Eisenach: Wartburg, Luther and City History
Accommodation in Eisenach
In Eisenach, defining themes of history meet a special natural landmark. The Wartburg represents UNESCO World Heritage and Martin Luther’s translation of the New Testament; at the southern end of the city lies the Dragon Gorge, a protected geological natural monument. The city also offers churches, museums, urban architecture and activities for cycling and culture enthusiasts.
The Wartburg and Luther History
The Wartburg in Eisenach is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German here. Personal guided tours of the medieval palace bring a thousand years of Wartburg history to life during your visit. If you plan to take a tour, check the current times and ticket information in advance.
The Lutherhaus Eisenach presents Martin Luther as a student, reformer and Bible translator. This complements the story of the Wartburg translation with three other roles that describe Luther’s life and work. Eisenach’s churches also offer different cultural highlights: the Predigerkirche houses a permanent exhibition of medieval sacred woodcarvings. St. George’s Church is Johann Sebastian Bach’s baptismal church.
Old Town and Architectural Heritage
A guided city tour takes you through the historic old town to several stops: Frauenplan Square, home to the Bach House; St. Nicholas Church and the Nikolaitor gate; the market square with St. George’s Church, the City Palace and the Town Hall; and the Lutherhaus. The tour brings together churches, civic buildings and museums along a single route through Eisenach.
Individual buildings also show the diversity of Eisenach’s architecture. The Schmale Haus on Johannisplatz is 2.05 metres wide and is thought to be Germany’s narrowest half-timbered house. Eisenach’s southern district offers a different scale: it is a large villa quarter whose appearance is shaped by Art Nouveau ornamentation, wrought-iron garden gates and a variety of bay windows. Those interested in architectural heritage will find both an exceptionally narrow house and an entire district with a range of architectural details.
Museums, Music and Theatre
The exhibition automobile welt eisenachadds the history of automobile manufacturing in Eisenach, from the Wartburg motor car to Opel. The Reuter-Wagner-Villa has a different collection focus: since 1897, it has housed the largest Wagner collection outside Bayreuth. The two venues represent different sides of the city’s history—vehicle manufacturing on the one hand and the Wagner collection on the other.
The Landestheater Eisenach presents classical dramas, symphonies and concerts, ballet, light entertainment and political wit. The specific performances change with the programme. The theatre is another form of culture to consider when planning a stay.
Nature and Cycling
The Dragon Gorge lies at the southern end of Eisenach and is designated a protected geological natural monument. The region offers cycling routes of different lengths: the 130-kilometre Herkules-Wartburg Cycle Route reaches Eisenach, the Wartburg city, via Hörschel. The short “Around the Wartburg” mountain bike tour loops around the Wartburg, passes viewpoints and returns to the Mariental valley along a trail.
The Alte Brauerei indoor climbing park offers climbing for families in Eisenach. This adds another activity to the city’s historical and cultural attractions.
Discover more destinations: Stregda, Eichsfeld, Nordhausen, Saale-Orla, Sonneberg, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Erfurt, Sömmerda.
Return to the main travel overview: Thuringia.
