A castle with a view

Stone witnesses as a panoramic window into Thuringia

More than 400 medieval castles, castle ruins and palaces sit enthroned on mountains, hills and rocks or are majestically embedded in the varied landscapes of Thuringia. The stone witnesses tell fascinating stories and provide breath-taking panoramic views over mountain chains, forests, valleys, rivers, floodplains, towns and cities.

Kyffhäuser Monument – two emperors, one imperial castle and the golden floodplains

Two emperors enjoy the grandiose panoramic view over the smallest low mountain range in Germany: the Kyffhäuser. One of Germany’s most important monuments, the 81-metre-high Kyffhäuser Monument stands on a mountain range in the national park, which rises up like an island from the surrounding golden floodplain landscape. Emperor Frederick I. (Frederick Barbarossa) is sculpted into the stone on the eastern side of the monument as a legendary emperor. Above him Emperor William I., raised up to a height of almost ten metres and made of copper panels, rides through the land in memory of the unification of the German Empire in 1871. You can climb over the heads of both emperors if you go up the 247 steps to the tower cupola. You will be rewarded by a 360° panoramic photo spot with a view over the Harz Mountains to the Thuringian Forest. And to Kyffhausen castle opposite, which was completed in the 12th century during the reign of Friedrich I. According to legend, Frederick Barbarossa (red beard) is still sitting at a table in the underground castle, asleep, waiting until it is time for him to return.

Camping at the Three Equals – castle views and recreational fun included

Go cycling and hiking, play a round of golf, relax by the natural swimming pool, spend the evenings sitting together by a crackling campfire. With an impressive view of three castles at once the whole time. This is what you can experience at the “Three Equals” campsite in the heart of Thuringian castle country between Gotha and Erfurt. The Three Equals are the legendary castles Burg Gleichen, Mühlburg and Wachsenburg. The closest to the campsite is the Mühlburg. It is the oldest of the three and is believed to be the oldest preserved building in Thuringia. Right next door to the campsite, you can improve your handicap and enjoy the landscape on horseback at the “Gut Ringhofen” golf course and stables – castle views included.

Normannstein Castle – the legend of the White Lady

Since the early 12th century, Normannstein Castle with its three distinctive towers has watched over the town of Treffurt. If you visit the castle today, you will find almost completely preserved castle walls with an exhibition and a restaurant. Beneath the castle, children can play at being princesses and knights in the castle play area. From the viewing platform, you can enjoy a drink whilst letting your eyes wander far over the Werra Valley with its imposing rock faces, the Eichsfeld with its distinctive hills and deep valleys, and Hainich National Park with its unspoilt beech forests. But you must take care: if you have imbibed slightly too much when dusk comes, legend has it that the White Lady could come and take you away with her until you are sober again. The White Lady was a maiden in a white gown who betrayed the lord of the castle to the enemy when the town and the castle were under siege in 1336. He then cursed her – and she has been haunting the area and carrying off drunk men ever since.

“Haus Hainstein” hotel in Eisenach – opposite the Wartburg Castle

Haus Hainstein has been part of Eisenach’s townscape for more than 100 years. In a picturesque location in park-like grounds in Hainstein, one of the largest listed villa districts in Germany, there is now a stylishly modernised hotel that is characterised by turn-of-the-century charm. It is not only the restaurant, which is called “Lutherstube”, that refers to the proximity to the Wartburg Castle, which sits enthroned above the town just 1.3 kilometres away. From the conservatory and especially from the café terrace, you have what can really be described as a breath-taking view of the castle, where you can relive how Walter von der Vogelweide, Martin Luther and many others made history.

Leuchtenburg Castle – porcelain exhibition and a urinal with a view

The 800-year-old Leuchtenburg Castle, also know as the “Queen of the Saale Valley”, is located near to Kahla and has a lot to offer with its multi-award-winning permanent exhibition “Leuchtenburg Porcelain Worlds” and the “Skywalk of Wishes” viewing platform. However, a lot of visitors remember their visit to the castle because of another experience. “Some people come to us again especially because of it,” says one staff member. We are talking about a very special urinal. As well as a “thunderbox” by the castle wall and a “fine toilet” in the porcelain exhibition, there is also a toilet with a panoramic window. While a man does his business, he can let his eyes wander far across the orchards and sometimes even watch a herd of sheep grazing.

Two castles in one at the Brandenburg – with a view of the Werra loop and the Devil’s Pulpit

The Brandenburg, which was probably built in the year 1200, lies in the picturesque Werra Valley, around 17 kilometres to the west of Eisenach. It is one of the largest double castle complexes in Central Germany. The ruins and the castle museum tell you stories about the castles. As you climb up through the forest, you can discover wild herbs, rare plants and animals – with the imposing Brandenburg always in view. When you reach the top, the mighty walls give you wonderful bird’s eye views of Lauchröden, into the Werra Valley and up to the heights of the Rennsteig. In the distance, you can even see the Devil’s Pulpit behind the Werra loop.

According to legend, ...

... that Satan was asked by the witches on the "Brocken" (Harz Mountains) to carry a huge boulder to the "Hoher Meißner". However, he was not allowed to set the stone down or take a break. Above the Werraschleife, his strength failed him. The witches caught him napping - he was frightened, tore the witches apart and fell into the depths. The Werra made a shuddering curve around the spot and still flows today in the shape of a horseshoe. What remained was the rocky colossus, which has been known as the Devil's Pulpit ever since.

Header picture: Thuringian Burgenland Drei Gleichen - view of the Wachsenburg (left) and the Mühlburg (right), ©Manfred Müller, Tourismuverband Thüringer Wald/ Gothaer Land e.V.