Wartburg Castle
Eisenach, Germany
The castle where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German, on a wooded ridge above Eisenach. Park below and walk or take the shuttle up the last steep stretch.
The Wartburg was founded around 1067 by Count Louis the Springer of Thuringia and stands at about 410 m above Eisenach. From May 1521 to March 1522 Martin Luther lived here as "Junker Jörg" and translated the New Testament into German in about ten weeks. In 1817 the Wartburg Festival of the student fraternities took place at the castle. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. The Palas, built between 1157 and 1170, is considered one of the best-preserved Romanesque secular buildings north of the Alps.
According to Lonely Planet, you should allow at least two hours for the tour, museum, Luther's room and the views. On foot it takes about 40 minutes through the forest from the market square, or about 50 minutes via the Haintal. If you drive, use the paid Wartburg car park, from which it is about 500 m uphill to the castle; a paid shuttle bus also runs up. According to the Wartburg's website, bus line 3 runs from the main station to the car park (as of October 2026).
- Nearest town
- Eisenach, Germany
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 50.9664, 10.3063
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Germany: No motorway tolls for cars. No general motorway speed limit (130 km/h advised) and no tolls for cars.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Campingpark EisenachCampsite6 km from Wartburg Castle · 60 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Auszeit LindigshofCampsite11 km from Wartburg CastleCaravansElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Freizeitcamp BerkaCampsite17 km from Wartburg Castle · 6 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Womo-Stellplatz Bad TabarzMotorhome stopover18 km from Wartburg Castle · 15 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Stellplatz am Festplatz GrandenbornMotorhome stopover22 km from Wartburg Castle · 20 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposalFree
- Palumpa-LandCampsite24 km from Wartburg CastleTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in Germany · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Wartburg Castle?
Wartburg Castle is in Eisenach, Germany, at GPS 50.9664, 10.3063. It is about 18 km from Bad Tabarz.
Can you camp near Wartburg Castle?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Wartburg Parkplatz, about 0 km away; within 25 km there are 51 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Wartburg Castle?
Wartburg Castle is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Thuringian Forest: Wartburg to Weimar.
What is there to see near Wartburg Castle?
Places worth a stop nearby: Großer Inselsberg (17 km), Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe (75 km), Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes (82 km) and Edersee Dam (90 km).
When is the best time to visit Wartburg Castle?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)