
- SüdturmThe medieval south tower has a dungeon below it.Südturm
Know before you go
- The grounds, courtyards and Thüringer Erlebnisportal are free to visit. Castle interiors require a ticket; a separate Südturm ticket costs €1.
- Tickets for the interiors are available at the on-site ticket desk or online in advance for a chosen time.
Legends and hidden details
- In the founding legend, Ludwig der Springer announces that the mountain will become a castle.
- The fictional Sängerkrieg, a legendary singers’ contest at Wartburg, inspired Wagner’s Tannhäuser; Act II is set in the castle’s Sängersaal.
With kids
- Children can ride donkeys up the hill to the castle.
- A school workshop introduces castle life, Wartburg and the Ludowinger dynasty.
- A workshop for older pupils covers Luther’s work and the printing revolution.
Interesting facts2
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1777
Goethe often visited Wartburg and Eisenach from 1777 and drew the castle several times.
Wartburg - Wikipedia -
The Via Regia ran through the Hörsel valley below the castle to the north.
Wartburg - Wikipedia
Shorts
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Wartburg Castle 🇩🇪 Eisenach | Germany’s UNESCO Fairytale Fortress| wa…Germany with love
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Church History At The Wartburg CastleMagnificent Germany with Darion
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Wartburg Castle - Concert HallRoaming Required
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Beautiful Wartburg CastlePlanet Earth Explorers
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Wartburg- Eisenach, im Nordwestlichen Thüringer Wald in Thüringen(Cas…Urlaubelieber
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Wartburg Castle - FascinatingVisit Thuringia
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Wartburg Castle – Home to Luther's Bible | DW EnglishDW News
History
The castle was among the German Reich’s most important princely courts from 1172 to 1211 and remained the seat of the Thuringian landgraves until 1440. Under Hermann I, it supported poets including Walther von der Vogelweide and Wolfram von Eschenbach.
- Around 1067Thuringian count Louis the Springer founded Wartburg Castle.
- 1080Bruno’s account of the Saxon War first recorded the castle as Wartberg.
- 1317 or 1318A lightning-caused fire damaged the castle, prompting major reconstruction and a chapel addition.
- 1521–1522Martin Luther stayed at Wartburg for his safety as Junker Jörg.
- 18 October 1817About 500 students gathered for the first Wartburgfest, calling for German unity and protesting the post-Vienna settlement while commemorating the Reformation and victory over Napoleon.
Show all
- 1838–1890Carl Alexander commissioned a restoration guided by Hugo von Ritgen’s designs.
- 1922The Wartburg Foundation was established to maintain the castle.
- 1952–1954Much of the Palas was restored to its Romanesque style.
- 1999Wartburg Castle was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Tours and audio guides
- Guided tours
- Guided tours take visitors inside the castle buildings; visitors can also explore the castle museum.
How to get there
- BusBus 3 runs from stop 3A at Eisenach bus station to Wartburg Castle, at Auf der Wartburg 1.
- ParkingThe paid castle parking lot uses number-plate recognition for fees. A shuttle minibus connects the lot with the castle.
Sources: Wartburg - Wikipedia · Wartburg - Wikipedia (part 2) · Eisenach - Wikivoyage (see) · WARTBURG – UNESCO Welterbe · Öffnungszeiten · Eintritt · Wartburg - Wikipedia · Château de la Wartbourg - Wikipedia · checked 26 Sep 2026
Where to stay nearby
Questions and answers
Which areas of Wartburg Castle are free, and what does the Südturm cost?
The grounds, courtyards and Thüringer Erlebnisportal are free. A separate ticket for the Südturm costs €1.
Can I book interior tickets for Wartburg Castle in advance?
Yes. Book online for a chosen time or buy tickets at the castle ticket desk.
Why is Wartburg Castle a pilgrimage destination?
Its role in German history and the development of Christianity draws pilgrims, especially Evangelical-Lutherans.
What does the name Wartburg mean?
The name probably comes from words meaning “watch” or “guard” castle.
Does Wartburg Castle stand in the Wartburgkreis district?
No. The district takes its name from the castle, but the castle stands outside it.
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